Issue 236 ▸ 21 July 2011 Reportersharing Stories of Imperial’S Community Know How
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Issue 236 ▸ 21 July 2011 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community Know how Postgrads show they have the confidence to succeed, thanks to the Graduate Schools’ training → centre pages UAE VISITORS ALEX KENDALL OUTER SPACE Undergrads On the student If you visited from Khalifa union’s support a Goldilocks University get for Imperial’s planet, would a taste of new financial you expect a College life aid package warm welcome? PAGE 2 PAGE 8 PAGE 9 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 21 July 2011 • Issue 236 Magazine makeover Imperial is the College’s revamped represented backgrounds into higher magazine for friends, supporters and education and this year’s Felix Editor, EDITOR’S CORNER alumni. Published twice a year by the Kadhim Shubber, writes about social net- Communications and Development working and life in the library. division, it replaces the alumni publication “We want Imperial to appeal broadly To do list Imperial Matters. The magazine has to our alumni and stakeholders so along- adopted a new editorial approach and is side crisply designed features, we have tapping into both in-house and alumni introduced a travel section, a behind the Even if the weather’s not talent as well as writers, artists and scenes tour, and articles on transport, offering many clues, when photographers from around the world. fashion and innovation,” said Natasha Dalby Court becomes The Spring Summer 2011 issue fea- Martineau, Head of Research Communica- the base for excitable tures new thinking from Professor David tions and features editor for Imperial. You can download Imperial from www.imperial.ac.uk/ yellow backpacked school Edgerton (Humanities) about the rela- “It’s exciting to see the magazine turn into imperialmagazine, or order children ready to get a tionship between the Second World War a reality, and a privilege to have worked copies for distribution taste of university life, I and innovation, and the role that Imperial with so many people to bring Imperial at events by emailing know that summer has played in it. Physics alumnus Dr David Pol- alive for all our readers, whatever their imperialmagazine@ imperial.ac.uk arrived. For many of us, lard talks about guiding boys from under- connection with us.” the quieter campuses provide the perfect opportunity to tackle our ‘to do’ lists. After this issue of Reporter UAE students sample goes to press, at the end of an academic year College life in which my highlights have included learning Twelve undergraduates about the invention from the United Arab of Spray-on fabric and Emirates have completed a Take home a getting a sneak preview of three-week visit to Imperial, the tailless, super energy shadowing PhD students professor efficient plane designs from the Department of of the future, I’m keen to Bioengineering and gaining Want to listen to public lectures draw up my grand plan an insight into research life given by Imperial professors over for Reporter’s 2011–12 in the UK. The students, features. While Reporter from Khalifa University Visiting students Ahouod Almarzouqi the last year? and Meera Al Mehairi in the Department in print takes a break in Abu Dhabi, were each of Bioengineering. until September, Reporter assigned a PhD student, Online will still be open whom they then shadowed for business, so please across the course of the and it isn’t that scary – even in a keep in touch, sending three weeks, assisting world class institution!” me your story suggestions with their work and carry _ The initiative was proposed and telling me what you’re ing out their own mini and funded by Khalifa University, up to, whether you too research projects. its aim being to establish strategic are completing your ‘to As well as attending links between the institutions’ do’ lists or seeking some talks by Imperial doctoral bioengineering departments and sunshine. students, the UAE guests to expose the Khalifa students to EMILY ROSS-JOANNOU, EDITOR had the opportunity to modern bioengineering research. Lies, damned lies and present on the work with Ahouod Almarzouqi, who spent light fantastic Reporter is published which they had been her time at Imperial working on every three weeks during term Professor Martin McCall time in print and online. The assisting, in a symposium research into the structure of a Department of Physics next publication day is held on 8 July, their final protein, enjoyed the experience 22 September. day. One of the visitors, of being in London too: “It’s been Contact Emily Ross-Joannou: [email protected] Meera Al Mehairi, said: “I really easy to adapt to living here, was really worried about even in the short time we’ve been Catch up on what you’ve been Cover photography: Research how I would find postgrad- at Imperial. I’m really enjoying the postgraduate Kelly Morris missing and sign up for next year’s uate research, if I decide rain too! It has rained for the past (MRC Clinical Sciences Centre) programme at explaining her research on to pursue it. The last three four days and the novelty www.imperial.ac.uk/ embryonic stem cells to a weeks have really helped to still hasn’t worn off!” events/catchup lay audience at the GSLSM give me a much clearer pic- —JOHN-PAUL JONES, Symposium. ture of how this might look COMMUNIcaTIONS AND DEVELOPMENT 3 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 21 July 2011 • Issue 236 >> newsupdate Concrete structures expert recognised Financial support by leading institution Professor Nick Buenfeld for students (Civil and Environmental Engineering) has become a new of support. Whilst raising fees to Fellow of the Royal Academy of £9,000 is necessary to maintain Engineering – he is among our quality in response to the 59 new Fellows from around reduction in government fund- the world to be recognised ing, this package will ensure that this month. all those with demonstrated abil- ity to manage Imperial’s courses Professor Buenfeld, who will have the support they need to help take over from Professor David on the back for my t echnical manage its costs.” Nethercot as Head of the contributions in the fields of —SIMON waTTS, COMMUNIcaTIONS AND Department of Civil and Envi- concrete technology and struc- On 12 July Imperial announced DEVELOPMENT ronmental Engineering in Sep- tural engineering. It also comes its financial support package for Read an interview with outgoing tember 2011, was recognised at a time when I am about to Home undergraduate students Imperial College Union President, by the Academy for his research take on a new challenge, where joining the College in 2012. Com- Alex Kendall, on page 8 to find out how and consultancy work with my focus will move away from Imperial College Union and the College prising both tuition fee waivers worked closely to develop the financial industry on concrete structures, my own research to foster- and cash to help students man- support package. including bridges, tunnels, dry- ing excellence in the Depart- age up-front living costs, financial docks, offshore structures and ment, building on the good support will be offered, on a slid- major public build- work already done ing scale, to students from house- The Imperial package ings, focused on “Nick’s research to provide an hold incomes of up to £60,000. making them more ensures that these environment where The College currently spends • A maximum of £6,000 in sustainable, reli- infrastructures, students and staff approximately £3.5 million on non- repayable support available able, safe and which we rely on can excel.” per annum to students from financial support; it estimates household incomes of less durable. so heavily, will be Professor Jeff that by 2015–16, it will spend than £25,000. Speaking about safe and last for Magee, Principal between £6–£8.4 million on his award Professor years to come” of the Faculty of • Financial support available to financial aid for UK students. Buenfeld said: Engineering, adds: those from household incomes The College also announced a up to £60,000. “I feel very fortunate to be “Nick’s research ensures that significant increase in its outreach elected a new Fellow by an these infrastructures, which we programme targeted to give disad- • College estimates amount spent institution that plays such rely on so heavily, will be safe on financial support by 2015–16 vantaged students a better chance will be between £6–£8.4 million. a vital role in advancing and last for years to come. of achieving the academic stand- engineering in the UK and I am delighted to hear that ards in science necessary to enter • A maximum of £9,250 per stu- abroad. I am indebted to the he has been made a new the College and other selective dent per year in non-repayable excellent students and research Fellow of the Royal Academy support available from College universities. and government sources. assistants I have worked with of Engineering. It is an honour Rector Sir Keith O’Nions said: over the years, who have helped that is well deserved.” “I am delighted that we are able to Learn more about the new scheme at to make this honour possi- —COLIN SMITH, COMMUNIcaTIONS www.imperial.ac.uk/studentfinance announce this generous package ble. This recognition is a pat AND DEVELOPMENT Gold in fashion Graduate Schools merge New NHLI Head Pride London The Science in Style The Graduate School of Life Professor Kim Fox, Professor of Clinical Imperial 600, Imperial’s spray-on fashion show Sciences and Medicine (GSLSM) Cardiology, has accepted appointment as LGBT group, lent their held at Imperial last and the Graduate School of Head of Department for the National Heart support to the Pride London September has won and Lung Institute (NHLI) in the Faculty of Festival by marching in the Engineering and Physical in brief a gold medal in the Sciences (GSEPS) will merge Medicine from 1 September 2011.