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Learning Discovery Enterprise CONTENTS Introduction 1 Mission, vision & values 2 Education & the student experience 4 Research 9 Students 15 Staff 18 The engaged University 22 Estate development 24 Information technology & libraries 27 Alumni distinctions & honorary degrees 29 Philanthropy 31 REVIEW OF THE YEAR Cover: ‘Follow Me’ by Jeppe Hein, a public sculpture in Royal Fort Gardens bristol.ac.uk 2008/09 commissioned as part of the University’s centenary celebrations THE YEAR IN PICTURES August Milk: a potted history A paper published in Nature by Professor Richard Evershed in the School of Chemistry describes how his analysis of early Neolithic pottery vessels from south-eastern Europe, Anatolia and the Levant suggests that humans were processing and using milk in the seventh millennium BC – over 2,000 years earlier than previously thought. September Bristol scientists in tiny collisions COUNCIL MEMBERS The largest scientific experiment in the world – the Large Hadron Collider at CERN in Switzerland – was launched, with scientists from the Department of Physics playing key roles in its construction and the interpretation of the data resulting Lay members (19) Written and produced by from the measurement of tiny particles as they collide. It is hoped that the findings Mr James Wadsworth – Treasurer Public Relations Office will fill in some major gaps in our understanding of the laws of nature. Cllr Royston Griffey – Bristol City Council Communications and Marketing Services August September October Mr Denis Burn – Society of Merchant Venturers Senate House October Dating in caves Mr Stuart Goldsmith – Convocation Tyndall Avenue A team from the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology returned from an expedition to the Cantabria and Asturias regions of Spain where they took Bristol BS8 1TH samples from over 20 prehistoric painted caves. This three-year, Natural Elected by Court Environment Research Council-funded project uses a new method, based Mrs Alison Bernays (Vice-Chairman) Photography on the radioactive decay of uranium, to determine the age of the paintings. Mr John Bramhall Front cover: Jamie Woodley Mr Chris Curling November Students rough it for charity Other photographs supplied by members Around 20 Bristol undergraduates swapped their warm beds for sleeping bags, Mr Colin Green of University staff and students, and cardboard boxes and freezing temperatures for one night. The students spent Mr James Foulds (Chairman) by Tamany Baker, Bristol Evening Post the night in the Students’ Union car park to raise money for the Bristol homeless Mrs Dinah Moore (p30), Fotohaus (p25, p26 bottom), charity, the Julian Trust. Mr Bob Morton Hospital Clinic of Barcelona (Year in Mr George Morton pictures: December image), Jason December Bristol makes TIME’s Top 10 Mr David Ord The stem-cell research carried out by Professors Anthony Hollander and Martin Ingram, William King, Dave Pratt, Birchall (see p9) appeared in TIME magazine’s Top 10 medical breakthroughs Mrs Cindy Peck Sheppard Robson Architects (p26 top), and scientific discoveries of 2008. Three other research projects with Bristol Mr Tim Ross Nick Smith involvement also made the list: the Large Hadron Collider (see September); Ms Anne Stephenson NASA’s Phoenix probe mission to Mars (Professor David Catling in the Department of Earth Sciences); and the discovery by Dr Alastair Pike and November December January Mr Tim Stevenson Design colleagues of the earliest evidence of a nuclear family (see p9). Mrs Cathy Waithe www.pelotondesign.co.uk Mr James Wetz 100 treasures unveiled online January Print and reproduction The Cobden Book of Hours was among 100 treasures from the University University members (10) Library’s Special Collections to feature in an online exhibition of some of the Portishead Press. This publication is rarest and most interesting items held at the University, organised as part of the Professor Eric Thomas – Vice-Chancellor printed on Revive Pure White Offset, celebrations of the centenary of the granting of the University’s Royal Charter. Professor David Clarke – Deputy a 100% recycled paper stock using Vice-Chancellor vegetable/mineral oil-based, February Bristol’s brains go to work Professor Malcolm Anderson – environmentally friendly inks. Local pupils took part in a series of interactive workshops, hosted by Bristol Pro Vice-Chancellor University neuroscientists to help the children discover more about the science of the brain by creating brain-based works of art. The children’s work was displayed at Professor Avril Waterman-Pearson – At-Bristol during Brain Awareness Week in March (see p22). Pro Vice-Chancellor March ChemLabS sets new record Elected members of the Bristol ChemLabS, one of the University’s two Centres for Excellence in Teaching academic staff and Learning (CETLs; the other is AIMS – Applied and Integrated Medical Professor Paula Booth Sciences), had a record month for chemistry outreach activities, clocking up almost 1,000 face-to-face engagements as far apart as South Africa, France, February March April Professor Rosemary Deem Spain and Italy. Dr Stephen Lyne Dr David Newbold Accessibility April Naturalist/broadcaster visits Langford If you need all or part Sir David Attenborough visited the Department of Clinical Veterinary Science at Elected members of the Langford to open the new, £3.9 million Animal Welfare and Behaviour Building of this publication in an (see p24). non-academic staff Mr Robert Massie accessible format (eg in May Centenary garden unveiled Mr Tony Macdonald Braille, in larger print or Historian Sir Roy Strong opened the University’s new centenary garden, situated in on tape), please contact the grounds of the Wills Memorial Building and designed by Bristol alumna Anne Students (3) de Verteuil. the Public Relations Office Mr Tobin Webb – President of the on 0117 928 8895. June Nature on display Students’ Union Biodiversity Jenga was one of the many attractions presented by University staff Ms Ruth Jackson – Vice-President and students as part of the 2009 Festival of Nature, organised by the Bristol of the Students’ Union Natural History Consortium, on Bristol’s Harbourside. Vacancy July Debut for whiskered robot Researchers from the Bristol Robotics Lab (a partnership between the University May June July of Bristol and the University of the West of England) and the University of Sheffield unveiled the SCRATCHbot, a robot with sensory whiskers that marks a milestone in a pan-European project to develop biologically inspired artificial intelligence systems. 2008/09 REVIEW OF THE YEAR INTRODUCTION This review of 2008/09, which complements It has been a year of challenge as well as our formal Annual Report and Financial celebration. The University’s outstanding Statements for that year, helps to account performance in the 2008 Research for the University of Bristol’s overwhelmingly Assessment Exercise has had favourable positive reputation within and beyond the financial consequences, but the severe higher education sector. The achievements pressures on the public sector, combined of the students and the range and quality with the global economic downturn, have of the work undertaken by academic and created uncertainties that are likely to support staff are truly inspiring. Council, the prove persistent. Bristol is at least as governing body, is proud to play its part in well placed as other leading universities to ensuring that the University continues to be come through these difficult times in good renowned for high standards and academic shape, but there is no disguising the fact success, and to deliver invaluable benefits that Council – and, indeed, the whole to individuals and to society at large. University – will have to navigate some inhospitable waters. Throughout 2009, the University has been celebrating the hundredth anniversary of The objective is to maintain the University’s the granting of its Royal Charter. What academic trajectory and to keep investing better year than the centenary to refresh in the estate, but to do so in a prudent the institution’s overarching Vision and and sustainable manner. That way, the Strategy? Doing so has been a stimulating University will not merely survive the exercise; the outcome, which you can see current economic turbulence but continue in full at www.bristol.ac.uk/university/vision/, to achieve national and international is that the University is clearer about its distinction as a leading centre for future direction, its priorities and how best education, research and enterprise. to pursue them. Eric Thomas Jim Foulds Top: Eric Thomas, Vice-Chancellor Vice-Chancellor Chairman, University Council Below: Jim Foulds, Chairman, University Council 1 REVIEW OF THE YEAR 2008/09 2008/09 REVIEW OF THE YEAR MISSION, VISION & VALUES TITLE HERE Through its Royal Charter granted in 1909, the University of Bristol is committed to ‘the promotion of Arts, Sciences and Learning’. In its centenary year, the University restated its mission, together with its vision and values. These are set out below. They also appear at the start of the University’s new Vision and Strategy for 2009-16. This Review of the Year, together with the associated Annual Report and Financial Statements, charts progress in 2008/09 against the Vision and Strategy. MISSION To pursue and share knowledge and understanding, both for their own sake and to help individuals and society fulfil their potential. VISION The University of Bristol is an international powerhouse of learning, discovery and enterprise.