“Keep the Cat Free” ISSUE 1505 FELIX 09.12.11 The student voice of Imperial College London since 1949 THE CUTTING EDGE OF RESEARCH THE CHRISTMAS ISSUE The fi nal industry interview of term at the It’s that time of year again – the fi nal issue of 2011 UK’s largest science experiment: Page 6 Imperial College London POLITICS What could happen over Christmas? Page 14 FILM GRIFFON STUDIOS – UP TO SCRATCH? Felix Film Awards – A term of initial occupancy issues for new postgraduate accommodation the best of the year Page 34 Clare Cheng the shiny exterior of Griffon Studios, most of the students to stay plugged of the flats has been highly variable cracks appear to have emerged. into the internet, despite advertis- – with reports that some studios have The Christmas holidays approach, A regular complaint from the first ing claims made online. StudentCom no heating. signalling the end of the first term intake of postgraduate students re- have since been working to provide As a result, the experience for TRAVEL for the residents in the new Griffon volves around the availability of a more IP addresses in order to im- some has not matched the high prices Studios. The new halls of residence, wireless internet connection. Un- prove the service. of rent and the “high-quality” prom- branded a part of accommodation op- knowing postgrads signed their ten- In addition to these problems, a ised by John Anderson, the Chief tion provider GradPad, opened this ancy agreements for Griffon Studios, resident informed Felix that one of Executive Officer of the Imperial October exclusively for postgraduate putting their faith in the assurance the two lifts in Block A, which serves College Fund who invested jointly in students. Located south of the river by GradPad of “wireless broadband ten floors, was out of service for over the project with Berkeley First. Orig- in Battersea, it boasts “affordable, internet connection throughout the a month. Putting this into perspec- inally there were two price brackets secure and high quality accommo- building – up to 30mb”. Unfortu- tive, that is more than a third of the differing by the size of studio, £235 dation”. It emulates top-notch stu- nately it seems so far they have tenancy so far. The break down of for 19sq metres and £300 for 22sq dent living; over 450 modern studio failed to provide such a reliable ser- washing machines is also reported metres. Early in October it was dis- apartments with wireless internet, vice. Residents have reported the frequently. Again in Block A, one covered by residents that a new low- free gym on site, large social space internet, both wired and wireless, to of the three washing machines was er price bracket had been included Visiting the Cannabis with plasma TVs, and a host of shops be “dysfunctional”. Upon complaint, out of order for a week at the end of for 11 of the 452 studios at £195 for within five minutes walk. But has StudentCom informed the residents October, with a second also failing. 19sq metres with half-sized win- Cup in Amsterdam this ‘GradPad’ lived up to all of these that they did not anticipate the vol- This left one washing machine for dows. This was met by speculation claims? Upon investigation beneath ume of mobile devices, expecting the 225 studios in the block. Heating ...Continued on Page 4 Page 44 2 Friday 09 december 2011 FELIX HIGHLIGHTS What’s on PICK OF THE WEEK CLASSIFIEDS Season’s greetings from Felix One spare room available at £487.50 a month in Shepherds Bush, 20 minute cycle from college. Volcanoes and their impact Open to anyone, other lodgers are three males. on society Contact details: [email protected] Professor Stephen Sparks from the University of Four student volunteers are invited to St. Josh Bristol delivers a lecture on the vulnerability of the International School, Chennai, India during the modern world when confronted by volcanic activity. 2012 summer vacation. Considering such events as the disruption caused For more information contact Tony Britto at by Iceland’s volcanic activity in 2010, volcanology [email protected], or call 02070960879 or will be shown to be a key tool in tackling such future 07438888105 events. Just so we’re clear, Felix accepts no responsibility 1.31 Royal School of Mines for services bought or sold, capiche? Good. Thursday 15 December 17:15–18:15 Until next year, folks. We’re off on the next Coca-Cola truck out of here Open to all This may be the last issue of term, but Lolcats of teh Xmas Competition we’ve gone all out to bring you the best of Christmas. Expecting the usual roast dinner An outrageous number of you entered both of our recipe from the Food Section? Well we’ve competitions last week. In fact, our STABILO pen was the most popular competition of the year so gone all alternative; chocolate, coffee and far. What that means? I’m not too sure. Anyway, on with the results! cupcakes await on Page 42. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Pen Competition Editor Winner: Alexandra Turner make sure you check out Ping Pong the new website and join in the science discussion Winner: www.isciencemag.co.uk Look out for issue 19: Da Jung Unexplored worlds out 13th January Congratulations! We’ll be in touch. Felix, Beit Quad, Prince Consort Road, London SW7 2BB. Email: [email protected]. Tel: 020 7594 8072. Fax: 020 7594 8065. Printed by The Harmsworth Printing Ltd, Northcliffe House, Meadow Road, Derby. Registered newspaper ISSN 1040-0711. FELIX Copyright © Felix 2011. Editor-in-Chief Matthew Colvin Deputy Editor Charles Betts News Editors Sophia David Alex Nowbar Reporters Paul Beaumont Carol Ann Cheah Clare Cheng Alexander Karapetian Niki Kesharaju Maciej Matuszewski Navid Nabijou Deepka Rana Features Editors Katy Bettany Stephen Smith Sports Editors Indy Leclercq David Wilson Sports Rookies Gabriel Oppetit Johnny Wong Science Editors Kelly Oakes Alexander Karapetian Politics Editors Rajat Jain Joseph Letts Business Editors Beñat Gurrutxaga Lerma Nina Kearsey Technology Editors Chris Bowers Feroz Salam Comment Editors Tim Arbabzadah Samuel Horti Arts Editors Will Prince Eva Rosenthal Music Editors Íñigo Martínez De Rituerto Stephen Smith Fashion Editors Saskia Verhagen Alice Yang Television Editors Matt Allinson James Simpson Film Editors John Park Lucy Wiles Games Editor Laurence Pope Food Editors Anastasia Eleftheriou Michael Krestas Home & Garden Editors Tim Arbabzadah Charles Betts Navid Nabijou Travel Editors Dushi Arumuganesan Chris Richardson Online Editors Chris Birkett Philip Kent Jonathan Kim Annina Sartor Kadhim Shubber Puzzles Captain James Hook Photo Editor Miles Robertson Copy Editors Veli Akiner Sameera Auckburally Carol Ann Cheah Philip Kent Jonathan Peek Deepka Rana Annina Sartor FELIX Friday 09 december 2011 3 News Editors: Sophia David Alex Nowbar [email protected] NEWS Blast Injury Centre set up at Imperial Royal British Legion provides £5m towards understanding roadside bomb injuries Imperial College London Sophia David practice has improved greatly so that age to extremities, but also affect the Alex Nowbar there is a greater prospect of survival. body internally, damaging whole organs We now need to assess the effects of such as the lung, symptoms of which A new £8m Royal British Legion Cen- blasts on these survivors. We urgently may not show for days. Therefore, it tre for Blast Injury Studies at Imperial need to know more, so that we can pro- is crucial to understand system-wide College has offi cially opened this week. tect and treat people more effectively.” internal trauma, information which The Centre aims to provide a better un- could lead to new therapies and better derstanding of the injuries caused by outcomes for patients. Researchers at roadside bombs, or Improvised Explo- “We urgently need to the Centre are aiming to develop a test sive Devices (IEDs). These are the lead- to diagnose Blast Lung, the most com- ing cause of death and injury for Service know more, so that mon cause of death among people who personnel on operations in Afghanistan initially survive an explosion. An early and Iraq. we can... treat peo- diagnosis could help prevent complica- At the research centre, based in the tions such as fl uid build-up in the lung, Department of Bioengineering, civil- ple more effectively” improving the chances of survival for ian engineers and scientists will work patients. together with military doctors in order One model that Imperial Blast is al- to improve both treatment and means of The Royal British Legion, the leading ready using for its research is an Anti- protection against roadside bombs. One Armed Forces charity, is providing £5m vehicle, Underbelly, Blast-Injury Simu- potential benefi t is the design of “intel- to establish the Centre which will also lator (AnUBIS), the only device of its ligent” combat boots that are better able be partially funded by Imperial itself. kind in the world, which can simulate a to defl ect the impact of a roadside bomb The research will build on the work al- roadside bomb blast in laboratory con- since foot and heel injuries account for ready carried out by the Imperial Blast ditions. This device is able to reproduce a large number of injuries. Another aim research group at the College. The Min- the velocities seen in the fl oor of vehi- of the research is to diagnose and under- istry of Defence have been supporting cles targeted by bombs by accelerating stand the damage caused more quickly the work of the Imperial Blast group a 42kg plate. This enables scientists to in order to reduce future medical prob- since 2009 and will continue to contrib- assess the effect of leg orientation and lems.