reporter www.imperial.ac.uk Issue 180 • 19 July 2007

Centenary Queen bestows new charter for Imperial’s birthday celebrations > centre pages

health minister staff party rocks Professor Sir Ara Darzi south kensington appointed to the Roving reporters government capture the day PAGE 3 PAGES 8–9 in brief AHSC news New Paediatric Research Unit declared open The Paediatric Research Unit, the UK’s first unit solely devoted to paediatric clinical research, • Have your say people to ask questions Kensington Town Hall on 10 was officially opened on 9 July. The Unit is run by The twelve-week consulta- and to express their views. July. Delegates considered researchers from Imperial and St Mary’s Hospital, tion on the proposal to A further 80 people packed how to achieve the mission and is based next to the hospital’s paediatric wards create an Academic Health into the joint overview and and goals of the AHSC. in Paddington. Professor John Warner, Chair in Science Centre (AHSC) scrutiny committee meeting Paediatrics, Head of the Department of Paedi- atrics at Imperial and consultant paediatrician will close on 31 July. The at Portcullis House. • AHSC appointments at St Mary’s Hospital, spoke at the opening. He response so far has been The Joint Steering Group explained that researchers should be designing positive, with approximately • Intranet update has agreed that senior posts therapies specifically for children and their 70 per cent of the comments Staff meetings have now in the AHSC will be for the problems, rather than scaling down treatments received supportive of the been held across the integrated organisation that were created for adults. “In many respects idea. More views from staff campuses. Professor Steve and not specifically for the the make-up of children differs from that of adults: are needed and there is still Smith’s presentation and all NHS or Imperial (following they have different metabo- time to have your say. To the questions and answers the same style as the joint lisms; their organs are not register your opinion online, are on the consultation Principal/Chief Executive as mature as adults’; and visit www.ahsc.org.uk. pages of the new AHSC role). Job descriptions, diseases can behave differ- intranet at www.ahsc.org. person specifications and ently in children’s bodies. To create the best therapies • Positive response uk/intranet. an appointments process for children we need to Patient and Public Involve- are being developed for include them in ment Forums and Black • Mission takes shape executive appointments our research.” and Minority Ethnic A working conference to the board, which will be Forums, Friends meetings, was held for key clinical, responsible for setting the staff meetings and public managerial, teaching and strategic direction for the New interim Head for SORA meetings have provided research leads from across AHSC from 1 October. Professor Mervyn Maze has become the Interim opportunities for over 1,000 the three organisations at Head of the Division of Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive Biology and Anaesthetics from 1 July, following Professor Sir Ara Darzi’s appointment as Parliamentary Under Secretary at the Department of Health (see page 3). Professor Maze is Head of Department of Anaesthetics, Pain Medicine and New microscopy facilities in focus Intensive Care, Campus Dean for the Chelsea and Westminster Campus, and an Honorary Consultant Anaesthetist at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital. Two new imaging facilities He will serve as Interim Head until the permanent for looking at cells and mol- arrangements for a new Head of Division are ecules were officially opened concluded. Professor Nagy Habib will succeed by the Rector on 4 July. Professor Darzi as Head of Department of The £1.5 million facilities will Biosurgery and Surgical Technology. provide researchers from across the College with leading-edge technology for imaging across Centenary podcast a range of scales, from whole now available living organisms, down to the Great figures from Imperial’s proteins inside cells. past are brought back to life in The first new centre the Centenary edition of the is called the Facility for Dr Raffa Carzaniga, Manager of the new Electron Microscopy Centre, uses one of the College’s monthly podcast. Imaging by Light Microscopy new electron microscopes which magnifies samples up to 500,000 times. July’s podcast allows legen- (FILM) and is based in the dary and well-loved figures Sir Alexander Fleming building. Led by the magnify samples by 500,000 times, including Dennis Gabor and Eric Laithwaite to speak Faculty of Medicine’s Professor Tony Magee, down to a resolution of just one nanometre. again about their work via archive it contains eight powerful optical micro- This facility will allow researchers to see recordings recently discovered by Colin Grimshaw scopes, which can magnify cell samples the ‘ultra structure’ of cells—meaning the of Communications. The podcast also offers an 2,000 times. molecules inside the cell. It will also be interview with the Rector, giving his perspective The second facility, designed to com- used by Imperial scientists to pioneer a on Imperial’s last 100 years and looking forward plement the work in FILM, is the Electron new kind of imaging that bridges the gap to what the future might hold. Microscopy Centre. Led by Professors between these nano-scale images of cell • The podcast is available to download on the Marin van Heel and Paul Freemont from the components and the ‘big picture’ imaging first working day of each month at www.imperial. Division of Molecular Biosciences, this centre of the whole cell using light microscopy. ac.uk/aboutimperial/pressoffice/podcasts has five electron microscopes which can —Danielle Reeves, Communications

 reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180 Imperial Professor made Rector presents health minister prizes at annual Royal Regatta

Imperial’s Professor Sir Ara The review follows Alan In celebration of the College’s Darzi has been appointed as Johnson’s announcement that the Centenary, the Rector, Sir Richard Parliamentary Under Secretary at NHS should be “clinically-led, Sykes, presented the prizes at this the Department of Health, it was patient-centred and locally account- year’s Henley Royal Regatta. announced on 29 June. able”. It will involve patients, doctors, nurses and other practi- Unfortunately this year’s event, held on 4–8 July, Sir Ara currently holds the Paul tioners, and it is his experience as a didn’t see success for an Imperial team. The Hamlyn Chair in Surgery at the clinician that Sir Ara intends to bring Imperial Prince Albert crew made a sterling College, is Head of the Division of to his new role. He said: “I come effort in reaching the semi-finals, but lost Surgery, Oncology, Reproductive from the frontline and will remain by half a length to Goldie Boat Club. The Biology and Anaesthetics (SORA), on the frontline, working with and University of London team went on to win and is widely recognised as one of learning from the talented and the Cup. the UK’s leading surgeons in the committed people in the NHS. In making the presentation the Rector praised field of minimally invasive and I will be taking their experiences the achievements of the winners, saying that there’s no robot-assisted surgery. He will retain and knowledge with me and will such thing as an easy race or an easy medal at the Henley his Chair at Imperial during his be their advocate at the heart of Royal Regatta. new parliamentary appointment Government.” Sir Ara will report his He underlined Imperial’s deep bond with the event, and and will maintain his research and findings before the 60th anniversary spoke of the “singular and guiding force” given by a team’s clinical commitments, including of the NHS in July 2008. coach. “At Imperial, we have been lucky enough to have the supervision of students. Welcoming the appointment, the figures like Charles Bristow, Chas Newens, and Bill Mason to He is also an Honorary Consultant Rector said: “The Prime Minister lead our club. ...They each share one thing: they are inspira- Surgeon at St Mary’s and the Royal has said that he wants to form a tional figures. How else would students Marsden NHS Trusts and is expected government of all the talents, and he push themselves beyond their limits in to continue his research activities could not have called upon a greater Imperial events such as this?” and give frontline care to patients for talent in healthcare to serve in his shares a one day a week. administration.” Row-past Sir Ara, who will become deep bond Some of Imperial’s oarsmen provided a Lord Darzi of Denham when he is Healthcare for London with the spectacle in celebration of the College’s introduced to the House of Lords Sir Ara was commissioned by the Centenary when they performed a on 19 July, has been asked by Government in September 2006 to Regatta row-past at tea time on the Saturday of Prime Minister Gordon Brown and review health services in London. the Regatta. The two eights were the Health Secretary Alan Johnson to His healthcare for London plan was record-holding Ladies Plate eight of 1992 lead a review of the NHS that will published on 11 July and this 10-year and Thames Cup crew of 1995, which contained three of the advise on how to meet the chal- vision states that the NHS needs Sydney gold medal lenges of delivering healthcare over to change if it is to meet the rising eight from 2000—Luka the next decade. Key areas he will expectations of Londoners, improve Grubor, Simon Dennis examine are high quality joined-up the health of an expanding popula- and Louis Atrill, who services for those with long term tion, and provide value for money. started his rowing or life-threatening conditions, and One of his recommendations is the career at Imperial. integrated care across primary and introduction of a network of 150 Another crew member, secondary healthcare providers. “polyclinics” across the capital, pro- Steve Ellis, became viding a complete range of services part of the Great to meet all routine healthcare needs. Britain lightweight —Alexandra Platt, Communications crew which won the World Championship gold in 1994. Imperial is the only club to hold three current full course records, the “My entire career has been dedicated third being the Prince to improving the health of patients. Albert, a record estab- It is a great honour and privilege lished in 2006. —Naomi Weston, to be asked by the Prime Minister Communications The Rector presents the Prince Albert to continue that work for patients Challenge Cup at this year’s Henley Royal Regatta. across the country.”

19 July 2007 • Issue 180 reporter www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter  media mentions

—Naomi Weston, Communications

The Daily Telegraph • 28 June BBC News The Guardian • 9 July Leaning Tower of Pisa Online • 4 July A wet and windy June saved by engineers Tiny After four weeks of thun- After a £20 million project, the movements affect derstorms and flooding, famous Leaning Tower of Pisa is giant microscope the Met Office has confirmed no longer leaning quite as much. The new Titan transmission electron that last month was the wettest The tower has been straightened microscope at Imperial is providing June since records began, but says by 18 inches, returning it to its an oasis of peace beneath the the weather is set to improve over position of 1838. Professor John streets of London, according to the the coming months. The Met Office Burland (Civil and Environmental BBC. With a machine that is able explains that Britain’s changeable Engineering) was the only British The Daily Telegraph • 10 July to image individual atoms, even weather is down to its location, member of the 14-strong rescue A kind of magic the vibrations caused by talking with the Atlantic on one side and committee. He told The Daily As Potter-mania reaches fever too loudly are enough to disrupt a large continent on the other. Telegraph: “We have to pay pitch just days before the release a sample under the microscope. Weather forecasting starts by homage to the extraordinary of the final book in J.K. Rowling’s When scientists are operating at taking a detailed measure of the success of the very delicate task of celebrated Harry Potter series, such small scales, tiny shifts can current state of the atmosphere: saving a monumental symbol of our The Daily Telegraph asked whether appear huge. Because of this, the scores of instruments on weather history and of our civilisation. the magic of Harry’s world can be scientists working with the micro- balloons, satellites and ground Italy has at its disposal a reconciled with the rational scope talk in hushed, respectful observatories around the country cultural sensitivity and world of science. In terms of tones. “If the sample drifts, it kills continuously measure sunshine, air technical competence of creating Harry’s invisibility the experiment,” Dr David McComb pressure, wind direction and tem- the highest level.” The cloak, the Telegraph reported (Materials) tells BBC News Online. perature. The numbers are then fed straightening work that research by Sir John When it is running at full power, the into a mathematical model run on a involved the extrac- Pendry (Physics) has shown microscope will be used to probe supercomputer. “They do lots and tion of around 70 how a cloaking device could everything from new materials lots of simulations with slightly dif- tonnes of earth from work by making light waves for ultra-fast computers to tissue ferent initial conditions just to see the northern side of flow around an object—just samples that may shed light on the range of possible outcomes, the tower, causing as a river flows undisturbed diseases such as Alzheimer’s. called an ensemble,” Professor Ralf it to sink on that around a smooth rock. Toumi (Physics) told The Guardian. side. Professor However, Sir John urged “From the ensemble they deduce Burland added: caution, saying: “It is one the most likely outcome.” “It has straight- thing to have an overarching ened a little bit theory that says cloaks are more than we possible, but another to > Sign up for Imperial news expected, but manufacture and market one. Join our mailing lists that bring regular Imperial news, information and website every little A lot of hard work lies ahead.” alerts to all subscribers. To sign up: www.imperial.ac.uk/aboutimperial/news/ newsandpremailservices helps.”

Tanaka Centenary Alumni Reunion

The first ever Tanaka Business School Alumni change, before a Centenary reunion party in Reunion took place on 12–14 July to cel- the evening. The following day, alumni had ebrate the College’s Centenary year, bringing the opportunity to learn specifically about together over 150 alumni, staff and current the School’s cutting edge research and meet students. Alumni travelled from as far away with key academic staff. as Russia, Egypt, Brazil and India for the Nicola Pogson, Alumni Manager in three-day reunion, which kicked off with an the Business School, was delighted to be introductory networking session on 12 July. welcoming alumni back in the College’s The atrium is transformed into a red wonderland for Tanaka The weekend’s events aimed to foster the Centenary year. She said: “One of our Business School’s alumni reunion party. alumni network and provide an opportunity strengths as a School is the strong links that for alumni to find out about developments at tie our alumni together. We’re delighted to Above all, we’re looking forward to chatting the Business School. get this opportunity, not just to greet our to our alums and seeing how their experi- On Friday, high profile business leaders graduates, but also to give something back to ence at the School has coloured their careers and alumni led debates around the theme of them, in the way of cutting edge research and since then.” how global business challenges are driving informed debate on the future of business. —Naomi Weston, Communications

 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180 Hawking joins world’s leading awards and physicists at symposium honours

Some of the world’s leading delegates were theorists, a Russian energy research physicists gathered at significant proportion of the award Imperial at the beginning event was also dedicated Chemical engineer Geoffrey Hewitt of the month for the 13th to the major forthcoming is one of only three winners of International Symposium experiments in these fields. Russia’s energy science awards, on Particles, Strings and Speakers addressing these bestowed by President Vladimir Putin last month, for his research into Cosmology. Over 200 del- issues included Imperial’s the physics of heat. The awards are pre- egates from around the Professor Tejinder Virdee, sented annually by the Global Energy Foundation world attended more than international spokesman in recognition of work on energy efficiency, heat 100 talks by renowned sci- for the CMS experiment conservation, alternative energy sources and new entists including Professor three distinct areas of physics: at CERN, which hopes to power-generation technologies. Professor Hewitt Stephen Hawking and Nobel particle physicists, who study detect new particles when shares the prize of 30 million roubles (approxi- prize-winner Professor the elementary particles that the Large Hadron Collider mately £580,000) with energy researchers from Gerard ’t Hooft. make up matter and radia- particle accelerator is acti- Russia and Iceland. The last day of the sym- tion; string theorists, whose vated in 2008. posium saw a special day model of physics is built on Dr Arttu Rajantie, of public talks in honour one-dimensional extended Physics, the Chair of the First prize for postgrad in of the late Nobel Laureate objects called strings; and symposium’s organising granulation poster competition Professor Abdus Salam, who cosmologists, who use obser- committee, said: “I’m Imperial postgraduate Mansoor Ansari won first came to Imperial 50 years vations and mathematical delighted that such an prize in a poster competition judged on both ago. Professor Salam won the tools to analyse the universe eminent list of speakers took scientific merit and presentation skills at the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1979 as a whole. The aim of the part in this event, and I hope University of Sheffield last month. The com- petition formed part of the Third International for his work on ‘Electro-Weak event was to encourage that many new links and Granulation Workshop, which aimed to investi- Theory’, which is part of beneficial collaboration across opportunities for collabora- gate granulation, one of the least understood scientists’ efforts to provide a these distinct disciplines and tive work were developed solid processing steps. Mansoor is a final year unified description of the four to promote the exchange here at Imperial over the Chemical Engineering PhD student, supervised fundamental forces of nature. of ideas. course of the symposium.” by Dr Frantisek Stepanek. The conference also Although many of the —Danielle Reeves, brought together experts from conference’s speakers and Communications Japanese prize for Professor Mace Research on conservation, biodiver- Physicist picked to deliver Royal sity and extinction risk by Professor Georgina Mace has been recognised Society lecture with the award of the prestigious 2007 International Cosmos Prize. Professor Mace, Director of Imperial’s NERC Centre for Population Professor Martin Plenio from the Department He explained that lectures like this give Biology, wins the 40 million of Physics has been chosen to deliver the researchers the important opportunity to yen prize for her work on Royal Society’s 2008 Clifford Paterson communicate the very latest ideas emerging global environmental Lecture. Professor Plenio will speak about the in science, and shared his hope that commu- changes and their opportunities emerging from his nicating his work may inspire potential impact group’s research into infor- more young scientists to on biodiversity mation theory and quantum consider a career in research. and people. physics, and explain how He added: “What’s more, fundamental research currently I often find that when I being carried out is paving have to re-examine my the way for the quantum work to prepare for a talk like computers and quantum this, it provokes a new and communication devices of deeper understanding of the the future. topic for me.” Correction/clarification Professor Plenio said: The annual Clifford Paterson The interview with Professor Costas Pantelides “Although the broad remit Lecture was endowed by the on page 5 of issue 179 of Reporter incorrectly of the lecture is engineering, General Electric Company Limited in 1975 stated that PSE company sales have increased quite a large number of previous in honour of Clifford Paterson, who under- annually by two per cent over the past four to five years. This should in fact have read twenty speakers have been physicists too. The took the creation of the GEC Research per cent. research I do could well be termed ‘quantum Laboratories in 1919. He was elected a engineering’ and certainly bridges the gap Fellow of the Royal Society in 1942. between these two disciplines.” —Danielle Reeves, Communications

19 July 2007 • Issue 180 reporter www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter  scienceroundup scienceroundup scienceroundup scienceroundup scienceroundup

Gene linked with Aphids create ‘bomb’ to fight predators childhood asthma Cabbage aphids have developed an internal this chemical in their blood as they mature, identified chemical defence system which enables as they don’t need the mustard oil ‘bomb’ them to set off a mustard oil ‘bomb’, says to defend themselves from predators when Imperial research gives hope new research published in the they can just fly away. This is a great example for new therapies journal Proceedings of of the way in which a species provides an the Royal Society B on ingenious method of protecting itself, what- 11 July. ever the circumstances.” Imperial researchers have identified a gene When the aphids feed on cabbages, they that is strongly associated with a risk of The study shows for consume chemicals called glucosinolates, developing childhood onset asthma, the the first time how which are then stored in the aphids’ blood. most common chronic disease of childhood aphids use a chemical In the event of a predator attack, the glu- in the UK. The findings were published found in the plants they cosinolates in the blood come into contact online in Nature on 4 July. eat to emit the deadly burst with an enzyme Asthma affects one child in seven in of mustard oil, which kills, injures or repels called myrosinase, the UK, but until now the combinations of predators, such as ladybirds. This saves the produced by the genetic and environmental factors that cause aphid colony from attack, although the indi- aphids, catalysing it have been poorly understood. vidual involved usually dies in the process. a violent chemical In the genetic study of more than 2,000 Dr Glen Powell from the Division of reaction which children from Germany and the UK, the Biology is one of the paper’s authors. He releases mustard oil. scientists established that genetic markers on explained: “Our study seems to show that —Danielle Reeves, chromosome 17 altered the levels of a new aphids that develop wings cease to store Communications gene called ORMDL3, which was at a higher level in the blood cells of children with asthma than in those without. The results of the study suggest that the disease-associ- Fight against diabetes could be helped by ated version of the gene increases the risk of having asthma by 60–70 per cent. targeting new molecule Dr Miriam Moffatt of the National Heart and Lung Institute, who is one of The fight against diabetes the encoded proteins, which “Scientists only discovered the first authors of the study, explained could be helped by Imperial interferes with processes the importance of microRNAs how the research will further knowledge of research published on 6 July carried out by cells. a few years ago. Discovering the disease: “These novel findings do not in the Journal of Biological The researchers believe that this particular microRNA explain completely how asthma is caused, Chemistry. College scientists that if drugs could be plays a fundamental role in but they do provide a further part of the have found that targeting a developed the control of gene–environment jigsaw that makes up newly discovered molecule to suppress “Such findings may insulin produc- the disease. We and our colleagues are cur- could enhance the body’s the action be useful in the fight tion is exciting, rently preparing even bigger studies to find ability to produce insulin, of miR124 and may allow against a disease which other genes of smaller effect, and to relate the principal hormone that and related us to develop these to environmental factors that protect regulates the uptake of microRNAs in affects more than 5 per new tools to treat against asthma. Our eventual aim is to be glucose. If the body does not people with cent of the population” diabetes. Such able to prevent the disease in susceptible produce enough insulin, this diabetes, this findings may be individuals.” can cause diabetes. could enable more insulin useful in the fight against a —Laura Gallagher, Communications The molecule in ques- to be produced, helping to disease which affects more tion is a microRNA known combat the condition. than 5 per cent of the popula- as miR124. The researchers Professor Guy Rutter tion and whose incidence is found that miR124 inhibits from the Division of growing yearly.” the production of insulin Medicine, one of the authors —Laura Gallagher, in the pancreas by control- of the research, said: Communications ling how several genes are expressed in the body’s beta cells, which secrete insulin. DNA encodes proteins via an intermediate mes- senger known as RNA, which is then ‘translated’ to create different proteins. MicroRNAs bind to and inhibit the translation of selected messenger RNAs. They block the synthesis of

 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180 scienceroundup scienceroundup scienceroundup scienceroundup scienceroundup

Aphids create ‘bomb’ to fight predators Scientists steal the show at summer exhibition

Imperial scientists were out in force at this year’s Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition, an event that showcases the best of UK science, engineering and technology. Of the 23 interactive exhibits on show, four featured Imperial’s research. During the four days of the event, held 2–5 July, more than 4,000 people took the opportunity to explore the exhibition. Ear ’ere, are you an athlete?

Visitors were able to try out intel - Imperial’s surgeons a cut above the rest ligent miniaturised body sensors which are being developed by and performance without risk Professor Guang-Zhong Yang to patients, allowed visitors to and colleagues from the Depart perform part of a virtual keyhole - ment of Computing. The sensors, operation on a simulator that which are placed in the ear, can looks like an anaesthetised monitor athletic performance, patient. Using real surgical tailor training programmes to instruments they were also able the individual’s physical abilities, to stitch a wound and remove a and modify the programme as the unsteady movement, acceleration, fatty lump from under the skin, athlete improves. and spinal and joint shock wave known as a lipoma, on actors transmission. Dr Roger Kneebone and his team The unique design of the who were wearing a strapped-on Traditionally, the measure from SORA gave the public a sensor and its signal processing - prosthetic model. chance to see how good a surgeon power, inspired by the semicircular ment of athletic performance is Simulation is widely used, undertaken in laboratories, but it they could be at the exhibition, - canals of the inner ear, mean that - but the College team has pio is difficult for these methods to thanks to virtual surgery tech - the sensor is highly sensitive, neered the use of the combina replicate the exact physical and niques developed at Imperial. easy to wear, and non-intrusive. tion of actors and models, and The procedures, using The device allows the detection mental environment of the athlete putting computer simulators in a during competition. The team simulation technology invented of a range of indicators including realistic setting. hope their sensor will revolu to improve surgeons’ training the walking cycle, steady and - tionise this process.

Build a better BioBrick Explosive sun exhibit leaves others in the shade A stand demon- When CMEs occur, a mass ‘BioBricks’—repre strating the brand - of particles weighing roughly senting strands of new science of the same as Mount Everest is DNA that instruct a ‘synthetic biology’ launched out into space. If a CME cell to behave in a gave visitors the occurs in the direction of the Earth, certain way—around chance to see how the particles can cause significant a giant replica E. coli scientists and engi problems to the electrical systems - cell that had been neers are proposing of spacecraft and satellites in orbit chopped in half. to make counters, around the planet. Some CMEs Professors Richard sensors, calculators have also been known to affect Kitney, Department and other devices Scientists from Imperial, including electrical power lines on Earth. of Bioengineering, out of living bacteria. Dr Steve Bradshaw from the The stand featured three- and Paul Freemont, - Posters and interactive computer Division of Molecular Biosciences, Department of Physics, and col - dimensional videos and posters displays described how pio - organised the exhibit and are laborators from other British uni describing the journey of a CME neering researchers at Imperial are leading the Imperial team which versities ran an exhibit explaining from its initiation on the sun to its modifying DNA which is then put has already successfully pro what happens when there is an arrival at the Earth, and models into E. coli bacteria cells to make - duced a bacterial oscillator and immense eruption known as a of the satellites scientists use to living devices that do not exist in is working on a bacterial NAND Coronal Mass Ejection (CME) on observe them. the natural world. Visitors also had gate—both of which are vital com the sun. the chance to mimic the work of - ponents of a basic computer. the researchers by moving Lego • For more information on these stories visit: www.imperial.ac.uk/news

19 July 2007 • Issue 180 reporter www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter  Staff party rocks South Kensington Campus

Staff gathered to to the soothing tones of jazz Court—have worked so well celebrate Imperial’s after enjoying the fun of the and have offered something 100th birthday in style at fair, part of the Edwardian for everyone. We can’t wait the Centenary Staff Party experience set up on the another hundred years to do on 11 July. Queen’s Lawn. Katy Sargeant this again.” and Sonia Hinze, Faculty of Medicine, won their collection Prince’s Gardens rocking There was something to suit of cuddly snakes on the darts through the ages everyone’s tastes, with the and ‘shoot the ring’ stalls. With the sun out, Prince’s food on offer ranging from a Gardens was the perfect venue civilised afternoon Going back in time on the for a range of bands celebrating tea to a sizzling bar- Queen’s Lawn the last 100 years. Acts ranged becue. Ears were also Staff from ICT were also from the Charleston Chasers, offered a treat with determined to win a cuddly playing music from the 1920s, Prince’s Gardens toy by knocking down a tower to Fake That, a tribute to hosting a selection of of 10 tin cans using three balls. Take That, who stormed the live music reflecting Shilpan Patel came close but charts in the 1990s. Soaking the last 100 years. with two cans still standing up the atmosphere in Prince’s Out and about at the at the end of his turn couldn’t Gardens, Research Fellow Dr party the Reporter claim the prize. Despite this Dan Brett from the Department team caught up with disappointment, he and col- of Earth Science and some of the 3,900 staff leagues Richard Fearn and Paul Engineering commented: “The enjoying the after- Urquhart spoke highly of the best thing about today is seeing noon… day. Richard said, “Imperial is all the faces from the College so big and it’s difficult to meet who you are not familiar A laid back Sunday staff from across the depart- with—it makes you realise afternoon on Dalby ments. Today’s party is a great how huge the organisation is.” Court chance to chat to different He added: “I have been here Competitive streaks people and is superb value. 10 years and it is an excellent were on display on I wouldn’t mind paying if we place to do serious science.” the croquet lawn, just could run this event again.” – Reporter team one of the activities Joe McGovern and Ed Da available on Dalby Silva were found enjoying an Court, which also hosted golf afternoon off from distributing putting and bowls. With staff post on the South Kensington from Physics and Materials Campus. Joe said, “This event battling for success using their shows the College’s appre- new-found mallet skills, there ciation for its staff and is a was some discussion among fantastic opportunity for staff Congratulations to the colleagues over who was across the organisation to the winner of the winning the match, but Dr Ben bond.” Xbox 360 and games: 100 years of music Wood, Physics, claimed to be in While queuing for cream Mrs Jean Bolger Pictured from top-bottom, Charleston Chasers, the lead. The group compared tea outside the marquee, the Project Management Office The Fab Beatles, Fake That and an Elvis tribute the area to a concrete seaside Rector shared his thoughts on act kept feet tapping at Prince’s Gardens. and were keen to see the party the party. He said, “Everyone

atmosphere return to Imperial I’ve spoken to is having a in the future. Dr Julian Jones, fantastic time and today has To watch a film of the party Materials, said, “We should be engendered a great sense of Generously donated by: visit www.imperial.ac.uk/ doing this every year.” community. The different centenary/staffparty Nearby the Faculty of areas—Prince’s Gardens, the Medicine finance team relaxed Queen’s Lawn and Dalby

 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180 Left to right: Dr Matt O’Donnell, Materials, Dr Ben Wood, Physics, Dr Julian Jones and Dr Gavin Jell, Materials, on the croquet lawn.

Dr Naheed Alizadeh, INSPIRE and the Rector put their best foot forward and started the dancing.

Paul Urqhuart, Shilpan Patel and Richard Fearn, ICT, enjoy the fun fair. Katy Sargeant and Sonia Hinze, Faculty of Medicine Finance Team, won cuddly snakes on the darts and ‘shoot the ring’ stalls.

Vital party statistics 3,900 Total attendees 953 Attendees from non-South Kensington Campuses 6463 Bottles of beer 1745 Glasses of Centenary Wine 1228 Cans of drink 241kg Stir fried noodles from the Wok Stop 1742 Burgers served from the BBQ 813 Marshmallow and strawberry skewers dipped in chocolate

Prince’s Gardens rocked through the ages with a range of live music from the last century. Staff enjoy a cream tea on the Queen’s Lawn.

19 July 2007 • Issue 180 reporter www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter  Royalty gathers to celebrate Centenary

Staff and students lined the route between the IBE and Main Entrance with some being lucky The Rector introduces Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al-Missned of Qatar to The Queen. enough to meet The Queen.

The Centenary of the foundation The Queen and Duke opened the College’s his determination to pursue progress against of the College was celebrated on new Institute of Biomedical Engineering the odds were characteristics that set the tone 9 July with a ceremony in the before taking part in an honorary graduation for Imperial at the outset and still play a huge ceremony that saw the first ever Imperial part in its continuing success.” presence of Her Majesty The degrees awarded to five distinguished figures, Other honorary graduates recognised on Queen and His Royal Highness including His Royal Highness the day were Her Highness Sheikha Mozah The Duke of Edinburgh. The Duke of Edinburgh. Bint Nasser Al-Missned of Qatar, Dame The ceremony followed the bestowal of a Vivien Duffield, Mrs Lily Safra, and Professor Royal Charter by Her Majesty The Queen that Winston Wong (see page 13 for further details declares the College an independent of our new honorary graduates). university in its own right after its withdrawal – Abigail Smith, Communications from the University of London. The visit cemented a long-standing • To watch a RealPlayer video stream of relationship between the UK’s Royal Family visit: www.imperial.ac.uk/news and Imperial. The College stands on land purchased with the profits of Prince Albert’s Great Exhibition “It was Albert’s bold of 1851 in fulfilment of his vision for a centre of vision that created science and culture in this hub of culture South Kensington. and science in The Rector, South Kensington” speaking on the day, said: “It was Albert’s bold vision that created this hub of culture and science in South Kensington... Albert’s imagination; his pioneering spirit;

10 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180 Royalty gathers to celebrate Centenary

IBE opened by The Queen

The latest developments in robotic surgery and personalised healthcare technology were demonstrated for Her Majesty The Queen when she officially opened the Insti- tute of Biomedical Engineering during her visit last week.

The royal party, which included His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah Bint Nasser Al- Missned of Qatar, was hosted by Director of the Institute, Professor Chris Toumazou.

The party viewed the Institute’s work on personalised healthcare and wireless sensors, which will allow patients to be discharged from hospital earlier than is currently possible while still receiving continuous monitoring.

The royal party also visited the Institute’s robotic Research Associate , Dr Anna Radomska and surgery suite. These robots give surgeons faster. Professors IBE Director, Professor Chris Toumazou show the Royal visitors around the IBE the clinical and technical capabilities of open Guang Zhong Yang and Sir Ara Darzi led surgery but allow them to operate through tiny the demonstration. incisions, making patient recovery time much —Abigail Smith, Communications

Queen Elizabeth II meets Queen Victoria

Her Majesty The Queen unveiled a marble The statue first arrived in South Kensington statue of Queen Victoria as part of her when the University moved to the Imperial visit last week. The statue is located in the Institute, located where the Queen’s Lawn College’s Main Entrance and was is now. commissioned by the University Upon the University’s of London to mark both Queen The statue relocation in 1936 and the Victoria’s Golden Jubilee in was originally subsequent redevelop- 1887 and the Jubilee of the ment of the area by Charter which she granted for unveiled by Imperial, the statue the foundation of the University. Edward Prince of remained there. It left The artist, Sir Joseph its most recent home Edgar Boehm, was Sculptor in Wales in 1889 at the bottom of the Ordinary to Queen Victoria, Queen’s Tower and who sat for him several times for underwent a week the work. long conservation The statue was originally located in process to restore it to its former Burlington Gardens, the former University of glory, before the unveiling. London building, and was unveiled there by —Anne Barrett, Archives and Edward Prince of Wales in 1889. Corporate Records

19 July 2007 • Issue 180 reporter www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter 11 Independent Imperial College London awards its first degrees

Staff and students Rector, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a pleasure to be here today to bestow upon the take part in College its new Charter, 100 years after it received the original. It has been a century of great achieve- Royal visit ment, and my thanks go to all the people, the staff and the students, whose work over the decades Staff and students gathered in the has enabled Prince Albert’s vision to flourish. You Main Entrance and on Dalby Court now face the future as an independent institution to watch the royal visit. and, as we are seeing today, have the privilege of Bartosz and Tomasz Koprowski, awarding your own degrees. second year Electrical Engineering Imperial was founded with the intention that it The Queen addressed students, were in the Main Entrance. should support British technology and industry Bartosz said: “It’s very exciting to see guests in the College’s main entrance as she in the face of international competition. You The Queen. It’s fantastic that the College bestowed the College have certainly fulfilled that aspiration. Today has such a good relationship with the Royal its new Charter. you renew your mission of applying your Family.” Tomasz added: “It makes us even learning, discoveries and innovation to meet more ‘Imperial’ than ever!” the changing needs of society, industry and healthcare. You will also, of Ashley Brown, second year PhD student course, continue to carry out the important task of educating the young in Computing, member of the Union Council, people who will become the future inventors, discoverers and leaders of and editor of Live!, Imperial’s student news business and society. By discharging this academic mission, you play a website, said of the day: “It’s great to be vital role in supporting this country’s position on the world stage. here at such an historic time in Imperial’s I warmly congratulate you on reaching this notable milestone and wish history. Hopefully technology developed Clockwise: Students Tomasz and you continuing success for your next 100 years. Bartosz Koprowski and Ashley Brown here will allow me to still be here for the next watch the royal visit. Centenary celebrations!”

Royal Charter declares Imperial The bestowal of the new Royal Charter is the important document a university in its own right final and most vital part of Imperial’s journey to for Imperial, as eve- independence. rything the College The Charter establishes Imperial College as does and everything it a university in its own right, grants it the power stands for flows directly to award degrees, and also sets out the role from the powers and objects and mission that it is charged with fulfilling. set down in it.” Echoing the College’s founding Charter of 1907, Before the Charter could be passed, the team it states: had to consult with, and gain the approval of, “The Objects of the University shall be to various bodies up to and including the Privy provide the highest specialised instruction Council. “It was quite a job to get everything and the most advanced training, education, ready and approved in time and we were research and scholarship in science, technology always aware that, with the Centenary getting and medicine, especially in their application to closer and closer, this was our most important industry.” task this year,” said Jon. “It was a great relief The new Charter, which is written on vellum when we finally received confirmation that eve- and was granted by The Queen under the Great rything was approved and sealed. Collecting the Seal, came into effect on 8 July, 100 years to the Sealed Charter from the Palace of Westminster day after the founding Charter first established on the same day that Gordon Brown became the College. Prime Minister was also quite an experience.” Jon Hancock, Head of Central Secretariat —Abigail Smith, Communications and one of the people responsible for producing the new Charter, says: • View the full document as a PDF at “Although it may not be the most exciting www3.imperial.ac.uk/portal/pls/portallive/ read ever, the new Charter is an extremely docs/1/18517696.pdf

12 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180 Introducing Imperial’s first honorary graduates

Professor Mrs Lily Dame Vivien Her Highness HRH Prince Winston Wong Safra Duffield Sheikha Mozah Philip, Bint Nasser Duke of Al-Missned Edinburgh

Professor Winston Wong Mrs Lily Safra is a hugely Dame Vivien Duffield has Her Highness Sheikha HRH Prince Philip, Duke has an enviable career in distinguished philanthro- been happy to follow in her Mozah Bint Nasser of Edinburgh is patron or business and is founder of pist, who has applied her father’s footsteps; the Al-Missned has played a president of some 800 both the GRACE THW Group energies to advancing millions of people who pivotal role in educational organisations, many of and Grace Semiconductor scientific research into dis- have benefited from this and social reforms. which reflect his interest Manufacturing Corporation eases that affect millions choice have cause to be For the past 12 years in science, technological, in China. around the world. happy also. For Dame she has chaired the influ- education and the environ- Professor Wong gained She chairs The Edmond Vivien’s father was Sir ential Qatar Foundation ment. a PhD in Physics from J. Safra Philanthropic Charles Clore, one of for Education, Science and He is the Senior Fellow Imperial before joining Foundation, founded by her Britain’s most successful Community Development, of the Royal Academy of Nan Ya Plastics, the world’s late husband to support post-war businessmen inspired by the Emir of Engineering, in which role largest secondary plastics projects across education, and a celebrated Qatar. In 2003 the Qatar he recently presented the processor, based in Taiwan. science and medicine, as philanthropist. Foundation established prestigious MacRobert He joined as a Superin- well as religion, culture and Following Sir Charles’ Education City, a proto- Award for innovations and tendent in 1979 and was humanitarian relief. death in 1979, Dame Vivien typical university of the engineering to Imperial appointed Senior Vice Both personally and assumed chairmanship future bringing together spin-out company Process President in 1993. through the Foundation, of the Clore Foundation campuses of international Systems Enterprise. As Chairman and Chief she funds research into and later started her universities to share He is a former Presi- Executive of the GRACE Parkinson’s and Alzheim- own foundation. The two research and community- dent of the British Associa- THW Group, Professor er’s diseases, multiple scle- foundations merged to based ventures. tion for the Advancement Wong has injected his own rosis, AIDS and cancer. She become the Clore Duffield Her Highness’ influ- of Science, and has a long- brand of energetic leader- is a board member of The Foundation and, in the ential role in education is standing commitment to ship, vision and spirit. Michael J. Fox Foundation last five years alone, the not just limited to reforms the City and Guilds, acting The Group, which special- for Parkinson’s Research Foundation has donated in Qatar. For the past as its President since 1951. ises in electronic materials and the founder of The and pledged more than four years she has been Within this role he presents and plastics, had revenue Edmond and Lily Safra £22 million to education, UNESCO’s Special Envoy the annual Prince Philip last year of almost Children’s Hospital. health, social welfare and for Basic and Higher Educa- Medal to people who have $900 million dollars. Mrs Safra supported the arts. tion, helping to improve the displayed outstanding Throughout his career, the construction of The At Imperial, the Clore quality and accessibility individual achievement Professor Wong has kept Edmond J. Safra Family Duffield Foundation’s of education worldwide. in the areas of science, close links with Imperial. Lodge for patients and their support led to the creation In 2003 she established technology and industrial He is a Visiting Professor families at the National of the Clore Lecture Theatre the International Fund development. in the Institute of Bio- Institutes of Health near and the Foundation has for Higher Education, Undoubtedly the medical Engineering and Washington D.C. also generously contrib- dedicated to reconstructing charity most closely sponsors the Chair in She has funded many uted to the Department of institutions of advanced associated with him is the Biomedical Circuits. neuroscience and genetics Mathematics Library. learning in Iraq. Duke of Edinburgh Award He also co-founded Future research programmes In recognition of her Two years ago scheme. Since its launch in Waves Ltd, a successful including The Edmund wide-ranging charitable Her Highness was invited 1956, the award has helped spin-out company, J. Safra Global Genetics work she was awarded the to join the High Level Group six million young people providing some of the Consortia initiative, which CBE in 1989 and the DBE of the United Nations – including many from world’s lowest power works to improved under- in 2000. Alliance of Civilizations, Imperial – discover new digital radio broadcast standing of Parkinson’s which is working to combat skills, interests and talents. semiconductor chips. disease. extremism. —Wendy Raeside, Communications

19 July 2007 • Issue 180 reporter www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter 13 Farewell to University of London

Rodney Eastwood has been Why have we chosen to leave? the chance to gain the Director of Strategy and The College has debated leaving a degree directly Planning since 2002. Over the the University for a long time. from the institu- past 18 months he has led the Since the mid-1950s there has tion that they have project which saw Imperial been much less reason to remain been committed to withdraw from the University a member due to the change in throughout their of London on 8 July 2007, its funding arrangements. Whereas studies. Those 100th birthday. Reporter’s previously funding came to who are already Alexandra Platt met up with the College via the University, part way through him at the staff party to find since the middle of last century their courses have out what Imperial’s status as an Imperial has received this been able to choose independent university means directly from the Government, which degree to the College. making it a financially inde- they would like pendent institution. There has to receive. There What is the history of our collabora- also been less need to trade are also financial tion with the University of London? on the University of London benefits as Imperial Imperial became one of the name as Imperial has become will now have University of London’s con- more well known and highly about half a million Rodney Eastwood toasts Imperial’s new status at the stituent colleges in 1929 and has respected in its own right. pounds to distribute staff party. been awarding its degrees since throughout the 1908. At the time the University What will change now we have our College that until now was paid of the University and have no of London had a reputation independence? annually as a subscription to the intention of leaving. I wouldn’t for being particularly forward Students will now gain an University of London. be surprised, however, if a few thinking—for example, they Imperial qualification. I can others felt that their own brand were the first University to think of no other organisa- What does Imperial’s withdrawal was strong enough to support a accept female students and offer tion of our quality that gives mean to the University of London? move away from the University engineering qualifications. other people’s degrees, so I Many other colleges feel that too. It will be interesting to see believe students will welcome they benefit from membership what happens next.

New academic dress Why do we wear robes to graduate? Students at the early European universi- ties were clerics, who would have worn Following Imperial’s independence as a university, The robes our graduates wear today have clothing similar to that of everyone else at graduates will no longer wear University of London robes. their origin in the everyday dress of the the time, but whose attire was distin- New academic dress for the College has been designed to Middle Ages, which consisted of a tunic guished by being long and closed. As fash- and cloak and, to protect the head and ions in the world changed, the church and reflect our own identity. shoulders, a hood. universities retained their cloaks, which The ancient universities in Europe began became the main item of academic dress. The theme of the dress is based on the colour of the dye as communities of scholars and teachers in mauveine, an intense purple aniline dye discovered religious schools around great cathedrals See below for Imperial’s new robes. by William Perkin. William joined the Royal College of or monasteries. Chemistry, which later became part of Imperial, in 1853, and went on to manufacture the dye and become founder Bachelor PhD of the British dyestuffs industry, one of the key advances of the Industrial Revolution.

Vernon McClure, Academic Registrar, said: “It is fitting that our new robes share a link with one of the key discoveries PhD Gown & Hat V PhDersion Gown 3,& Hat 06.06.2007 associated with the College’s Version 3, 06.06.2007 Bachelor (Science) Hood BSc Version 1, 05.06.2007 past, and I also rather enjoy EDE AND RAVENSCROFT LTD 2007 5 EDE AND RAVENSCROFT LTD 2007 5 the added connotation of EDE AND RAVENSCROFT LTD 2007 5 Imperial Purple.” Master Doctor of Science —Alexandra Platt, Communications PhD Gown & Hat Version 3, 06.06.2007

EDE AND RAVENSCROFT LTD 2007 5

HRH Prince Philip wearing Imperial College London’s new academic dress. Higher Doctors Gown & Hat Higher Doctors Gown & Hat V Versionersion 2, 06.06.2007 2, 06.06.2007

Postgraduate Masters EDE AND RAVENSCROFT LTD 2007 5 MSc(Science) and MRes(Science) EDE AND RAVENSCROFT LTD 2007 5 Version 1, 06.06.2007

14 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporterEDE AND RAVENSCROFT LTD 2007 5 reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180

Higher Doctors Gown & Hat Version 2, 06.06.2007

EDE AND RAVENSCROFT LTD 2007 5 Bringing the past to life

Announcing the D-Day landings with a pie protest and falling in love with a fire engine are among the fond memories our staff and students have of Imperial’s first 100 years.

The memories are being shared with the College Doug Wilcox community and beyond on our Centenary website Royal School of Science, 1965–68 ­— www.imperial.ac.uk/centenary/memories “I came to Imperial College keen — and include contributions from almost every to study physics but immediately decade. Some of the anecdotes are included fell in love, like so many innocents below. To submit your own story, which could be before me, with ‘Jezebel’— featured on the Centenary website front page, a demanding, wicked painted email [email protected] or write to the lady, 33 years my senior. Forty Centenary Communications Team, Level 4, years on, I find that some of her Faculty Building, South Kensington Campus. awesome vital statistics seem to still vividly hang in my memory. Could this Goddess’s Iris Pritchard-Davies capacity for inhalation really Administration, City and Guilds, 1940s have been 14 litres? “I worked for a professor of aeronautical Her tappet clear- engineering. At that time we had air raids ances a quarter — we used to take shelter by ducking under of an inch? Her the space of a roll-top desk…which I shared appetite for fuel one with Professor Hill. He was very formal and gallon per token to that moment for his when the air raid siren went he would sort of spin up Kensington weekly round of stand aside, give a little bow and say “After Gore? The feisty old the lab and I was you, Miss Kent”. girl must be pushing awakened by a Towards the end of the war, it was 95 by now, almost roar followed by a rumoured that there was going to be what spanning this Imperial series of expletives they called D-Day Centenary herself, but addressed more at It was very heavy when Britain sent I believe she’s still the poor demon- pastry, more like troops ashore to going strong. strator than at me. liberate Europe. For the uninitiated, The demonstrator cardboard with Coincidentally, the ‘Jezebel’ is of course the was sitting at the some ‘splosh’ in students at Imperial veteran mascot of the front of the lab and had the middle, so they had been very dissat- Royal College of Science. not noticed that anything was amiss. (the students) had isfied with the pies She was born in 1916, a very early petrol- The shelves of reagent they were getting driven Dennis fire engine. Later, when her bottles above the a strike… in the canteen days were numbered, the Dennis company benches obscured his …I was awakened produced by a who spawned her kindly donated the old vision. Apparently, by a roar followed firm called Doubleday. It was very heavy lady to the College. Without the continuing Wilkinson at first pastry, more like cardboard with some love and attention of all her student attend- thought that I was by a series ‘splosh’ in the middle, so they (the students) ants, the old girl would surely have expired dead, perhaps poi- of expletives had a strike and made all these posters years ago.” soned, and was fright- addressed more saying ‘This is D-Day. This is D-Day’. ened by what he saw. at the poor Most extraordinarily, it coincided with But fear soon turned the day of the invasion of the troops and Hannah Gay to anger — anger that demonstrator so Scotland Yard turned up in full force Chemistry 1958–64 should have been than at me to find out who had blown the gasket.” “I was a chemistry student directed at me too, and once, when working but was directed at in the inorganic practical the demonstrator alone. I have forgotten the laboratory, felt extremely demonstrator’s name; if he reads this, I hope tired, climbed onto the he will accept my apologies. Wilkinson bench, lay down was always friendly but never forgot the and went to sleep. incident.” Unfortunately, Professor Wilkinson chose

19 July 2007 • Issue 180 reporter www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter 15 100 years of living science

1907 1907 • 1907 • Imperial College of Science and The RSM, Imperial College and the Students’ Union Technology is formed incorporating Royal Buildings receive support from industrialists including School of Mines, Royal College of Science diamond mine owners Sir Alfred and Sir Otto Beit. and City and Guilds College. 1917 1919 • Sir Richard Glazebrook becomes the first Chair of Aeronautics in the UK.

1927 1928 • 1928 Sir Alexander Fleming The first recorded film footage discovers penicillin, of activities at Imperial is the first antibiotic. made at Morphy Day in 1928.

1937 1937 • 1939 • World War II begins; Sir Walter Norman Haworth becomes Wye College trains joint winner of the Nobel Prize for 180 members of the Chemistry for groundbreaking work Women’s Land Army. on ascorbic acid (vitamin C). 1947 1947 1949 1950 • Imperial College acquires Silwood Park Student newspaper Felix Sir Henry Tizard, Rector of Imperial 1929–42, serves as a field station to provide a site for is launched. as Chief Scientific Advisor at the Ministry of Defence, research and teaching in Biology. where he establishes the Flying Saucer Study to investigate the phenomenon of UFOs. 1957 1957 • 1959 • Exploration Board is set up to Helen Porter is appointed as assist students who wish to Chair of Plant Physiology, travel and work on projects. becoming the first woman professor at Imperial. 1967 1968 1969 • Linstead Hall, originally known Professor Joan Woodward is appointed Professor of Industrial as New Hall, is opened—named Sociology and Director of the Industrial Sociology Unit. for Sir Patrick Linstead, • The Imperial Institute is demolished and the Queen’s Tower Rector 1954–66. becomes a free standing campanile. 1977 1977 • 1978 1980 • The Huxley Building on Queen’s Gate Four year engineering course Joint course with the accommodates the Department of Computing begins, adding a year of study in Royal College of Art in and the Department of Mathematics. industrial, social and economic Engineering Design is studies. established. 1987 1985 1988 • Honda Wind Tunnel is opened to Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine assist the Aeronautics Department in is formed through the merger of the College with St Mary’s developing expertise in testing vehicle Hospital Medical School. aerodynamics. 1997 1997 1998 • 2001 Imperial College School of Medicine Opening of the Sir Alexander Entrepreneurship Centre is formed, the product of a series of Fleming Building—headquarters is launched for the teaching mergers with leading London for the College’s medical and and practical application of medical schools. biomedical research. entrepreneurial ideas. 2007

16 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180 Imperial’s talented staff and students have built a rich legacy of discoveries and advances in its first 100 years, and across these two pages is just a taste of their history. Visit the growing Centenary timeline at www.imperial.ac.uk/centenary, and look out in the Autumn for a special publication highlighting Imperial’s contributions to society. Send your suggestions of achievements to the timeline team at [email protected].

1912 • 1914 • Martha Annie Whiteley (Chemistry) becomes the first woman to Outbreak of World War I sees hold a position on the teaching staff at the Royal College of Science. 300 students volunteer for service, She goes on to found Imperial College Women’s Association. joined by 60 staff members.

1922 1924 • 1926 George Ingle Finch (Chemical Sir Gilbert Walker The first student hostel is opened in Beit Quadrangle. The original Students’ Engineering) develops lightweight discovers the Southern Union building in the north of the quadrangle was designed by Sir Aston Webb oxygen supply equipment used in Oscillation—El Niño. and built in 1910–11. Mallory’s 1922 Everest Expedition.

1931 1932 1933 • Alan Blumlein, Imperial alumnus, Sir Ralph Freeman, an Imperial Boanerges becomes the official invents stereo sound, one of the alumnus, is the chief designer mascot of the City and Guilds most important advances in audio and architect of the Sydney College Union after being bought engineering of the twentieth century. Harbour Bridge. for £40.

1941 • 1943 1943 • Imperial home guard platoon Bruce White (Electrical Engineering) Miss Letitia Chitty and Professor Alfred is formed; 250 students directs work on the Mulberry Pippard study the effects of underwater pass through the Company Harbours, structures used in readiness explosions on submarines and the during the war. for the Allies’ D-Day landings. stresses on submarine hulls.

1954 • 1955 • Sir Roger Bannister, Imperial alumnus, makes Jez is donated to the Royal College of sporting history as the first man to break the Science Motor Club as its mascot. four-minute mile, in a time of 3 minutes 59.4 seconds.

1960 1964 • Clem joins the Royal School of Mines as Professor Eric Laithwaite, its motorised mascot. pioneer in the development of magnetic levitated high-speed trains, joins Imperial.

1971 1973 • 1976 • Professor Denis Gabor is awarded Imperial alumnus and emeritus profes- Pimlico Connection is launched as the Nobel Prize for Physics for the sor Sir Geoffrey Wilkinson is awarded a scheme for Imperial engineering invention of holography. the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for his students to assist with science teaching discovery of the ‘Wilkinson Sandwich’. in local schools.

1982 • 1984 • Janet Vida Watson, Chair in Geology, co-produces the first comprehensive Imperial alumnus Captain Marc Garneau coverage and understanding of the Outer Hebrides, and becomes the first becomes the first Canadian in space, aboard woman President of the Geological Society of London. Space Shuttle Challenger mission STS-41G.

1993 1995 • 1996 • Professor Averil Mansfield John Burland, Emeritus Professor of Imperial wins University Challenge for becomes the first female Soil Mechanics, helps prevent the Leaning the first time. Professor of Surgery in the UK. Tower of Pisa from toppling over.

2002 2006 2007 • Schistosomiasis Control Initiative is Prince Albert Challenge Cup Imperial College London established—to date it has given 39 Imperial becomes the only university to donate and celebrates its Centenary. million treatments for schistosomiasis name a trophy at Henley Royal Regatta—and then and soil-transmitted helminths. becomes the first team to take the new Cup home.

19 July 2007 • Issue 180 reporter www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter 17 A Capital IDEA

The College hosted the annual IDEA League sports event on 13–15 June, which saw 100 students from TU Delft, ETH Zurich, RWTH Aachen and Imperial competing in a range of sporting activities. In the contest, which included Taekwondo, fencing, badminton and a fitness challenge, Imperial and RWTH Aachen teams were neck and neck all the way. In the end, with only half a point dif- ference, Aachen claimed first place, leaving Imperial to a worthy second. ETH Zurich came third and TU Delft came fourth. An awards presentation dinner was held on 14 June in a marquee on The London Challenge was the the Queen’s Lawn, attended by the Rector and Deputy Rector as final aspect of the event, offering well as some of the event’s sponsors and other guests. some light relief after the rigours of the main competition. The challenge was designed to give visiting participants a chance to see some of the capital’s famous sights. Students from across the institutions were split into 16 teams and had to visit ten key locations in the city, including Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and Nelson’s Column. The teams were given a clue at each location to help them identify an international sports personality, with the first team to name all ten declared the winners. The event will be hosted by ETH Zurich next year. —Naomi Weston, Communications

• For more information visit www.idealeague.org. For the full story and a chance to watch a RealPlayer video of the event, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/news

Obituaries celebrating long service Professor Denis Melrose • Dr Mitchell Lewis (Department of Haematology, Faculty of Medicine) was a good friend of Professor Melrose, who sadly died on 2 July, aged 86. He writes: “Denis, a Fellow of Imperial College, was for many years a distinguished cardiac surgeon at Hammersmith Hospital, where he was one of the pioneers of cardiovascular surgery. He went on to develop the first heart–lung machine in the UK, which was constructed at the Hammersmith workshop. In 1955, he and his colleagues, 45 years using potassium citrate and then potassium chloride, succeeded in stopping Emeritus Professor Robert Spence • Senior Research Investigator, the heart safely in anaesthetised dogs on the heart–lung machine. Electrical and Electronic Engineering Subsequent experiments established optimum concentrations of 30 years potassium chloride to stop the heart, and ways of preserving Mr Simon Stoner • Technician, Mechanical Engineering the heart while starved of blood. This was achieved by bathing Mrs Doris Abeysekera • Personal Assistant, Mathematics the heart in a solution of precise concentration of various salts and reducing the temperature to below 28 degrees Celcius. 20 years This ‘cold cardioplegia’ is used routinely today in open heart Mrs Helen Lipinski • Retinopathy Grading Centre Manager, Investigative Science operations. The respect of his colleagues is apparent, with Mr Shahid Hanif • Technician, Physics a ward named after him at the Hospital. When he retired, Mr Simon Webb • Payroll Assistant, Finance Mrs Karen Jones • ICIS Administrator, Human Resources Professor Melrose and his wife went to live in Ibiza, and it was Dr Linda Moran • Research Associate, Neurosciences and Mental Health there that he died.” Mrs Dawn Fairhurst • Purchasing Administrator, Finance

8 The Editor is pleased to accept brief appreciations in remembrance of colleagues, reserving the right to edit these before publication. Please email [email protected] Staff featured will be celebrating anniversaries during the period 14 July–31 August. Data is supplied by HR and is correct at the time of going to press.

18 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180 Data is supplied by and HR is correct at the time of going to press. Staff featured will be celebrating anniversaries during the period 14 July–31 August.

that looks after private schools. Independent Schools Council, an organisation as a Press Officer for the government, and in London Senior Press Officer for local worked in Australia, as a month. He has previously of Engineering earlier this a Press Officer for the Faculty Communications Division as •

Colin Smith Mr Mohamad Jamal, Student Miss Emer Hughes, Clinical Sciences Dr Jongin Hong, Chemistry Dr Amin Hajitou, Medicine Miss Tian Gu, Student Residences Dr Paul Goulart, Aeronautics Mrs Ericka Goncalves, Student Mr Khushal Gohel, Student Mr Michael Goddard, Faculty of Miss Aisha Gloudon, Student Mr Nicolas Gillet, Investigative Mr Daniele Gianni, EEE Mr Richard Getting, Registry Ms Gaia Franceschini, Chemical Mr Fergus Fitzgerald, Estates Miss Onyinyechi Duru, Student Dr Anne Doolan, Medicine Mr Nick Donkor, Student Residences Miss Cate Dobson, Institute of Mr Kofi Danso, Student Residences Professor Bart Clarysse, Business Dr Alvin Chua, Physics Mr Peng Chen, Student Residences Mr Charlie Chao, Student Residences Miss Jolly Chan, Student Residences Ms Sandra Cantilena, Dr Qiong Cai, ESE Ms Ines Cabrita, NHLI Miss Karen Bunday, Professor Robert Dr Philip Bream, Dr Joseph Boyle, Miss Carina Blythe, Ms Hafiza Bibi,EPHPC Mr Faizan Bhojani, Mr Philip Bates, Ms Ines Baptista, Chemical Mr Prasana Balakrishnan, Student Dr Rekha Badiger, NHLI Miss Irum Aslam, SORA Dr Quentin Anstee, Medicine Mr Hossein Afghah, Student Mr Gino Abdul-Jabbar, Student new starters welcome

Residences Residences Residences Medicine Residences Science Engineering Residences Biomedical Engineering School NHLI NMH Brown, SORA Bioengineering Science Investigative Faculty of Medicine Student Residences Physics Engineering Residences Residences Residences joined the

over three years, first as a Project Officer and health, where she worked for working to improve world tional consultancy group us from HLSP, an interna College last month. She joins Wheatley, started at the Academic Registrar, Nigel Vernon McClure, and Deputy rial’s Academic Registrar, then as PA to their International Director. •

Iwona Ryan Mr Fernando Ramirez-Martinez, Dr Nasser Malik, Kennedy Institute Dr Alexandr Malijevsky, Chemical Dr Martin Lukac, Division of Biology Miss Sophie Lubbock, Estates Mr Nico Lopez-Valle, Investigative Dr Fabrizio Lombardo, Cell and Mrs Janet Lloyd, Library Services Mr Zhuoqun Li, EEE Ms Agnes Lee, Chemistry Mr Chung Lau, Student Residences Mr Fabian Lacassie, Catering Services Mr Peter Kwok, Student Residences Mr Christopher Kurzeja, Student Mr Tomasz Koprowski, Student Mr Bartosz Koprowski, Student Miss Angela Knight, Engineering Mr Isaac Kim, Student Residences Dr Marcelo Kern, Biology Miss Inder Kaur, Student Residences Mr Afiq Kadir, Student Residences Mr Viren Jeram, Student Residences Mr Jehan Jayanetti, Computing Miss Eve Jaques, Development and Mr Zhengguo Sheng, Student Mr Thushan Shanmugarajah, Student Miss Ruth Shanley, SORA Mr Rak-Kyeong Seong, Student Professor Michael Schneider, NHLI Dr Henri Schildt, Business School Mrs Anitha Samsonroy, Medicine Mrs Iwona Ryan, Registry Mr David Rowley, Student Residences Miss Sarah Rowell, Registry Mr Khairul Rostani, Student Ms Jennifer Rock, Engineering Miss Natasha Rea, Student Mr Paul Ratcliffe, Faculty of Medicine Mrs Susan Randall, NMH , PA to Impe Residences Residences Residences Corporate Affairs Engineering Science Molecular Biology Residences Residences Residences Residences Physics Student Residences Mr Damian Phelan, Residences Mr Borja Pena, Student Residences Ms Abiola Osho, Student Residences Mr Jin Ooi, Student Mr Steven Nunn, Estates Student Residences Miss Deborah Neesham, Investigative Science Ms Limon Nahar, Student Residences Miss Marta Mlynarczyk, Chemical Engineering Dr Andrea Meniconi, Residences Mr Leo Martins, Student - - 19 July 2007 •Issue180 moving on farewell Miss Yujie Zhao, Student Residences Ms Rongrong Zhang, Student Dr Kong Susanto, Computing Miss Emma Sully, NHLI Mr Anil Sud, Chemistry Miss Yvonne Stewart, Biology Dr Christopher Stevenson, NHLI Dr Richard Starke, NHLI Dr Yeong Soh, Materials Mr Niall Smith, Student Residences Mr Colin Smith, Communications Miss Catherine Smith, Business Ms Agata Skrzecz, Student Dr Sarah Shepley, Development and Dr Elisabeth Kugelberg, Investigative Mr Graham Kirkwood, EPHPC Dr Varol Kaptan, EEE Dr Tom Johnston, EPHPC Mr Paul Hudson, Conference Office Dr Elodie Hudson, Biology Dr Jane Howard, Investigative Dr Andrea Hodgetts, Medicine (5 Mrs Suzanne Henderson, Human Miss Lara Hayward, Library Services Dr Sanjib Goswami, Aeronautics Dr Nelida Gormaz, Chemistry Mr Paresh Ghaghda, Computing Dr Ivan Gentil, Mathematics Dr Toby Gee, Mathematics Ms Marika Fox, Library Services (5 Dr Francisca Fernando, NMH Dr Enrico Faggi, Chemistry Ms Marilyn Evans, Bioengineering Mr Kenneth Emmett, Catering Mrs Rachel Emerson, Investigative Mr Alan Doherty, Library Services Ms Sahar Dhillon, EPHPC Dr Adrian Cootes, Molecular Ms Flora Christofi, NHLI Dr Alexandros Charalambides, Ms Victoria Carr, (6 years)NHLI Dr Martial Boggio-Pasqua, Chemistry Dr Natalia Bochkina, EPHPC Dr Thomas Babbedge, Security Dr Francois Asseman, NMH Miss Silvia Arango, Catering Services Miss Alexandra Anderson, Cell and Miss Chensi Yu, Student Residences Miss Simone Young, NMH Dr Michael Yee, Medicine Miss Ka Wong, Student Residences Mr Jacek Winnicki, NHLI Miss Alison Williams, NHLI Ms Ana Wheelock, Business School Ms Le Wang, Student Residences Mr Jianye Wang, Student Residences Miss Jia Wang, Student Residences Dr Andrew Wandel, Mechanical Ms Ruth Walters, Centre for Mr Dan Walter, Student Residences Mr Kenji Wakabayshi, SORA Mr Jonathan Thristan, ICT Ms Elfira The, Student Residences Residences Engineering Environmental Policy School Residences Corporate Affairs Residences (7 years) Science years) Resources years) (30 years) Services Science (6 years) Biosciences (6 years) Mechanical Engineering Services Molecular Biology

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leavers brief necessary. the [email protected] Engineering (45 years) (6 years) (16 years) (27 years) (18 years) Investigative Science years) Services (9 years) Science (8 years) (29 years) Science Programme Medicine Medicine Biology (5 years) Science Engineering (5 years) Planning (27 years) > www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter

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19 moving in. moving on. notice board 19 July 2007 take note Walk this way… The Sherfield walkway on the South Kensington Campus is being developed to supplement the Dalby Court regeneration project. As well as redecorating and cleaning the floors and sorting out the lighting and handrails, art will be installed based on the various notebooks that students use at Imperial. Each large piece of art will be a page Imperial Fun Fact • “Every time I see an adult of a different type, with some left blank for on a bicycle, I no longer despair for the future of the students to display posters. The project will be human race.”—H.G. Wells, Imperial College alumnus complete by the Autumn term. and author of fantastical novels such as The War of the Worlds, The Island of Dr. Moreau and The Invisible Man A Centenary thank you As an acknowledgement of the College’s appreciation of its staff, a special Centenary award of £100 (pro-rata for part timers) will be included in the pay packet at the end of our To place a classified Reporter includes a regular ‘Birthday’ month on 24 July. classifieds section. Please submit no more than 50 words to the Editor, Alexandra Platt, by email at [email protected] for a chance for your advertisement to appear. Blog update The Editor reserves the right to edit advertisements as Have you checked the Rector’s blog recently? necessary. In the latest post to his online diary he thanks staff for the Centenary party held on 11 July.

He writes: “Wednesday was a fabulous day to classifieds be a member of staff at Imperial. I had a great time at the party and know that everyone I spoke to did too. The South Kensington Campus came alive and the buzz brought Help build success in Liverpool home just how lucky Imperial is to have such Urgent project: Construction Volunteers great spaces.” Project ID: 1936 Organisation: Habitat for Humanity (Liverpool) • To read his other entries, sign up for Time: Mondays to Saturdays regular alerts or just to leave a comment visit minimum 2 days with an overnight www.imperial.ac.uk/rectorblog stay required Location: Liverpool

Liverpool Habitat for Humanity has volunteering been given 2.2 acres of land to build 32 homes over the next five years. Volunteers are needed to help with building work. No previous experi- ence is necessary and all personal protection equipment and Happy 100th birthday, health and safety guidance will be provided. People of all backgrounds, races and religions are Imperial College London! invited to build houses together in partnership with families in need. The organisation is in continual need of volunteers at the site and wel- • The celebration continues—visit the website comes anyone who wishes to make a for a full programme of events of our Centenary positive difference to this community. Imperial Volunteer Centre will pay year: www.imperial.ac.uk/centenary travel expenses and accommodation costs for Imperial volunteers.

For more information To take part in a scheme or to hear more about Reporter is published every three weeks Editor volunteering in general, contact Minna Ruohonen during term time in print and online at Alexandra Platt • 020 7594 8133 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter. • [email protected] Tel +44 (0)20 7594 6715 Reporter will be back in the Autumn Term. email [email protected] For full details of over 250 volunteering opportunities visit: Contributions are welcome (no more than 300 words). www.imperial.ac.uk/volunteering Photography Please note the editor reserves the right to cut or Subscribe to the weekly newsletter by emailing: amend articles as necessary. Information correct at Ian Gillett • Colin Wyman [email protected] time of going to press. • Neville Miles

20 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter reporter 19 July 2007 • Issue 180