| 3 Somerset House – next steps | 5 King’s partners Cheltenham Festivals | 9 Profile: Professor Eeva Leinonen | 16 International partnerships update

CommentThe College newsletter Issue no 191 | March 2010 King’s to run anti-doping facility for London 2012

THE COLLEGE HAS FORMED AN doping control, analysing alliance with GlaxoSmithKline samples collected from athletes Cheltenham Festivals launch (GSK) to enable its world competing in major sporting DAVID TETT renowned Drug Control Centre events and training worldwide. to operate a World Anti-Doping Working with UK Sport to Agency (WADA) accredited implement the UK’s anti-doping satellite laboratory during the policy in sport, the Centre London 2012 Olympic and carried out more than 8,000 tests Paralympic Games. across over 70 sports last year. The Centre is well respected internationally and has a proven ‘...excellent science record of successfully delivering can play a key role in analysis services for major games. It was the first human ensuring the Games sports drug-testing laboratory are conducted to established outside of an Olympic Games. the highest ethical There will be thousands of standards.’ samples analysed throughout the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the laboratory will Professor David Cowan, Head be in operation 24 hours a day of the Department of Forensic for the duration. The facility Science & Drug Monitoring will be based at one of GSK’s and Director of the Drug research and development sites Control Centre, will lead the in the UK, offering the capacity partnership between GSK and for King’s to run the laboratory King’s. He played a key role in independently, working with the successful 2012 Olympic the International Olympic bid, and has been involved in Committee and International the science of anti-doping for Paralympic Committee during four Winter Olympic Games, London 2012. two Summer Olympic Games London 2012 Chairman and several Commonwealth Sebastian Coe commented: Games. This partnership was ‘Doping control is a requirement King’s and the Cheltenham Festivals celebrated their new partnership at a launch brokered by King’s Business, the of any Olympic Games and event on the evening of 20 January in the Great Hall, Strand Campus, attended by innovation arm of King’s. Paralympic Games. We have more than 150 guests. King’s will partner all four of this year’s Festivals – science, jazz, literature and music. The launch celebration featured performances from jazz The Drug Control Centre taken a partnership approach trio Curios (pianist Tom Cawley is pictured above). See page 5 for the full story. has a track record in anti- continued on page 2 News

King’s to run anti-doping facility Key facts for London 2012 • The Drug Control Centre COURTESY OF GSK was established in 1978 achieve their best are core to with the support of the those of GSK, as we strive to Sports Council, now UK deliver medicines and vaccines Anti-Doping, to analyse that help patients to do more with samples collected from their lives.’ human sports competitors. • There are only 35 accredited anti-doping ‘...we have the capacity laboratories in the world; to be able to help the King’s laboratory is the only one in the UK. protect the health of • The Drug Control Centre the athlete and the has 17 full-time staff; this will increase almost ten- integrity of the Games.’ fold during London 2012. • Analysts test blood and Professor David Cowan, urine samples; each bottle Director of the Drug Control has a unique, anonymous Centre, added: ‘I am delighted identification code. that GlaxoSmithKline has • Urine samples are kept at From left: Lord Coe, Chairman London 2012, Professor David Cowan, Director, Drug Control chosen to make this important -20 degrees Celsius and Centre and Andrew Witty, CEO, GlaxoSmithKline. contribution to our ongoing stored in case additional work at King’s to help deter testing is required. continued from page 1 alliance with King’s College drug cheats from coming to the • Athletes provide ‘A’ and to delivering it for London London together to ensure that London 2012 Olympic and ‘B’ samples. The ‘B’ 2012 and I’m thrilled that excellent science can play a key Paralympic Games. With this sample is only tested if a GlaxoSmithKline is on board and role in ensuring the Games are significant partner we have the prohibited substance is its involvement with the King’s conducted to the highest ethical capacity to be able to help protect found in the ‘A’ sample College London experts will see standards and that athletes can the health of the athlete and the • Samples may be stored world-class facilities available for lead healthier lives,’ said Andrew integrity of the Games.’ for up to eight years in an independently run anti-doping Witty, CEO of GlaxoSmithKline. For further information visit accordance with the operation throughout the Games.’ ‘The Olympic and Paralympic www.kcl.ac.uk/schools/biohealth/ WADA Code. ‘I’m delighted we’ve put this ideals of people striving to research/drugcontrol/

Principal’s column GREG FUNNELL GREG

Dear colleagues of being implemented. financial circumstances in which On a lighter note I was pleased Since I last wrote, Lord These are sensitive issues, UK higher education, like the to take part in the launch of Mandleson has announced major so perhaps it was inevitable country as a whole, now finds the Cheltenham Festivals of financial cuts to the English that these consultation itself. science, literature, jazz and university sector. Unwelcome documents have generated I would emphasise that plans music in the Great Hall in as these are they are by no some controversy, not least have been developed in tandem January. The College’s means completely unexpected, in Arts & Humanities. What with the firm intention to make partnership with these Festivals at least at King’s, and I would needs emphasis, internally as significant improvements to the offers a real opportunity to reach like to thank staff for their well as externally, is that the student experience at King’s, new audiences for our research support in tackling unflinchingly College is genuinely seeking, which demands our attention for and scholarship which I would our response to changed within the 90-day period for a variety of reasons at this time of view as a core part of our mission circumstances. each consultation, ideas about rising applications and increasing to work ‘in the service of Every School, and area of viable alternative ways forward. competition. Indeed, we have society’. And judging by the Professional Services, now has These need to achieve required recently approved a substantial extraordinary performances we plans, to ensure our financial and economies in ways that will investment in teaching, audio witnessed at the launch they academic sustainability, which enable the College as far as visual and other student-related will also be a great deal of fun! are either being discussed, out possible to maintain its academic facilities across the College in Rick Trainor for consultation or in the process momentum despite the difficult support of this. Principal

2 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk News

Somerset House – next steps ‘King’s has signed an agreement to take possession of the East Wing of Somerset House. It is a moment we have been waiting 180 years for. This is an historic day for the College, student and alumni community.’

THESE WORDS, FROM THE PRINCIPAL Professor Rick Trainor, greeted alumni, staff and students at a spontaneous reception, organised by the Alumni Office, held the day after the milestone agreement was signed with Somerset House last December.

‘A moment we have been waiting 180 years for’

Guests, who gathered at the Strand, were also given an advance preview of the innovative plans for the East Wing, which comprises six floors and more than 50,000sq feet of space. The Principal’s speech and clip reel featuring alumni and staff comments is now on iKing’s, the College’s multimedia gateway. This acquisition will give King’s a new front door, opening up the site to the public, providing a new artistic hub for Londoners, and significantly improved facilities for the School of Law. The agreement has been The East Wing of Somerset House. enthusiastically received by former students, including many famous names: ‘A most important and ‘It’s a wonderful building, exciting new phase’ and it’s great news,’ says award- winning novelist Susan Hill (English 1963). Part of the funding to develop ‘It does now open a most the East Wing will be sought important and exciting new from philanthropic sources, led phase in the life of the College,’ by the Development & Alumni commented His Honour Sir Office. Those interested can Frank White (LLB, 1950). join the Campaign for King’s ‘I’m delighted King’s is finally in Somerset House, see: https:// moving into the 19th century!’ alumni.kcl.ac.uk/somersethouse was the enigmatic remark from A King’s law alumna has Alumni, staff and students at a spontaneous reception to celebrate the signing of Somerset satirist Rory Bremner (Modern established a supportive House last December. Languages, 1984). Facebook site (to which a link ‘I am very proud to hear that can be found at the above web Staff and alumni tours of the East Wing King’s will now be associated address) and between this with such a prominent and and those registered for the Staff and alumni can tour the East Wing answering questions. Organised by dignified London landmark,’ Campaign, almost a 1,000 on ‘Open House’ Saturday (13 March). the Development & Alumni Office; Tours will take place on the hour from booking is required for the tours, wrote Igor Stermsek (Law, 2006) alumni have signed up to show 11.30-15.30, and the architects will be email [email protected] on the Alumni website. their support.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 3 News

New Space Physiology programme

GRAINGE PHOTOGRAPHY A NEW MSC IN SPACE PHYSIOLOGY experimental studies of space- & Health, the first of its kind relevant environments, including in Europe, has been established flight, acceleration, heat and cold, at King’s to provide advanced noise, and spatial disorientation. theoretical and practical training Dr Green explains: ‘Space in the physiology, psychology and subjects the human body operational medicine of humans to unique physical and in space. psychological stresses. When in space one typically observes de-conditioning of a number of The first of its kind physiological systems. One of in Europe the greatest challenges which faces manned space flight is keeping people healthy and fully Students will gain in-depth functional, both during space knowledge of the physiological flight but also, critically, when effects of the space environment ESA Columbus Module. re-exposed to gravity, such upon humans, and of methods as returning to Earth or even of mitigating these effects. They medicine and the physiology of sense, whether in research, in landing on the surface of Mars. will be able to study disease extreme environments. Many of industry, in defence, or in national The MSc in Space Physiology and physical de-conditioning in our visiting lecturers are space or international space agencies.’ & Health will provide an space-faring humans, and learn industry professionals, and global The programme will also understanding of the effect of the how to counter and manage such experts in the field. develop students’ knowledge space environment upon human events. ‘Students will gain experience of conducting medical and behaviour and performance, Dr David Green, Lecturer in with our external partners, physiological research in space, and will equip students with the Human & Aerospace Physiology including the Crew Medical and its analogues in terms of knowledge to be able to support who will direct the MSc in Support Office at the European instrumentation, calibration, current and future human space Space Physiology & Health, Astronaut Centre in Cologne, data acquisition and the analysis flight missions.’ comments: ‘This new programme and the RAF Centre of Aviation of results. The programme King’s staff are actively endorsed by the Crew Medical Medicine. The MSc will comprises lectures, tutorials, visits involved in research related to Support Office of the European provide students with a range of to partner organisations, seminars aerospace physiology, building Astronaut Centre, draws on multidisciplinary skills, and will and a substantial practical on the College’s long legacy, King’s long-established research help them to pursue a career in component. Students will gain pioneered by Professor John and teaching expertise in aviation human physiology in its broadest personal experience and carry out Ernsting. Biomedical Research Centre Faculty launch

GRAINGE PHOTOGRAPHY THE NIHR COMPREHENSIVE importance of research and health professionals and their Biomedical Research Centre development in the NHS in scientist colleagues from all the (BRC) based at King’s College her presentation Translational Biomedical Research Centre’s London and Guy’s & St Thomas’ medicine and the National partners and stakeholders. This NHS Foundation Trust took Institute for Health Research: past, collaboration is very exciting another important step forward present and future. Around 300 as it has the potential to drive in December with the opening doctors, nurses, allied healthcare forward the development of of its physical home on the professionals and scientists from new diagnostic procedures and 16th floor of Guy’s Tower and the Trust, King’s, and the BRC’s treatments, for a number of a keynote lecture for members other hospital and university From left: Professor Richard Trembath, diseases and conditions, which of the Faculty of Translational partners attended the event. Director of the comprehensive Biomedical we want to bring to our patients Research Centre, Professor Dame Sally Medicine. Professor Robert Lechler, Vice- Davies, Professor Graham Lord, Ron Kerr, at the earliest opportunity.’ Principal (Health) at King’s and Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Professor Graham Lord, Chair Executive Director King’s Health NHS Foundation Trust, and Professor of the Faculty of Translational Robert Lechler. ‘An environment that Partners, commented that: ‘The Medicine, said: ‘The physical fosters collaboration’ Biomedical Research Centre, and the Centre came into being, home of the Biomedical Research its Faculty, encompasses King’s it has also played a key role in Centre on the 16th floor of Guy’s Health Partners’ mission of strengthening of the ties between Tower provides an environment Professor Dame Sally Davies, integrating world-class research, the Trust and the College. The that fosters collaboration, and Director General of Research and clinical care and education Faculty will further support where researchers can go for all Development at the Department and training to improve patient this ambition, by bringing the support they need to drive of Health, spoke about the healthcare and outcomes. Since together doctors, nurses, allied forward their research.’

4 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk News

King’s partners Cheltenham Festivals

ALL PHOTOS BY DAVID TETT KING’S AND THE CHELTENHAM Festivals celebrated their new partnership at a special launch event on the evening of 20 January in the Great Hall, Strand Campus, attended by more than 150 guests. King’s will partner all four of this year’s Festivals – science, jazz, literature and music.

The Festivals have an impact on literally millions of people

Since the launch of the Cheltenham Music Festival in 1945 and the Literature Festival in 1949, Cheltenham has been at the forefront of contemporary British culture. With the introduction of the Jazz Guests at the launch of the new partnership in the Great Hall. Festival in 1996 and the Science Festival in 2002 Cheltenham Festivals secured a reputation for innovation and excellence, attracting international attention with audiences and performers drawn from across the world. A thriving education programme takes the Festivals out into schools and the community, so generating new audiences, and extensive media coverage for the Festivals means that they have an impact on literally millions of people. Some of the most distinguished men and women of letters, science and music have Journalist Kate Adie OBE and Professor been involved with the Festivals Andrew Lambert from the Department of War Studies. over the years, including a significant number of academics from King’s. Dr Mark Miodownik, Head of the Materials Research Group, who provided an Writer and comedian AL Kennedy provided an interactive presentation on the science ‘Communicating the entertaining insight into the life of a writer. behind chocolate at the launch. fruits of research and presents us with a perfect featured an entertaining scholarship to a wider opportunity to fulfil this mission insight into the life of a writer, public’ by communicating the fruits of given by writer and comedian research and scholarship to a AL Kennedy, and musical wider public.’ performances from pianist James In his welcome address at Announcing the new Rhodes and jazz trio Curios. the launch event, the Principal, relationship with King’s, Donna King’s Dr Mark Miodownik, Professor Rick Trainor, said: ‘We Renney, Chief Executive of who sits on the advisory board of are dedicated to the advancement Cheltenham Festivals, added that the Science Festival, provided an of knowledge, learning and she was proud that the Festivals amusing interactive presentation understanding in the service would be associated with such a on the science behind chocolate. of society and so partnership prestigious university. For further information visit: A human statue played the music of the with the Cheltenham Festivals The launch celebration http://cheltenhamfestivals.com/ spheres throughout.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 5 News

HRH The Princess Royal speaks

MAX ATTENBOROUGH/REDR THE HUMANITARIAN FUTURES to ignore the expertise and Programme in the Department of innovation residing in the private War Studies and the international sector if they were to meet future disaster relief charity RedR challenges. He further called on hosted more than 150 delegates the humanitarian community to in the Great Hall, Strand Campus overcome traditional suspicions at the end of last term. The and recognise the potential role event had a high-profile line the private sector has to play in up of speakers, including HRH humanitarian relief. The Princess Royal and Sir John RedR President and Holmes, UN Emergency Relief Chancellor of the University Co-ordinator. of London HRH The Princess The conference entitled Hard Royal gave a highly engaging Realities and Future Necessities: and topical speech on the need The Role of the Private Sector in for further co-ordination and Humanitarian Efforts provided co-operation to ensure better an important platform for cross- aid responses and to face sector discussion and debate by future challenges. She spoke HRH The Princess Royal, RedR President and Chancellor of the University of London. bringing together expert speakers of the important developments and delegates from the private within the sector over the last activities aimed at engaging with Baillie of Kenyan mobile giant sector, humanitarian community few decades and urged aid the private sector and developing Safaricom, and Programme and academia, to examine the organisations to recognise the commercial companies’ Manager of the Humanitarian current and future role of the need to develop sustainable understanding of humanitarian Research Group at the French private sector in meeting aid business in countries affected response and principles. business school INSEAD, needs from a broad range of by disaster. The conference had a highly Rolando Tomasini. perspectives. She further commended international profile with HRH The Princess Royal In his key note speech, Sir RedR’s role in developing sector panellists such as Rudolf von was welcomed to King’s by John Holmes said that aid expertise over the last 30 years, Bernuth of Save the Children the Principal, Professor Rick organisations could not afford and especially noted recent Alliance based in the USA, Les Trainor.

Action on antipsychotic drugs Centre of Excellence

An action plan to tackle all other methods have been KING’S HAS BEEN DESIGNATED A the over prescribing of tried. Additionally, the drugs new Jean Monnet Centre of antipsychotic drugs to should be prescribed for a Excellence in ‘European Law dementia sufferers was short period of three months and Governance’ and awarded announced by the Government only whilst a care plan is put in €71,000 for its establishment. in response to the findings place. Professor Banerjee said: The Centre is a collaborative of an independent review ‘Antipsychotics are used too project between three schools: by Professor Sube Banerjee, often in dementia; up to two the School of Law which hosts Head of Mental Health and thirds of the estimated 180,000 the Centre of European Law; the Ageing at the Institute of people with dementia receiving School of Arts & Humanities, Psychiatry and co-author of these are prescribed them home of the European Studies the Government’s National unnecessarily. This review Programme and Centre for Jean Monnet Dementia Strategy. identifies the potential risks and European Studies; and the The use of antipsychotic benefits of these medications in School of Social Science & European Union. medication for people with dementia and presents actions Public Policy, which includes the The Centre proposes an dementia: time for action that we can take to address this Department of War Studies and ambitious programme of estimates that 150,000 people problem. In doing so we would the new King’s Institute for the initiatives and activities, are inappropriately prescribed provide international leadership Study of Public Policy. including: an annual Jean antipsychotic drugs to treat in this complex clinical area as Drawing upon a world- Monnet lecture, conference aggression and agitation. The well as improving the quality renowned wealth of experience and postgraduate workshop; National Institute of Health of life and quality of care for and expertise, the Centre aims a new working paper series; a and Clinical Excellence people with dementia and their to strengthen interdisciplinary regular research seminar series guidelines stipulate that such carers in England.’ teaching, research and outreach of guest speakers; an annual drugs should only be used The review was activities at the intersection of ‘European Week’ of public events when a person is a risk to commissioned by the legal, social and political science organised by students, and a new themselves or others and where Department of Health. approaches to the study of law Jean Monnet blog to stimulate and governance within the discussion and debate.

6 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk News

Booker Prize winner at King’s

MARCEL FEIGEL THE CENTRE FOR LIFE-WRITING Research hosted a discussion about autobiography and fiction between two of Britain’s most distinguished novelists, Hilary Mantel and Fay Weldon, at the Strand Campus.

‘Bringing together academic life-writers with autobiographers’

Hilary Mantel won the 2009 Booker Prize for her novel Wolf Hall and is the author of a poetic and strange autobiography, Giving Up the Ghost (2003). Fay Weldon has followed her 2002 autobiography Auto Da Fay with a series of brilliantly misleading autobiographical novels. The two came together as part of the high-profile series of Dissecting the Self discussions, Novelists Hilary Mantel (left) and Fay Weldon. which are taking place in the appropriate setting of the newly- Fay Weldon reading from her the supernatural and the role of to meet some of the writers they refurbished Anatomy Theatre. recent autobiographical novel, psychoanalysis in their work. are studying. It’s also a great way The conversation was chaired by Chalcot Crescent (2009). Robert Afterwards visitors and to bring together academic life- The Observer’s associate editor McCrum then asked the speakers students had a chance to talk to writers with autobiographers.’ Robert McCrum, who is also the a range of questions addressing the speakers, who were signing This is the second in the author of his own memoir, My the relationship between books. Dr Lara Feigel, Lecturer Dissecting the Self series, and Year Off (1998). autobiography and fiction in English, who is organising the speakers this term include The discussion kicked off with including the ways in which discussions, commented: ‘The Michael Bracewell, Michael Hilary Mantel reading an extract memoir relates to posterity, how series as a whole is really exciting Frayn, Andrew Kotting, Michael from Giving Up the Ghost, and their sense of self is influenced by for students, who have a chance Kopelman and Stephen Romer. Large Hadron Collider producing results

CERN THE NEW PARTICLE COLLIDER AT honorary degree (see page 13). Mathematics Department. CERN in Geneva, called the One of the other major reasons Supersymmetry was Large Hadron Collider (LHC), for the construction of the LHC discovered independently in is now running well and has was that it might discovery Russia and America in 1972. produced its first scientific results. supersymmetry. The universe Its development, which laid the One of the most anticipated is made up from elementary foundations for its application results is the discovery of the particles, one of whose main to particle physics, was Higgs boson that gives mass distinguishing features is the spin pioneered by a small number to particles and is essential for they carry, a bit like a spinning of mainly Europeans which describing one of the four forces, top. For example, the electron included Professor West FRS. the weak nuclear force. It is this and the quarks have spin one half Simulated supersymmetric event. Supersymmetry is thought to force which explains, for example, while the photon and W-bosons be one of the key ingredients, radioactivity and why the sun have spin one. we have never seen. There are together with strings, in a theory shines. ‘Supersymmetry relates theoretical reasons to believe that describes all four forces and Peter Higgs, who predicted particles of different spin but, that these new particles will be its discovery would be a very the particle that bears his name, it turns out that it relates all the found at CERN,’ says Professor important step in the quest for carried out his BSc, MSc and known particles such as the Peter West FRS who came to such a theory. This goal is one of PhD at King’s (1947-54) and electron, the photon, the quarks, King’s in 1978 and leads the the main areas of research of the returned last year to receive an the W bosons we see to particles theoretical physics group in the group at King’s.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 7 News

Early modern theatre items go digital

THE FIRST STAGE OF A PROJECT AIMING in London, holds thousands of to create the world’s single most pages of manuscripts relating to important digital archive on its founder, the celebrated and early modern English theatre eminent actor and entrepreneur has been completed. Edward Alleyn (1566-1626), and his father-in-law Philip Henslowe (d. 1616), the most successful Visit www.henslowe- theatre impresario of the age. alleyn.org.uk The Henslowe-Alleyn Project, which began in 2004, has two objectives; first, to protect Experts from King’s and and conserve the increasingly the University of Reading fragile manuscripts in Dulwich are currently making the College, and second, to make largest collection of material their fascinating contents freely on professional theatre and and more widely available in an dramatic performance in the electronic format. age of Shakespeare and many Professor Grace Ioppolo from A Henslowe-Alleyn manuscript. other leading playwrights the University of Reading is available online. the Founder and Director of English drama and theatre ‘CCH’s work has included Fascinating and extremely this project. She said: ‘Most and social history.’ the development of an online rare items are now available to of what historians know about The project’s Technical catalogue which allows users view free at www.henslowe-alleyn. the invention of the English Manager, Paul Vetch, from to easily navigate the images org.uk. These include the only professional theatre, both as a King’s Centre for Computing and to view them at a very high surviving records of theatre financial enterprise and artistic in the Humanities (CCH), said: resolution. This is sufficient to box office receipts for any play endeavour, comes from the ‘CCH has been involved in the allow detailed palaeographical by Shakespeare, and the 1600 evidence in the Henslowe and Henslowe-Alleyn Project since study better than could be contract to build the Fortune Alleyn papers. 2006, and has provided secure achieved with the naked eye. Theatre in London, listing the ‘This website and electronic storage for this substantial image CCH has also supported the layout and design of the Globe archive were not primarily archive in addition to developing development and publication Theatre, where Shakespeare’s designed to suit the needs of a web-based resource allowing of online contextual materials company performed. specialist scholars but to enrich the archive to be seen and and essays by leading scholars The original collection, housed and enhance the study of all explored by the public for the in the field, which illustrate the at Dulwich College Archive those interested in early modern first time. importance of the collection.’

Rival to drug advisory panel HapTEL Virtual Dental Lab

An independent group business, which he gave at THE DENTAL INSTITUTE IS LEADING learning, and to make accessible designed to give ‘politically King’s in July last year. the integration of virtual reality forms of knowledge that would neutral’ information about In this lecture Professor haptic systems, systems that allow not have been possible without the risks of drugs launched Nutt said that alcohol human touch and interaction these new virtual systems. last month. The Independent probably posed the biggest with the external environment Professor Nairn Wilson, Scientific Committee on drugs harm challenge today. in the dental undergraduate Dean of the Dental Institute, Drugs (ISCD) is lead by the He argued that the relative curriculum, with the launch of a said: ‘The Dental Institute is Government’s former chief harm of legal drugs such as new hapTEL Virtual Dental Lab. delighted to be the centre leading drugs adviser Professor David alcohol and tobacco is greater The hapTEL project (Haptic the integration of virtual reality Nutt. Professor Nutt’s sacking than those of a number of Technology Enhanced Learning) haptic systems in undergraduate from the Government’s illegal drugs. is a £1.5 million four-year project dental education. This innovative Advisory Council on the The ISCD consists of funded jointly by the Engineering work complements the e-learning Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) about 20 specialists including and Physical Sciences Research initiatives which have given the by Home Secretary Alan Dr John Marsden, Senior Council and the Economic Institute international standing in Johnson last October followed Lecturer at the Institute of and Social Research Council the field of flexible learning. The widespread media coverage of Psychiatry, who stepped down involving King’s, Reading and hapTEL project is anticipated a Centre for Crime and Justice from the ACMD following Birmingham City universities. to revolutionise core aspects of Studies (CCJS) news briefing. Professor Nutt’s departure. The four-year project is one of dental education.’ This was based on Professor The panel is being eight large Technology Enhanced The overall aim is to develop Nutt’s Eve Saville Lecture supported by CCJS who will Learning projects whose overall and evaluate haptic and synthetic Estimating drug harms: a risky provide its secretariat. research goal is to improve the online devices which can be used quality of formal and informal by students and professionals.

8 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk Profile

Professor Eeva Leinonen GREG FUNNELL Professor Eeva Leinonen joined King’s last September as Vice-Principal (Education).

Tell us about your career. look forward to drawing on some of that for I started my academic career as a research the benefit of the College in my new role. assistant to Professor Pamela Grunwell who was a pioneer in Clinical Linguistics/ What are your key priorities? Phonology. As a young researcher it was When one arrives in a new place and a exciting working with a person who was somewhat different educational context I quite literally creating a new field of enquiry, think it is important to spend time observing, and through that work I gained my PhD in listening and learning. I am trying to do Clinical Phonology. Prior to that I completed that albeit that there have been a number an MPhil in Linguistics at Exeter. of priorities to work with from the outset. The main bulk of my working life I have King’s is quite simply a great place to study spent at the University of Hertfordshire, and work in, but what we are learning nearly 20 years, starting as a Senior Lecturer from surveys such as the National Student and ending as a Deputy Vice Chancellor, Survey, is that we have some further work to with various roles in between, including do in relation to education and the student Head of two different academic schools experience. (Humanities; Psychology) and Dean of the The recent QAA Institutional Audit Faculty of Health and Human Sciences. also highlighted some areas of quality Hertfordshire was an excellent place to work assurance and enhancement that we need to and develop in and we had some interesting strengthen. I look forward to working with Fact file times creating our identity and finding our colleagues and students on issues relating niche in the UK higher education scene. to learning, teaching, quality, academic Book on my bedside table I have also worked on various projects programmes, and some more specific items I have a number of books always on the nationally, mainly relating to quality and relating to assessment, blended/e-learning, go. At this moment, Sylvia Plath’s The learning and teaching. There are some communications with students, and academic Bell Jar (an all time favourite); Gloria developments afoot in the sector at the programmes, to name but a few. Naylor’s The Women of Brewster Place (a moment that I am particularly interested It also appears that it would be beneficial recommendation from a friend) and Louise in: reviews of the external examiner system to find further ways of valuing the teaching Cummings’ Clinical Pragmatics (a new and the academic infrastructure. I will be function. The College has some excellent book in my research area). looking to ensure that King’s will make its platforms to work on, not least the contribution to these national developments. outstanding staff and students and their Favourite holiday destination commitment to the College. I have no favourites but I have had the What are your areas of expertise? good fortune to have lovely holidays in so In my research I have been pioneering What lessons do you expect to learn from the many wonderful places, including Finland work in the area of clinical pragmatics National Student Survey at King’s? and Lapland (perhaps, unsurprisingly), which is the study of use of language in Quite simply, that students and their learning New York, Bermuda, Cornwall, many context (production and comprehension) by experience is important and matters; that the European cities and camping in Sardinia. populations of children (and adults) who have student population and their expectations Those holidays come to mind first. As does particular difficulty with this area of language are changing and that students (and their the Åland archipelago between Finland functioning. Such people have syntactically funders) are becoming increasingly focused and Sweden which is simply stunning. and semantically well-formed language but on value-for-money issues and consumer difficulties arise when they are using language thinking. Students have an increasing in real communicative situations. Pragmatic expectation to be more intrinsically involved information for tutors on the personal impairment manifests in different clinical in their own educational process and tutor system. populations, and I have spent some time experience, in partnership with the College. There were also a number of working with children who can be said to These kinds of realities of the student of today recommendations, relating to external be on the autistic continuum or have specific provide both opportunities and challenges for examiners, student data and programme language impairments. As a theoretical modern higher education. approval and monitoring processes which framework I have found relevance theory the College will need to address and this of particular value. How did King’s do in the Institutional Audit? work will be formally co-ordinated by the I have also spent a large part of my career King’s did well with confidence judgements College Education Committee, which I thinking about and tackling issues relating to (top grade) in both standards of awards and chair. However tedious, frustrating and time higher education leadership and management, quality of learning opportunities provided consuming QAA audits may be, I believe that particularly focusing on education, learning/ for students. A key findings letter which we they have improved and enhanced practices teaching, quality and the student experience. received before Christmas highlighted some in HEIs enormously. This is the context I have accumulated experience and examples of good practice, including the within which I view the King’s audit too: a knowledge in the past 25 years or so and I Graduate School, the Committee Zone and useful driver for enhancement.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 9 Research news

Health fears for returning soldiers

RESEARCHERS AT KING’S HAVE FOUND deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. disorder amongst UK Service specific heath needs of the UK that common mental health These personnel are at increased personnel returning from Iraq military. This data should be disorders such as depression risk of operational stress injury, and Afghanistan, with disorders particularly valuable for health and alcohol misuse are the top such as mental health problems. such as depression and anxiety service planners, providers and psychological problems amongst However a detailed clinical being second most common. policymakers.’ UK troops post-deployment and picture of their specific health Dr Iversen said: ‘Although The King’s Centre for not post traumatic stress disorder needs has previously been lacking our perception is that PTSD Military Health Research is (PTSD) as is widely believed. in the UK. symptoms are the main source a joint initiative between the The study published in the open A study conducted by Dr Amy of psychiatric illness in Service Institute of Psychiatry and the access journal, BMC Psychiatry, Iversen and colleagues from the personnel, alcohol misuse and Department of War Studies in also finds that reservists remain King’s Centre for Military Health depressive disorders are actually the School of Social Science & at special risk of operational Research and the Academic much more common. Prevention Public Policy. The Centre has stress injury. Centre for Defence Mental and intervention in these areas three main strands of research: Since the beginning of the Health, Institute of Psychiatry, should be a priority. war and health; war and Iraq conflict, more than 100,000 reports that alcohol abuse is the ‘This research has helped psychiatry; personnel issues and UK Service personnel have been most common mental health build a detailed picture of the social policy.

Literacy schemes too short Cause of diarrhoea

The Government’s Skills direct instruction every term, for Life initiative has not over many years, participants significantly improved literacy on the Skills for Life courses or the economic performance received, on average, a total of of participating companies, 30 hours teaching. The study despite what policymakers also showed that the workplace believe. These are the findings does not support formal of the UK’s first study of basic learning. Firms and public skills learning in the workplace sector organisations find it by an academic at King’s. hard to fit classes in with work The £5 billion Skills for patterns and are unable to Life programme is based provide the long-term stability on the assumption that an necessary for effective learning. improvement in literacy Indeed, the study finds that and numeracy will increase the Skills for Life strategy has SCIENTISTS AT KING’S HAVE BEEN Chronic idiopathic bile acid people’s earning potential, left no permanent legacy of involved in a study which has diarrhoea affects an estimated one as well as their productivity workplace training. None of uncovered that a common in 100 people in the UK and it and employability. However, the employers who received type of chronic diarrhoea can cause people to have up to ten according to Professor Alison free on-site courses continued may be caused by a hormone watery bowel movements a day, Wolf who led the study, them after Government deficiency, according to new often for months at a time. This workplace basic skills courses funding ended. A year after research published in Clinical type of diarrhoea occurs when an are having little impact, in their students had taken the Skills Gastroenterology and Hepatology. overload of bile acid reaches the current form. The study was for Life course; statistically colon and causes excess water to funded by the Economic and there were no significant be secreted into the bowel. Social Research Council. improvements in literacy for ‘A fast, easy and cheap The study suggests that bile ‘It is clear from our research English-speaking employees. way of diagnosing bile acid diarrhoea is caused by the that policymakers are mistaken Professor Wolf notes that body producing too much bile in expecting immediate and people’s jobs can be far more acid diarrhoea’ acid, because of a deficiency in major effects on productivity,’ important for boosting a hormone called FGF19, which says Professor Wolf, Sir literacy skills than a short In collaboration with authors normally switches off bile acid Roy Griffiths Professor of formal course. from Imperial College London production. Public Sector Management, The research team is and the University of Edinburgh, The authors of the study Department of Management. explaining to policymakers the researchers say their results say that new hormone-based Professor Wolf believes how funding and entitlement will help more doctors recognise treatments could be developed in that one of the main reasons rules stop adults with poor this type of diarrhoeal illness, the future to treat the condition for the failure of the initiative basic skills from obtaining the and may lead to the development and doctors could potentially is that courses were not long extended tuition they need and of more effective tests and test people’s hormone levels to enough. While school children suggesting ways in which the treatments to help improve the diagnose it leading to a fast, easy receive over 200 hours of problem might be addressed. lives of many people suffering and cheap way of diagnosing bile with chronic diarrhoea. acid diarrhoea.

10 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk Research news

Leukaemia vaccine being developed

SCIENTISTS AT KING’S HAVE marrow transplant. If early trials destroy cancer cells. The research developed a vaccine treatment are successful the vaccine may is due to be published in the for Leukaemia that can be used be tested in patients who cannot Journal of Cancer Immunology, to stop the disease returning after have a bone marrow transplant Immunotherapy. The study chemotherapy or bone marrow because they are unsuitable or a follows successful experiments transplant. The vaccine is due to match cannot be found. on experimental tumour models be tested on patients for the first The study, led by Professors showing that injection with the time. Eventually it is hoped the Ghulam Mufti and Farzin gene modified tumour cells results drug, which activates the body’s Farzaneh and Dr Nicola in the induction of immune own immune system against the Hardwick, has involved intricate mediated tumour rejection. leukaemia, could be used to treat work to develop a man-made The work, which has taken other types of cancers. virus, which carries the two genes 20 years to develop, has more into the immune system. recently been funded by the A white blood cell. Farzin Farzaneh, Professor Department of Health and ‘Rolled out to treat of Molecular Medicine in charities including: Cancer other leukaemias and show that more than half the the Department of Haemato- Research UK, the Leukaemia people with leukaemia die within oncology, said if the trials are Research Fund and the cancers’ five years of diagnosis. successful then the vaccine Elimination of Leukaemia Fund. The first patients to be treated could be rolled out to treat other The research was carried out Leukaemia is a cancer of as part of the clinical trial at leukaemias and cancers. ‘It is the at King’s Experimental Cancer the white blood cells and bone King’s College Hospital, have same concept as normal vaccines. Medicine Centre, which is one of marrow affects around 7,200 the form of the disease known as The immune system is made to 17 new centres across the country patients a year. Around 4,300 Acute myeloid leukaemia, the see something as foreign and can launched to develop basic science die from the disease annually. most common form in adults. then destroy it itself. This has the into treatments for patients as Treatment comes in two stages Even with aggressive treatment chance to be curative.’ quickly as possible. – chemotherapy to rid the body half would usually find the The cells are given two genes King’s Health Partners of the disease, then to prevent disease returns. In the initial which act as flags to help identify members King’s College London it returning either further stages of the trial patients will be the leukaemia. It effectively and King’s College Hospital chemotherapy or a bone marrow enrolled in the trial if they have focuses and boosts the immune are jointly sponsoring this transplant. Latest survival rates had chemotherapy and a bone system’s ability to seek out and groundbreaking research. World’s first heart operation using MRI

GEMMA PEERS A SIX-YEAR-OLD BOY HAS SUCCESSFULLY Research Fellow at King’s, said: had a valve in his heart widened ‘We were faced with a problem using an MRI scan rather because an MRI scanner uses than x-ray imaging. This a powerful magnetic field to groundbreaking technique has construct images of the body. been developed by a team that This magnetism not only caused included clinicians and scientists the guide wire to move around from King’s Health Partners. but also resulted in the tip of the Jack Walborn was born with wire heating up to 70ºC. We have the heart condition pulmonary been working for the last three valve stenosis, which obstructs years to develop a new guide wire the outflow of blood from the that can be used with MRI and right side of the heart, resulting have come up with a fibreglass in a reduction of blood flow to wire that has small iron markers the lungs. Having monitored Jack Walborn had a valve in his heart widened using an MRI scan. along it that can be seen on the his condition since birth, it scan.’ was decided Jack needed an widen the narrowed heart valve. that is especially important for Professor Reza Razavi, intervention called valvuloplasty Traditionally, interventionalists paediatric patients who are at Professor of Imaging Science to widen the valve and allow would use x-ray imaging to an even higher risk from long- and Consultant Paediatric more blood to flow. In this track the progress of the catheter term side effects of the radiation Cardiologist at Guy’s and St operation, a cardiac catheter is through the body, but the new from x-rays. The MRI scan also Thomas’ NHS Foundation inserted into a blood vessel in technique uses MRI. provides a clearer image that Trust, said: ‘We are delighted the arm or groin and then guided Performing the catheterisation contains information about the with Jack’s surgery. After years through the body towards the under the guidance of an MRI different tissues in the body in of research and development we heart. At the tip of the catheter scan means that patients are not real time throughout the surgery. have performed the procedure is a balloon which is inflated to exposed to radiation, something Dr Aphrodite Tzifa, a Clinical safely and successfully.

www.kcl.ac.ukwww.kcl.ac.uk | February |March 2010 | Comment | 11 King’s people

AWARDS OBE in New Year’s Honours BMA book prize MLA Prize A guide to toxicology, prepared Dr Alison Campbell, managing by a team from King’s and director of King’s Business the Health Protection Agency Ltd, made history as the first (HPA), has won a top book person to be rewarded in the award. Essentials of Toxicology for New Year’s Honours List for Health Protection: a handbook for services to knowledge transfer, field professionalswas awarded the being appointed an Order of the first prize in the Public Health British Empire (OBE). category at the BMA Medical Knowledge Transfer is the Book of the Year Awards 2009. process of engagement by the The King’s team consisted John Lavagnino academic base with its external of: Norman Parkinson, Senior sectors that enables innovation Lecturer in the Department of The Modern Language and the application of research Public Health Sciences; Catherine Association of America (MLA) for societal and economic Keshishian, Researcher at the has announced the winner of benefit. Institute of Psychiatry; Virginia the eighth Modern Language Dr Alison Campbell said: Murray, Visiting Professor, and Association Prize for a ‘I am thrilled to receive this Dr Alison Campbell Lakshman Karalliedde, Visiting Distinguished Scholarly Edition. award in a field which is Senior Lecturer. The prize was presented to important to King’s and in Trainor, warmly welcomed Norman Parkinson said: ‘It John Lavagnino, Reader in Digital which the College community the award: ‘On behalf of was a real team effort, and a Humanities in the Centre for is increasingly engaged to great King’s I am delighted that pleasure to work with the King’s Computing in the Humanities effect. As the first such honour Dr Alison Campbell has team and David Baker and Robin and the Department of English, for Knowledge Transfer, I feel received an OBE in the New Fielder of the HPA. There is a and Gary Taylor, Florida State that it is also recognition for Year’s Honours List. This is a skills shortage in toxicology in University for Thomas Middleton: the significant achievements by particularly special accolade as the public health agencies, and The Collected Works and its the profession in the university it represents the first in the field in partnership with the HPA, we companion volume Thomas sector to support innovation of knowledge transfer at any developed a toxicology module Middleton and Early Modern and the translation of research UK university. Such primacy for our Master of Public Health Textual Culture. into public benefit. I am accurately reflects Alison’s programme that would be open The committee’s citation reads: fortunate to work with great stellar contributions to the field to ‘outside’ students who need ‘This monumental two-volume colleagues within King’s and nationally.’ to develop their professional set affords the writings of Thomas nationally within the profession Dr Campbell has been skills. We couldn’t find a suitable Middleton the sustained and who are passionate about involved in Knowledge text, so we decided to produce it respectful editorial attention that delivering innovation.’ Transfer and Technology ourselves. The idea was to provide to date has been offered, among The Principal, Professor Rick Transfer since 1991. an introduction to toxicology early modern dramatists, only to as well as its application to real- William Shakespeare and Ben world acute and chronic chemical Jonson. The work sets the bar incidents.’ high for subsequent collected Strategy award editions in its field and will remain the definitive Middleton Dr Harsh Pant, Department of ERC Advanced for a long time to come.’ Defence Studies, was awarded John Lavagnino comments: the 2009 K Subrahmanyam Grant ‘We sought to create an edition Award for ‘Excellence in Professor Tim Spector, Head of that would allow readers and Research on Strategic and the Twin Research and Genetic performers to see Middleton's Security Issues’ by the Indian Epidemiology Unit, has been work clearly, in a way that was Minister of Defence, A K Antony, awarded The ERC Advanced never possible before. This was a in Delhi for his ‘outstanding Investigator Grant (ERC project that took 20 years and the contribution to the field of Advanced Grant) from work of 74 scholars to complete. strategic studies’. Professor Alan Read the European Research Council I had trouble finding support Dr Pant, currently on for his research into epigenetics for my work in the mid-1990s, secondment, was invited by the Dr Pant spent January and to uncover complex disease traits but it’s all been different since Indian Institute of Management, February this year at the Centre that are associated with diseases I came to King’s in 1998, and Bangalore (IIM-B), India to visit for the Advanced Study of India, such as Diabetes, Hypertension, I don’t think the edition would faculty in their Department of University of Pennsylvania – the Osteoporosis and Asthma. have been completed without the Social Sciences from September first and only academic research Professor Spector has been College’s backing.’ to December 2009. One of the centre in the United States for the awarded 2.5 million euros for the The MLA, the largest and one pre-eminent institutes of higher study of contemporary India. ‘EpiTwin’ project. The project of the oldest American learned education in India, IIM-B has The aim is to enhance King’s will measure epigenetic signals societies in the humanities, exists emerged as the global centre links with global educational across the genome in 6,000 twins to advance literary and linguistic for management research and institutions and help raise its to find the genes modified in 10 studies. education. profile in India and the US. common diseases.

12 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk King’s people

College bestows Honorary Degrees

ALL IMAGES BY TEMPEST PHOTOGRAPHY

At the end of last term, the recipients at a ceremony in the Top row from left: Bottom row from left: Chairman of Council, the College Chapel at the Strand Professor Peter Higgs FRS FRSE, Lord Sainsbury of Turville FRS, Marquess of Douro, and the Campus. The Hon Justice Edwin Professor Lap-Chee Tsui FRS, Professor Eamon Duffy DD FBA, Principal, Professor Rick Trainor, Cameron was also awarded an Professor Marina Warner CBE FBA, Professor M Qasim Jan, Professor Lucia Santa Cruz Hon Justice Edwin Cameron conferred Honorary Degrees Honorary Degree on 18 January on seven highly-distinguished at The Barbican.

Twin studies traditionally have Anatomy Theatre, Double Cube been used to assess the relative Leverhulme and Dancing Barn.’ contributions of genetic and Professor Madawi Al-Rasheed environmental factors. Nearly all Fellowships of the Department of Theology common diseases and traits have Two members of the School of & Religious Studies has also now been found to be heritable Arts & Humanities have won been awarded a Leverhulme and genome-wide association prestigious awards from the Major Research Fellowship studies are discovering many Leverhulme Trust. for her project: The masculine novel genes. However 95 per Alan Read, Professor of Theatre state: gender, religion and politics cent of the heritability is not in the Department of English, Professor Alan Read in Saudi Arabia. She says: yet identified and discordances has been awarded a three-year ‘Combining the methodologies within identical twin pairs Leverhulme Major Research this project will research his of history, social anthropology cannot be explained by known Fellowship to run from October built and planned schemes and political science, this project environmental factors. The 2010 until 2013 for his project: sited at Somerset House while aims to investigate the connection missing heritability could be due Engineering Spectacle: Inigo Jones’ he was ‘Surveyor to the King’s between gender, politics and to epigenetic factors which are Past & Present Performance at Works’ (1625-40). Building on religion in Saudi Arabia. The ideally studied with twins. Somerset House. This award marks this research, the intention is to combination of authoritarian Professor Spector says: an unusual consecutive success publish three volumes critically rule and religious dogma will be ‘Epigenomics is a major future for a single university Department to enhance the work of a team of investigated in order to shed light growth area. This study will following the Award to Professor architects, designers and theatre on how both have been important enable us to maintain a European Max Saunders in 2008-10. artists operating between King’s factors in shaping gender lead and act also a valuable future Professor Read says: ‘Exploring College London and Somerset relations.’ These awards enable epidemiologic resource and and applying Inigo Jones’ legacy House, who will develop three researchers to devote themselves enable important collaborations as an architect-engineer of the new contemporary theatre/ to a single project capable of with other European researchers 17th century stage, anatomy research spaces on the Strand completion within two or three and cohorts.’ theatre, masque and spectacle, between 2010 and 2013 – the years.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 13 King’s people

DAVID BEBBER/THE TIMES buildings and the rituals of the Language Centre to ask me School and its partner hospitals hundreds of practice questions. – but most of all by the themes They would probably have been of nursing and care. On the able to do as well as me.’ one hand I’ll be observing and Chris has always wanted to be responding to nursing practice on on Mastermind and has watched a very intimate level, and that’s the show since he was a child. He very moving, and at the same says that sitting on the famous time I’ll be looking at ‘care’ as chair under the spotlight was one of the really big themes of our ‘quite nerve-racking, but as a times, and of all times.’ teacher you are used to being in a public situation under pressure, STAFF NEWS and because I had done quite a lot of preparation and practice British film directorKen Russell recently visited the School of Nursing & Midwifery to beforehand, I felt relatively interview Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Head of School, and John Browne, the School’s confident’. Chris really enjoyed Composer-in-Residence, for an article for The Times. Mastermind winner the whole experience and also the On 5 February Chris Sowton, a academic challenge of getting to APPOINTMENTS in clinical environments through Lecturer working in the English know more about a subject which music and compose an entirely Language Centre, appeared on really interested him. new work reflecting upon his the BBC quiz show, Mastermind. Chris joined King’s in Composer-in- experience. His role will involve Chris won his heat and is through September 2009. He is a observing and working with to the semi-final which will be Lecturer in English for Academic Residence students, nurses, academics and broadcast in April. Purposes working in the English Renowned Irish composer other members of the College Quiz show fan Chris’s specialist Language Centre at Drury Lane. John Browne swapped the opera community, experiencing life in subject was ‘The history of Lord’s He provides help and support house for the Health Service the hospital and meeting patients. cricket ground’. ‘I love cricket,’ to, primarily, overseas students when he became the first-ever John said: ‘This is a very says Chris. ‘So it seemed a natural before and during their studies, Composer-in-Residence at the different and very exciting choice. I prepared through lots helping them with the English Florence Nightingale School of opportunity for me. I am being of revision and getting my wife skills and, specifically, their Nursing & Midwifery last term. inspired by the people, the and my colleagues in the English academic writing. The one-year residency has been made possible by a £10,000 grant and expert advice from the PRS Foundation (PRSF), the New Dean for Institute of Psychiatry UK’s largest independent funder of new music. The PRSF led the In January Professor Describing what drew drive to find a suitable composer Shitij Kapur took up the him to the IoP, Professor and advised the School on best appointment as new Dean Kapur said: ‘Nearly two practice for running a musical of the Institute of Psychiatry years ago when I decided residency. Additional funding following a two-year tenure to leave my position at of £15,000 was provided by the as Vice Dean (Research) of the University of Toronto National Lottery through Arts the Institute. to move to the IoP, I was Council England (London). Professor Kapur brings a motivated by the academic The project marks the Florence distinguished and international excellence, the comprehensive Nightingale School’s 150th academic background, having educational offerings and anniversary and is part of its served as Canada Research the tremendous potential of innovative Culture in Care Chair for Schizophrenia and the IoP in partnership with programme, offered to both staff Therapeutic Neuroscience, South London and Maudsley and students, which explores the Chief of Research at the Professor Shitij Kapur (SLaM) and King’s. Two role that the arts, and in particular Centre for Addiction and years on – I am as excited music, can play in the professional Mental Health, and a has recently been elected as about these prospects and have development of nurses. Professor of Psychiatry at the a Fellow of the Academy of further come to treasure the John has used new music University of Toronto. Medical Sciences, UK. collegiality, the students and to respond to contemporary He graduated from the All In welcoming Professor the Camberwell edge of IoP!’ issues before. In 2006 he visited India Institute of Medical Kapur to this role, the He succeeds Professor Rwanda to create the music- Sciences, did his psychiatric Principal, Professor Rick Peter McGuffin FKC who, theatre piece The Mother’s Ring training at the University of Trainor, said: ‘Colleagues after three distinguished years with survivors of the genocide, Pittsburgh and subsequently outside the Institute as well as of achievement as Dean, is and in 2007 he wrote an original completed a PhD and within it have come to know returning to his former key score for Demon Juice, a hip-hop Fellowship at the University of Shitij well during his period role as Director of the IoP’s version of Don Giovanni. Toronto. He is a Distinguished as Vice Dean, and I know that MRC Centre for Social, John’s brief at the School is Fellow of the American they will join me in wishing Genetic and Developmental a challenging one and will see Psychiatric Association and him every success as Dean.’ Psychiatry. him explore the nature of care

14 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk Obituaries

PROFESSOR DAVID NOKES Among the students in whom he HELEN MARIE MILNE PROFESSOR LUÍS DE SOUSA inspired a love of good literature FRSL (1948-2009) were research students David (1970-2009) REBELO FKC (1922-2010) Profumo and Lawrence Norfolk, both of whom are now successful writers and who continue the King’s tradition of engagement with scholarship and authorship. In 1997 David married the medievalist Marie Denley, who survives him. Obituaries for Professor Nokes appeared in The Guardian, The Times and the Times Higher Education. Dr Trudi Darby, Deputy Head of IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT PROFESSOR DAVID NOKES FRSL, Administration (Arts & Sciences) we announce the sudden and who died suddenly, on 19 untimely death of Helen Marie November 2009, had been a Milne (neé Roderigo) at her member of the Department of DR BERNARD E DAWSON FKC home in New Zealand on 3 English since 1973. A specialist (1924-2009) November. IT IS WITH IMMENSE SADNESS THAT in 18th-century satire, he was Helen joined the Diabetes members of the Department of keenly interested in creative BERNARD DAWSON, WHO DIED LAST Research Group in 1997 Portuguese & Brazilian Studies writing and in latter years had September, read Chemistry at working as a postgraduate note the passing of Professor introduced a course on to the King’s after serving in the Royal research assistant on a Diabetes Luís de Sousa Rebelo, mentor, undergraduate curriculum. Air Force during World War UK-funded project investigating colleague and dear friend. His teaching in this field was II. He graduated in 1950 and the role of phospholipases in the Luís de Sousa Rebelo informed by his experiences as a went on to take a Postgraduate regulation of insulin secretion. first came to King’s as Portuguese biographer, as a screenplay writer Certificate in Education at the During a productive three years Leitor in 1956 at the invitation and, most recently, as a novelist. College. as a research assistant Helen of the then Camoes Chair of David Nokes was educated Following this, he taught enrolled as a part-time student Portuguese, Professor Charles at King’s College School before chemistry. After a period of part- on King’s Biomedical Sciences Boxer. going to Cambridge. He joined time postgraduate research he was Research MSc and was awarded His invaluable contribution to King’s College London shortly awarded a University of London an MSc with Distinction in 2000. the teaching of Portuguese and before he completed his PhD, and PhD in Physical Chemistry in This outstanding performance Brazilian Studies at King’s is was still in post at the time of his 1956, specialising in the kinetics laid the foundation for Helen reflected in his appointment death. His first major publication and mechanisms of certain to enter the PhD programme in soon after as Lecturer, from was an examination of the old age reactions in solution. 2001. November 1957. of Jonathan Swift through a BBC In 1963 Bernard returned to Helen’s PhD project focused His long and distinguished play, No Country for Old Men King’s as a member of staff, being on generating insulin-secreting career at King’s culminated (1981). His biography of Swift, appointed Lecturer in Science cells from embryonic stem cells, with appointments as Reader in A Hypocrite Reversed, followed Education (Chemistry) in the and she was awarded her PhD Portuguese in 1983 (Emeritus in 1985 and won the James Faculty of Education. Among his in 2005. She spent a brief period from 1987), and continued Tait Memorial Prize, then John many achievements in teaching, with the group as a postdoctoral after his retirement with active Gay: A Profession of Friendship higher degree supervision and fellow, during which time she participation in research and in 1995 and Jane Austen: A curriculum development he was initiated a project on the role of research supervision first as Life in 1997. His biography of heavily involved, from 1963-86 kisspeptin in beta cells, before Calouste Gulbenkian Senior Samuel Johnson was published with five of the National Science she and her family emigrated to Fellow 1987-92, and then by Faber in recent months, part Teaching Projects sponsored by New Zealand in 2006. Last year as Visiting Professor (1993- of the commemorations of the the Nuffield Foundation. In 1975 she was awarded a prestigious 2004). three-hundredth anniversary of he was appointed Senior Lecturer Foundation for Research, Science Professor Sousa Rebelo’s Johnson’s birth, and has already in Science (Chemistry & Physical and Technology Fellowship by contribution to the institutional been well-reviewed. Interspersed Science) Education. From the Government of New Zealand and intellectual formation of the with the biographies were screen 1987-92 he initiated and then to enable her to establish herself fields of Portuguese and Brazilian adaptations for the BBC, a radio produced Surveys of Research and as an independent researcher in historical and literary studies in play about Johnson and Boswell Development in Science Education the diabetes field. the UK, his rigorous scholarship, and, in 2005, a campus novel across the Nation. Helen was an immensely unstinting generosity and warm The Nightingale Papers. A second Bernard was Honorary popular member of the research friendship is respectfully and novel had been delivered to his Secretary and then Vice- group, and her calm attitude lovingly remembered by all those agent shortly before his death. President of the King’s College and quiet sense of humour won who today work in a discipline Although incapacitated by a London Association from 1978- her many friends. She was an he did so much to establish in his form of rheumatoid arthritis from 93 and was elected a Fellow of outstanding colleague and friend. adopted country. which he had suffered for many King’s in 1984. We will all miss her. Abdool Karim Vakil years, David Nokes was a familiar Michael Poole, Department of Professor Peter M Jones, Head of the Department of figure on the Strand Campus. Education & Professional Studies Diabetes Research Group Portuguese & Brazilian Studies

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 15 International

International partnerships update

COURTESY OF HKU ING’S NOW HAS SEVEN KEY international partnerships, after K Renmin University of China (RUC), the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) and the University of California in San Francisco (UCSF) officially joined the ranks of our global partners. For each partnership the College has allocated funds to maintain and strengthen the partnership, as well as an academic liaison to be the key contact with the partner institution. These liaison academics are:

• University of Hong Kong (HKU) – Professor Cathryn Lewis, Genetics/ Institute of Psychiatry • Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) – Dr Jon Wilson, History • University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill (UNC) – Professor David Ricks, Byzantine & Modern Greek • Renmin University of China (RUC) – Dr Doug Fuller, Management Students take part in HKU’s Information Day for Undergraduate Admissions. • National University of Singapore (NUS) – Professor Phil Moore, Pharmacology of visitors by offering Partner Awards to Double degree in Law and Business • Universidade de São Paulo (USP) – Jawaharlal Nehru University, RUC and USP, The School of Law has negotiated a new Dr Maite Conde, Brazil Institute so faculty from these institutions can spend double degree agreement with the Paris- • University of California in San Francisco time at King’s. Funds have been allocated based international business school ESSEC. (UCSF) – Professor Ellen Solomon, for initiatives with Johns Hopkins and As with other double degree agreements, Genetics UCSF, with the Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS students from the partner institution will Foundation Trust also supporting the Johns come to King’s to complete our LLM Each academic liaison has a budget to Hopkins link financially. programme. support initiatives such as visits, workshops On returning to their home university, the and exchanges that deepen the relationship Research opportunities King’s LLM will count as one year of the between the partner and King’s. King’s staff The Graduate School is further promoting home university’s two-year degree, so that in interested in developmental possibilities with opportunities with partner institutions for the case of ESSEC, students will have both a one of these partners should contact the PhD students and Post-doctoral Research law and business qualification on completing academic liaison directly to find out about Associates. For 2009-10 funding has already their studies. Interested students can email funding possibilities. been agreed for research visits to HKU [email protected] for details. Discussions have also been taking place (one for Arts & Humanities, one for the recently with Humboldt University in Berlin, Institute of Psychiatry, one for the School of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore and Social Science & Public Policy), to Monash Study India 2010 Sciences Po in Paris over the possibility of (Medicine) and to UNC (Medicine). developing stronger links between those Funding for research visits has increased this The Study India 2010 programme is now institutions and King’s. year, and interested candidates can open for applications from undergraduate now obtain funding to visit JNU, RUC students across the UK, offering the Staff Partnership Awards and USP. opportunity to gain valuable experience Apart from funds held by the academic Keith Hoggart, Vice-Principal Arts & and insight into Indian culture and liaisons for the partner institutions, funds are Sciences and External Affairs, comments: developments. Study India 2010 will also available for Staff Partnership Awards, ‘Our collaborations with UNC currently run from 14 August to 4 September; the which offer funding for King’s as well as key involve joint supervisory PhD committees deadline for applications is 17 March. partner staff, to spend at least one month at in five Arts & Humanities departments, Study India is managed by King’s the other university. In 2008-9, these sources so we’ve got very good links in these areas. and the University of Birmingham, paid for King’s staff to have research periods I strongly recommend that faculty as well as administered by the British Council and at Hong Kong University (Arts & Humanities Post-doctoral Research Associates and PhD funded by the UK Indian Education and Institute of Psychiatry) and the National students make use of the funds available, and Research Initiative. Participants are University of Singapore (Biomedical & as they offer a fantastic opportunity to chosen through competitive application Health Sciences), while staff came to King’s undertake research in a partner institution. – last year 19 King’s students were from HKU, the University of North Carolina- From 2010-11 we will also have joint PhD successful. Email [email protected] Chapel Hill and NUS. degrees with HKU and, for Arts and Social for further information. For 2009-10 King’s has extended the range Sciences, with NUS.’

16 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk International

Donation boosts China Institute

A GENEROUS DONATION FROM A This novel post will focus on The King’s China Institute, former student has provided a contemporary China: looking at founded in 2008, provides a focal boost for the newly established its influential role on the global point for the study, promotion China Institute at King’s. The stage as it becomes the world’s and understanding of Chinese gift will contribute towards the largest market economy, as well society and culture. establishment of a Lectureship as looking at other aspects of The Lectureship has been in Chinese Entrepreneurship, Chinese society and culture. named in honour of Dr Abraham believed to be the first post of its The post holder will look at Lue, at the request of the donor, kind at a British university. innovation within companies in in recognition of his dedicated the Chinese context. Many of support and mentoring of King’s the new companies are relatively students from South East Asia. ‘The first post of small but very pioneering, Dr Lue, now Emeritus Assistant its kind’ developing new products, seizing Principal of the College, and initiatives and taking risks. The the most important fields for an alumnus of the Department lecturer will also teach on the contemporary Chinese Studies. of Mathematics, is a strong The alumnus, who does new master’s programme – MSc As a young centre, the Institute supporter of the College and not wish to be named, is from in China & Globalisation – is faced with both challenges and its alumni association, having Singapore. He has given beginning in September. opportunities. We are confident secured 22 scholarships for £750,000 to create the Dr The Director of the King’s that with the generous support students from Hong Kong and Abraham Lue Lectureship in China Institute, Professor of our alumni, we are able to China to study at King’s. Chinese Entrepreneurship which Xinzhong Yao, says of the move forward rapidly to become The creation of this lectureship will be based in the King’s donation: ‘I am extremely one of the leading centres of has been achieved through the China Institute. This is the first grateful for this donation, excellence in research and work of the Development time an alumnus from Singapore which has made it possible for teaching, and to play a key role in Office which played an has funded a teaching post in the China Institute to make bridging King’s and China instrumental role in securing this area. another appointment in one of and the Chinese diaspora.’ funding for the Lectureship. Turkish Foreign Affairs Minister visits

HIS EXCELLENCY AHMET DAVUTOGLU, outlined Turkey’s concept of a respect, thereby making a Davutoglu explained that the Minister of Foreign Affairs of ‘Eurosphere’, an enlarged EU contribution to stability and agenda had included Cyprus, the Republic of Turkey, gave including the Republic of Turkey, peace in the region. ‘We do not Afghanistan, Iraq and the a keynote lecture entitled and the role the country would want a Cold War in the Middle global economic crisis. Converging interests of Turkey play as a link between Europe East between what is labelled as The event was hosted by and the UK in an enlarged EU and and the Middle East. moderate and extremist states,’ the Caucasus Policy Institute beyond at the Strand Campus on The Minister explained that Professor Davutoglu said. at King’s, directed by Denis 12 January. Turkey’s foreign policy in the His speech followed a meeting Corboy, Senior Visiting Professor Ahmet Davutoglu, Middle East sought to ease with the British Foreign Secretary Fellow of the Department of Foreign Minister since May 2009, tensions by promoting mutual David Miliband. Professor War Studies.

Debate: Treaty of Lisbon Mobile Online Prospectus

LAST TERM THE LAW ALUMNI Department and Legal Advisor The Marketing Department The site has been designed Committee and Alumni Office to the Cabinet Office; and Maya has launched the mobile specifically for mobile organised a lecture where experts Lester, barrister. version of the King’s Online browsers, offering a user- in European law and government More than 100 alumni and Prospectus to improve the friendly layout, a simple search discussed the Treaty of Lisbon. guests attended the lecture. accessibility, quality, range function, and fast and easy Professor Piet Eeckhout, Director ‘This and our last two events and accuracy of information access to information on all of the Centre of European Law, have really demonstrated the available to prospective taught and research degrees. chaired discussions. Other capability of King’s and the Law students. Please direct any queries panellists were: Andrea Biondi, Faculty to put on first-class legal For the first time, the new regarding the Mobile Professor of European Union events which attract support Mobile Online Prospectus Online Prospectus to Olivia Law and the Co-Director of the and show there is underlying offers a dedicated mobile- Davenport, Marketing Centre for European Law; Paul demand on our doorstep,’ said friendly site for students to Communications Manager, via Berman, Director, European Robin Healey (Law, 1968), Law find out more about King’s. [email protected] Division of Treasury Solicitors Alumni Chair.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 17 International

Strategic partnership with UCSF

KING’S HAS AGREED TO A PURSUE A institutions see advantages in the strategic partnership with the development of strong academic University of California, San links and relationships, and agree Francisco (UCSF) to explore to establish ties of friendship and opportunities for scholarly co-operation for the purpose of interaction, co-operative research, promoting mutual understanding faculty and student exchange and academic, cultural and and other forms of academic personal exchange’. collaboration. The relationship between the two institutions will be overseen and co-ordinated ‘Real breakthroughs in by Professor Ellen Solomon, healthcare worldwide’ Research Dean and Head of the Division of Genetics & Development at King’s, and Professor Robert Lechler, Vice- Dr Sam Hawgood, MBBS, Principal of King’s and Executive Dean of the UCSF School of Director of King’s Health Partners, Medicine and Vice Chancellor From left: Sam Hawgood, Dean of the UCSF School of Medicine; A Eugene Washington, has signed a memorandum of for Medical Affairs. Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost at UCSF; Mary Anne Koda-Kimble, Dean of the UCSF School of Pharmacy; Robert Lechler, Vice-Principal of King’s and Executive Director of King’s understanding with his counterpart Professor Lechler commented: Health Partners; and John Featherstone, Dean of the UCSF School of Dentistry. at UCSF, Executive Vice ‘King’s is very excited about Chancellor and Provost A Eugene partnering with UCSF, one of history of research success, and and have every expectation that Washington, MD. the world’s leading academic strive to integrate this seamlessly this collaboration will lead to The memorandum of health science centres. Like with clinical care. We too have real breakthroughs in healthcare understanding states that ‘both UCSF, we have an outstanding a global vision of healthcare, around the world.’

ESRC ‘Rising Powers’ awards IHRMA launches

Researchers from King’s have Commissioning Panel. THE KING’S HRM LEARNING BOARD scooped two ‘Rising Powers, The first project, ‘India’s and The Forum for Expatriate Global Challenges and Social challenge in a globalising Management launched The Change’ programme awards healthcare economy: social International Human Resources from the Economic and Social science directions’, will Management Academy Research Council (ESRC). In consolidate partnerships (IHRMA) in December. It has total only nine awards were between researchers at been developed specifically to made, out of 33 proposals King’s, the London School help global organisations address considered by the panel. of Economic & Political opportunities and threats in This ESRC’s Rising Science and Jawaharlal Nehru developing a global employer Powers, Global Challenges University. brand, how they manage and Social Change Over the next year network workforce risk across global programme aims to deepen the fellows will scope and operations and other challenging understanding of the regional synthesise existing research international business issues. and global impact of ‘rising literatures and the project will The IHRMA aims to be the complex challenges for globally powers’ such as China, India, bring together key scholars in world’s premier body dedicated focused organisations. Business Brazil and Russia, and the workshops in London and in exclusively to the advancement managers and HR professionals economic, political and social New Delhi. of education and research in have told us they need to implications for the UK. The second project, ‘State International HR Management. understand these issues better in The new initiative calls for strategies of governance in The IHRMA will have faculty order to develop more effective high-quality social science global biomedical innovation: drawn from leading academics international operations. We research networks that are the impact of China and at King’s and around the world, are very excited to establish our embedded with effective India’, aims to establish a respected practitioners, and International HRM Academy international research network of academics and prominent industry figures within to help facilitate access to collaboration and underpinned policymakers in China, India the International HR community knowledge and research in this by engagement with a and the UK who will work from companies such as Tesco, area and allow firms to distil wide range of stakeholders. together to develop an analysis Ernst & Young and Siemens. solutions appropriate for their King’s researchers are to of competing state strategies Stuart Woollard, Managing own circumstances.’ co-ordinate two of the nine of governance in global Director, King’s HRM Learning The IHRMA will launch its networks awarded by the biomedical innovation. Board, said: ‘Managing staff first learning and development internationally poses incredibly programme in March.

18 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk Focus

Health Service & Population Research The Health Service & Population Research Department at the Institute of Psychiatry has won a prestigious Queen’s Anniversary Prize.

JENNY MATTHEWS HE AWARD WAS GIVEN IN recognition of the Department’s T groundbreaking work in improving the quality of life of people with mental health problems throughout the world. The Department has some 120 multi- disciplinary staff, as well as 65 PhD students. It is based at the David Goldberg Centre in De Crespigny Park at the Denmark Hill Campus and is led by Graham Thornicroft, who is Professor of Community Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry and also the Director of Research & Development for the South London and Maudsley (SLaM) NHS Foundation Trust.

Excellence in mental health care ‘We are committed to improving mental health care through excellence in research and teaching,’ Professor Thornicroft says. ‘Working in collaboration with colleagues in over 80 countries worldwide, and with the full participation of those who use mental health services and their families, we aim Ethiopian women and children. to ensure that mental health care is based both upon strong evidence and sound ethical all its research, through the contribution of the out if a mother’s state of mind has an effect principals, to promote positive recovery. Service User Research Enterprise (SURE). on their child’s health, development, and ‘We work with a wide range of ‘We also want to make our research findings likelihood of survival. collaborators across 84 countries worldwide widely available – not just to clinicians, to carry out research and training, to scientists and policymakers but also to people Teaching contribute to the planning and resourcing who use mental health services and to their The Department has more than 20 staff who of mental health care, and to help implement carers and families,’ Professor Thornicroft provide PhD supervision. It runs two MSc cost-effective new treatments and explains. ‘Our priority is to find out what sort courses (in Mental Health Services Research interventions that are informed by of care is most effective and most acceptable and in Mental Health Social Work with local knowledge.’ to service users and carers and to involve Children and Adults) and provides a range of them in all aspects of our research.’ teaching and training programmes for health Impact Results of the Department’s research are professionals, including short clinical courses ‘Our work has had an impact on a range of therefore published regularly online and in for mental health workers; elearning courses national strategies at home and overseas, printed form through an annual magazine, and continuing professional development. including those on the cost-effectiveness of Towards Mental Health, now in its fourth It also runs seminars, events and women’s crisis houses, and on the National edition (accessible from the Department’s conferences, and celebrated its 10th Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence website). Examples of the Department’s anniversary with a conference in November (NICE) guidelines on ante- and post-natal recent work featured in the magazine include: on ‘Excellence in Mental Health Care: care, depression and schizophrenia. Professor • a research project to help victims of Putting Evidence into Practice’. Banerjee in our Department has led the international human trafficking to reclaim Along with the University of Manchester, UK National Dementia Strategy, and we their lives in Moldova the Department co-ordinates the UK Mental have influenced WHO treatment guidelines • a study showing that South Asian and Health Research Network (MHRN): a and manuals for doctors, and international Black Caribbean people in the UK looking collaboration of eight regional mental health programmes to reduce the global stigma of after a relative or partner with dementia research hubs. It leads the South London mental illness.’ are more likely to accept and embrace Hub of this Network and supports the Service The Department includes three Research their role as carer than their British white User Research Group England (SURGE). Centres: the Centre for Innovation & counterparts Most recently, under the auspices of Evaluation in Mental Health; the Centre for • the development of an easy-to-use King’s Health Partners, the Department has Public Mental Health, and the Centre for the questionnaire for aid-workers to assess launched the Centre for Global Economics of Mental Health. A particular people’s needs quickly and accurately in Mental Health, a partnership with the strength is the direct participation of people humanitarian and disaster situations, and London School of Hygiene & Tropical with experience of mental health problems in • a study of 1,000 women in Ethiopia to find Medicine.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 19 Flashback

Thomas Wakley, The Lancet and the United Hospitals Thomas Wakley, founder of The Lancet, trained at the United Hospitals of Guy’s and St Thomas’ in the early 19th century.

HOMAS WAKLEY GREW UP the theory and practice of surgery, nephew Bransby, a notoriously in a large and prosperous West are probably the best of the clumsy surgeon who Sir T Country farming family and came kind delivered in Europe, Astley wanted to place in to London to study medicine under William we have commenced our succession to himself as Cline and Sir Astley Paston Cooper at the undertaking with the senior surgeon at Guy’s. United Hospitals of Guy’s and St Thomas’ introductory address Wakley had described in 1815 (the same year as John Keats). At of that distinguished in lurid detail a this time the two hospitals faced each other professor given at botched operation across St Thomas’s street where the gates to the theatre at St for bladder stone Guy’s colonnade now look across to the old Thomas’ Hospital performed by Operating Theatre. on Wednesday Bransby Cooper An assiduous and successful medical evening last. In which led to student, Wakley qualified for membership addition to lectures, the death of the of the Royal College of Surgeons in 1817, we propose giving patient and the married money in 1820 and set up in practice under the head appearance of in Argyll Street, near Oxford Circus, in the “Medical and Cooper and Wakley same year. His medical studies had, however, Surgical intelligence” at opposite sides already begun to stir his interests in the a correct description of of the High Court. standards of medical education and of patient all the important cases Cooper won the case care, both of which he had recognised as that may occur, whether in against Wakley’s libel, but being decidedly patchy. England or on any part of the the judge awarded only the civilised continent.’ most minimal damages. The case Attacked and beaten The early issues of The Lancet established Wakley and The Lancet The turning point in Wakley’s life came were, indeed, heavily dependent on their as reforming forces to be reckoned with. shortly after establishing his successful content on Cooper’s lectures, which Wakley Unsurprisingly this led to a deep rift between practice when, in August 1820, he was had arranged to be transcribed verbatim, Guy’s and St Thomas’, which was not healed attacked and beaten in his own home, which without Cooper’s permission. This led to a until the medical schools re-united only 30 was set on fire by his assailants. Lucky to considerable disagreement between Cooper years ago. escape with his life, Wakley had, it seems, and Wakley, followed by an amicable been erroneously identified as the mysterious relationship between the two, and Cooper’s Campaigning stance masked figure who had deftly decapitated lectures continued to be published in The Perhaps most importantly, Wakley’s views the corpses of five conspirators hanged at Lancet. on medical standards formed the basis of the Newgate Prison for their parts in the Cato Medical Act of 1858, and the establishment Street plot to assassinate the Prime Minister. Evidence-based of the General Medical Council which has Wakley was publically exonerated from this As well as foreshadowing evidence-based regulated British medicine with varying allegation (the perpetrator was probably an medicine by nearly 200 years, Wakley’s degrees of success until the present day. anatomy room assistant from Guy’s), but the Lancet laid the foundations for medical Wakley edited The Lancet until his death experience left a lasting impression. Wakley’s audit and professional regulation when he from tuberculosis in Madeira in 1848, having sense of mounting outrage was channelled turned his attention to the often scandalously also been an effective member of parliament into publication through his acquaintance incompetent and callous treatment received and a reforming coroner. The editorship of with William Cobbett, editor of the Weekly by patients at the London hospitals, The Lancet passed down, ironically, through Political Register and the Evening Post: and a particularly St Thomas’, where Wakley was the Wakley family over the next 50 years. stern critic of the government of the day. banned by the surgical staff. He also argued The journal has continued to maintain its strongly for reform in medical education, campaigning stance across a range of medical Mission statement at this time a profitable enterprise in the ethical issues ever since. The first edition ofThe Lancet appeared on 5 firm grip of the Royal Colleges of Surgeons Roger Jones, Wolfson Professor and Head of October 1823. Wakley’s mission statement and Physicians, and railed against medical General Practice. included his desire to: ‘… supply, in the nepotism which was rife and generally went Professor Jones has just become Editor of the most ample manner, whatever is valuable unchallenged. British Journal of General Practice. in these important branches of knowledge This stance brought Wakley into head-on Caption for picture above: Thomas Wakley and as the lectures of Sir Astley Cooper, on conflict with both Astley Cooper and his Credit: The Lancet

20 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk Around the College

ART AT KING’S Ink drawings CLARE JOHNSON

This ink drawing We draw to keep old. Her night-time attacks were rife The ink drawings obsessively Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity for me calm comes from a body of with the fear that she wouldn’t make rework imagery that was comforting acquiring these drawings for us. Our work entitled My parents told me to it to her parents in time for them to to the artist as a child – trees, MRC-Asthma UK Centre researches stay calm, which was inspired by administer her medicine. Knowing homes, people curled up in cosy, into the causes of asthma to find Seattle-born artist Clare Johnson’s that attacks can be made worse by protected beds – while evoking the ways for prevention and cure. These childhood experiences with asthma. panicking, Clare’s parents devised a loneliness and vulnerability she felt ink drawings are not only a very The drawings were purchased by plan for her treatment: every time as a young girl. They are an effort to poignant reminder of the distress Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity for the she used her asthma inhaler, she soothe and calm the artist and any caused by asthma in patients with MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic was told to draw in a large colouring asthma sufferer who sees them. the disease, but their beauty also Mechanisms of Asthma at Guy’s book reserved especially for the Professor Tak Lee, Director of the lights up our research and clinical Hospital, where they are on display. length of each treatment. Drawing MRC & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic environments.’ Clare became afflicted with became both a comforting task and Mechanisms of Asthma, said: ‘We For more information about the asthma when she was five years an indicator of those stressful times. are delighted and very grateful to artist visit www.clarejohnson.com

Duel Day celebrations for 2010

THIS YEAR KING’S STAFF, STUDENTS Winchilsea over the founding of is the branch in New York City. the College will have fond and alumni will be celebrating the College. The Hong Kong and Singapore memories of their time here and Duel Day on Thursday 25 This year’s festivities will branches will be coming Duel Day is a great opportunity March. include various on and off together for their annual Duel to get together with friends to Duel Day commemorates the campus events to celebrate all Day gathering, there will also remember your achievements extraordinary event which fixes things King’s. Alumni around be alumni drinks at the Sydney and happy times spent at the the foundation of the College. It the world will be joining the Opera House and an event in College. marks the anniversary of a duel celebrations and there are plans Paris at the British pub The For more information about in fields near Battersea which to hold 10 events across the Bombardier. Many other events Duel Day and for advice on took place in 1829 between the globe. The Washington DC are planed in various forms and organising your own event, then Prime Minister, the Duke alumni branch is holding a guises around the world. visit the Duel Day web pages on of Wellington, and the Earl of lecture and drinks reception as Everyone connected with the Alumni online site.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 21 Around the College

BBC Radio 3’s Choral Evensong live from King’s

BBC RADIO 3 CAME BACK TO KING’S The Chapel Choir is for a live broadcast of Choral recognised as one of the finest Evensong on 6 January in the mixed ensembles in the country, College Chapel, Strand Campus. singing a broad and exciting Staff and students joined the repertoire to the highest musical congregation for the service. standards. The Director is David Choral Evensong was Trendell. first broadcast on Thursday Two meditations given by 7 October 1926 live from the Dean, the Revd Professor Westminster Abbey and has Richard Burridge, for the Choral been broadcast weekly on Evensong are available on the BBC Radio ever since. This is Chaplaincy website: the third time that the BBC has www.kcl.ac.uk/about/structure/ recorded the Choral Evensong dean/sermons-section/epiphany. from the King’s Chapel. html PhD student provides expert advice to Coronation Street

VICKKI HARMER, KING’S PHD STUDENT which she is a patron, to provide researchers and producers at and clinical nurse specialist breast cancer care advice for Coronation Street to produce (breast care) at St Mary’s Sally Webster, one of the most accurate storylines and details for Hospital Campus, Imperial popular characters on the long Sally’s diagnosis and treatment. College Healthcare NHS Trust, running soap. She reads scripts and provides has been providing expert breast feedback on them to ensure cancer care advice to writers at factual accuracy. Coronation Street in a prominent ‘A positive portrayal Vickki said: ‘This story will breast cancer storyline. of life with and after hopefully assist in delivering a Vickki, who has also provided positive portrayal of life with and advice to script writers for breast cancer’ after cancer and it is encouraging cancer stories for The Archers to find continued efforts to and Channel 5’s Family Affairs, As part of the advisory role decrease the stigma associated was approached by ITV and Vickki, along with Dr Emma with a cancer diagnosis and Coronation Street via the charity Pennery, clinical director at increase the public understanding Breakthrough Breast Cancer, of Breast Cancer Care, works with of the disease.’ Vickki Harmer

2009 Report published Futurity’s 50th member

THE 2009 KING’S COLLEGE recent Duke University, Stanford The content is produced London Report is research in University, and the University by the partner universities now available. This the College of Rochester in the US lead and submitted to Futurity’s magazine-style Archives a consortium of participating editor for consideration. publication, edited by on Virginia universities that manages and The site covers news in the Dr Christine Kenyon Woolf at funds the Futurity (http:// environment, health, science, Jones, features a King’s; the futurity.org/) project. All society, and other areas. sample of the immense impact of air partners are members of the ‘This is an exciting and innovative range pollution on Association of American opportunity to reach a global of research, teaching Londoners’ Universities or of the Russell audience with news of our and commercialisation health; the Group. King’s has now research, and to do so in undertaken at King’s new London become Futurity’s 50th the company of the leading in 2008-9. Dental member. universities of the USA,’ Topics include Education Futurity aggregates the commented Chris Coe, translational research Centre, and a very best research news. Director of Communications. in the Cardiovascular fresh study of Clinical Academic Group of Margaret Thatcher, together with King’s Health Partners; finding College news, an introduction online at www.kcl.ac.uk/media/ Public Relations Department. a biomarker for Alzheimer’s by the Principal, and facts and publications/report.html. Please email Sam Hutton (email disease; how maths is harnessing figures about King’s. Copies are available at [email protected]) stating the power of data in biomedicine; The Report can be viewed reception desks and from the how many copies you would like.

22 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk Around the College

Alum heads up Golden Hoard A KING’S ALUMNUS IS HEADING UP enormous quantity of gold, the select team in charge of the five kilos, which is three times Staffordshire Hoard, the fabulous as much as Sutton Hoo [the Anglo-Saxon treasure discovery last great find of this kind, made in July 2009. discovered in East Anglia 70 years ago]. The highlights from the find were put on temporary ‘Nothing like it has ever display in Birmingham, for just been found before. It’s 20 days, and the public interest was extraordinary. People were quite simply unique’ queuing for five hours to see it. For now, we’ve got a selection on Dr Roger Bland, who display at the British Museum. graduated in Classics in 1978, ‘One thing we’re very keen is managing the unparalleled to stress is that finds like these in his role as Head of Portable are important not just in terms Antiquities & Treasure at the of money but for what they tell British Museum. Unearthed us about the past. Every Anglo- by a metal detectorist in a Saxon expert in this country has field in Staffordshire, the been completely astonished by Hoard comprises around 1,800 this discovery because nothing One of the 1,800 artefacts found in Staffordshire. individual items mostly in gold like it has ever been found and silver and decorated with before. It’s quite simply unique.’ course at Oxford to read Classics volunteer. He recalls it as ‘a very precious stones. It appears to Dr Bland, who was awarded at King’s so he could return positive experience’ and has fond date from the seventh century. an OBE in 2008 for services to to the British Museum where memories of taking part in the Dr Bland adds: ‘It has this heritage, cut short a History he’d previously worked as a Greek Play.

Hazel the hawk in the headlines Equipment reaches Gaza PETER SEARLE ALMOST A TONNE OF KING’S UK and around the world. The surplus equipment has BERCIA initiative has enabled travelled 5,000 miles to reach us to co-ordinate and focus that Gaza. Its destination was the generosity. I was amazed by Islamic University of Gaza the enthusiasm, kindness and – an independent academic energy of the many students and institution which suffered much staff who pushed this initiative damage in the recent war. forward.’ The equipment was sent via Other key members of staff the humanitarian aid convoy, included Dr Andrew Kent Viva Palestina. The collection from the School of Biomedical of this academically-linked aid & Health Sciences. He material was the focus of the co-ordinated the transfer of 2009 activities of the College’s collected items to a holding ‘BERCIA’ project (Books laboratory in the Franklin- and Equipment Recycling for Wilkins Building and supported International Aid). the work of many student More than 50 alumni, staff volunteers who worked to sort and students joined forces with and pack material. He also the KCL Action Palestine organised for College carpenters student society to collect and to make specialised support pack textbooks and laboratory frames and secure packaging equipment to be sent to Gaza. for heavy equipment. Zainab Professor Phil Whitfield, Rahim, an alumna and student Hazel the Harris hawk featured on page Strand Campus – is used to deter former Vice-Principal in the Department of English 11 of the 17 December issue of the Times pigeons and seagulls from building nests (Students), led the initiative. until last year, co-ordinated the Higher Education magazine. Hazel the on the College’s historic buildings. Birds He said: ‘For many years project with Professor Whitfield. Harris hawk plays an important role of prey are frequently used by pest- individuals and groups in the The equipment was collected at King’s. The four-year-old raptor – control experts to keep vermin at bay, pictured on the hand of her handler, including at football stadiums, prisons, College have donated surplus from the College in November. Karl Robertson, in the Quad at the RAF bases and even landfill sites. books and equipment to other The convoy crossed the Rafah academic institutions in the border into Gaza on 6 January.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 23 Research

Brain protein key to addiction Stifling carbon uptake SP BURNS EXPERTS FROM THE INSTITUTE OF discovered that a receptor protein Psychiatry with colleagues for the chemical messenger from Brazil, have identified that GABA played a special role in variations in a neurotransmitter how reward motivations were receptor gene GABRA-A2 prioritised in the brain. The are associated with cocaine removal of the protein showed a addiction. Professor Gunter lack of the behavioural changes Schumann at the Institute of which come about with persistent Psychiatry said: ‘In a large sample cocaine use, so reward-seeking of cocaine addicts and healthy towards drugs at the expense of non-drug taking controls we natural rewards did not develop, identified a genetic profile which even though the stimulant effects protects against the use of cocaine of cocaine were exhibited. and reduces the risk of becoming Dr Gerome Breen from the cocaine addicted by about Institute of Psychiatry said: 50 per cent.’ ‘While the evidence is statistically The research, published in strong, the finding is not of The forest at Niwot Ridge, Colorado. the Proceedings of the National predictive value – we cannot use Academy of Sciences of the United testing of this gene to predict who CONTRARY TO CONVENTIONAL growing seasons mean less snow States of America was led by the will or will not become a cocaine belief, as the climate warms falls during the late winter and University of Sussex who in addict. However, it does suggest and growing seasons lengthen, early spring. animal studies have discovered that drugs targeting this receptor subalpine forests are likely to ‘Our research shows that the relevance of this gene for may be useful in treating cocaine soak up less carbon dioxide, trees in these high alpine forests cocaine addiction. addiction in humans and should according to a study co-authored depend heavily on water from The University of Sussex had be investigated.’ by Dr Dave Moore, Department snow melt for photosynthesis of Geography, and academics and growth,’ says Dr Moore. at the University of Colorado ‘This means that the forests of at Boulder. As a result, more of subalpine trees will be likely Test for high risk drink drivers the greenhouse gas will be left to to take up less carbon from

INGRID RASMUSSEN concentrate in the atmosphere. the atmosphere if snowfall is IN A STUDY FUNDED BY THE ROAD The researchers used a reduced. Warming temperatures Safety Division, Department nine-year record (1999–2007) and reduced snowfall in the for Transport, for research of continuous eddy flux Rocky Mountains makes the concerned with Medical observations from the Niwot forest less effective as a carbon Aspects of Fitness to Drive, Dr Ridge AmeriFlux site, a sink. In the future, as the winter Kim Wolff from the Institute subalpine forest in the Colorado snow fall is predicted to reduce of Psychiatry collaborated Rocky Mountains, to show that further it is not certain that with psychiatrists specialising longer growing season length these tree species will be able to in addiction, from the South actually resulted in less annual adapt.’ Subalpine forests make London and Maudsley CO2 uptake. In the Colorado up 70 per cent of the western NHS Foundation Trust Rockies longer and warmer United States’ carbon sink. (Dr Jane Marshall and Dr Francis Keaney) and clinical biochemists from King’s College Regulation of support workers Hospital (Dr Roy Sherwood or dependent) drinking than and Natalie Walsham) to traditional biomarkers. Professor Peter Griffiths and Dr nurses and midwives. However investigate biomarkers (blood It is well known that some Sarah Robinson of The National there is currently no statutory tests) of problematic alcohol medical conditions (obesity, Nursing Research Unit at the provision for the regulation consumption. diabetes and liver disease) Florence Nightingale School of of the estimated one million Measurement of alcohol reduce the effectiveness of Nursing & Midwifery have been HCSWs working in the UK. concentration in blood, urine or other biomarkers of alcohol commissioned by the Nursing Professor Griffiths and breath is not a reliable indication consumption. CDT was shown and Midwifery Council to Dr Robinson will analyse the of a person’s drinking pattern or to be superior to all other analyse the potential risks and risks and issues presented to behaviour or of whether there is biomarkers in this regard. The benefits relating to the regulation public protection by unregulated an underlying alcohol problem. team recommend that CDT of healthcare support workers in HCSWs. In the first study of its kind in the be the preferred biomarker the UK. Their findings will support the UK, biomarkers were assessed in for the identification of Healthcare support workers Nursing and Midwifery Council three different groups of problem continuous drinking in high (HCSWs) and their equivalents in determining what, if any, drinkers and Carbohydrate risk drink drivers and that provide direct services related to action it should take to protect Deficient Transferrin (CDT) CDT measurement should be patient care and treatment and the public through the regulation was found to be more efficient at undertaken in those seeking support the work of registered of these roles. identifying continuous (harmful re-granting of driving licenses.

24 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk Media watch

Anti-doping for 2012 End-of-life issues Graduate nursing Celebrations

The announcement that Professor Penney Lewis, Centre An article in The Guardian King’s joined up with the GlaxoSmithKline will provide of Medical Law and Ethics, about nursing becoming a BBC World Service, Chinese laboratories and equipment was interviewed by Channel graduate profession featured Service for a ‘Christmas to increase The Drug Control 4 News, BBC News Channel comment from Professor Celebration’ quiz show, which Centre’s anti-doping facilities and the New York Times for Alison While, Associate Dean was filmed and streamed live, in the run up to the London features on end-of-life issues, for the School of Nursing & from the Waterloo Campus, Olympics and Paralympics including decision-making at Midwifery, Professor Robert over the internet to thousands was widely reported in the the end of life for children and Lechler, Vice-Principal of viewers on BBC China, Daily Telegraph, Evening adults. Professor Lewis also (Health) and Professor Sina.com and qq.com, some of Standard, People’s Daily wrote articles for the Solicitors’ Alison Wolf, Department of China’s largest web portals. (China), Reuters, USA Today, Journal. Management. New York Times and The Economic Times (India). Brain Bank Network Culture & Care Drug misuse The announcement of a Leukaemia vaccine Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Each year, nearly 150,000 new Brain Bank Network Head of the School of Nursing dementia patients are led by Professor Paul Francis, Farzin Farzaneh, Professor of & Midwifery, and John Browne, given anti-psychotic drugs Wolfson Centre for Age- Molecular Medicine, and the School’s Composer in unnecessarily. Professor Sube Related Diseases, to address Ghulam Mufti, Head of the Residence, were interviewed Banerjee from the Institute a national shortage of brains Department of Haematological by British director Ken of Psychiatry released these needed for medical research Medicine, were interviewed Russell for a feature in The disturbing findings to the featured on BBC Radio 4’s for ABC News and BBC Times. John’s residency was media, and consequently Today programme, the ITV Radio Glasgow, regarding also featured in the Nursing received coverage in Lunchtime News and BBC their research on a vaccine Standard, the arts press and on The Times, Reuters, The Radio 5 Live. for Leukaemia. The research BBC News Online. Guardian, The Scotsman and was also reported in the Daily Pharmaceutical Journal with Telegraph, Evening Standard the story also reaching the Fall of the Wall and The Mirror. Iranian waters Oman Daily Observer and Tehran Times. Professor Jan Palmowski, Richard Schofield, Senior Head of the School of Arts Palaeography Lecturer in Boundary Studies, & Humanities, discussed the Department of Geography, Smoking psychosis 20th anniversary of the fall of An article in the G2 section was interviewed by Channel the Berlin Wall on LBC 97.3 of The Guardian examined 4 News and BBC Radio 4’s Dr Marta Di Forti from the FM’s Nick Ferrari Show. university cutbacks and The World at One following Institute of Psychiatry, consultation about the future the detainment of five British released results which of the chair of palaeography sailors in Iran. demonstrated a strong link Politics Pen at King’s. The current chair is between skunk and psychosis. held by Professor David Ganz. Reuters published the results Professor Anne Redston, School Palaeography is the study of Deadly depression which ensured widespread of Law, took part in a weekly ancient manuscripts whereby media pick-up in publications feature on BBC2’s Newsnight scholars can read texts and Research by the Institute of such as The Guardian, British called ‘Politics Pen’. She also localise and date handwriting Psychiatry, led by Dr Robert Medical Journal, The Mirror outlined how the Government accurately. Stewart, has found that and the Shanghai Daily. Dr can use taxes to ease the strain depression is as much of a Di Forti participated in an on the public purse in a BBC risk factor for mortality as interview on BBC Radio 5 News Online article and on Child migration smoking. The study resulted Live’s Breakfast programme. BBC Radio 4’s Six O’Clock in more than 180 articles of News. Professor Carl Bridge, Director media coverage worldwide. of the Menzies Centre, Defence issues appeared on BBC1’s The One Show discussing migration Theatre archive Dr John Gearson, Director of the to Australia following Prime Centre for Defence Studies, Minister Kevin Rudd’s The Centre for Computing in Department of War Studies, national apology to the the Humanities contributed was interviewed on a number forgotten Australians and to the single most important of occasions by Sky News See www.kcl.ac.uk/media/ former child migrants. archive on theatre in the and the BBC News Channel. press-cuttings for the latest Dr Frank Bongiorno was also age of Shakespeare, which He discussed British troops in media coverage. Email interviewed by BBC Scotland was reported in the Evening Afghanistan, the Iraq inquiry [email protected] if you have on bounty migration. Standard. and terror attempts. featured in the media.

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 | Comment | 25 Student news

total of £37,500, an amount that Alumnus performs has yet to be challenged. Money Winning elective photograph RISING STAR OBI ABILI IS CURRENTLY is raised via football tournaments, REBECCA MITCHELSON performing the role of Paul in bake sales, Campus collections, John Guare’s play Six Degrees of inter-Campus competitions and Separation at The Old Vic which many more initiatives. runs until 3 April. To date a sum of £1,200,000 Obi Abili studied War Studies has been donated to orphans and at King’s in 1999 and then went Charity Week remains one of the on to do a BA in Acting with most powerful projects initiated RADA (2003-6). His theatre by the University of London work includes Dido Queen of Islamic Society. Carthage (National Theatre), Brothers Size (The Young Vic) and Angels in America (Headlong Community Fund Theatre). Inspired by the real-life story KCLSU HAS LAUNCHED A COMMUNITY of a flamboyant con artist who Engagement Fund of £20,000 for convinced wealthy residents in students. The fund will provide Manhattan that he was the son of grants of between £200 and actor Sidney Poitier, Six Degrees £2,000 for students who wish of Separation is a captivating to take part in activities that study of society’s pretensions will have a positive effect on the exposed by one man’s self- community around King’s. In confidence and imagination. addition to providing funding, KCLSU will support successful applicants by helping to develop ISoc raises £27,000 ideas, providing any additional training or development required and evaluating the success of the project. The initiation of the fund is part of KCLSU’s strategic priority to champion the role of students in society, in addition to extending opportunities for transferable skills development through informal learning. All On the evening of 16 December The Gordon Museum at Guy’s Campus hosted an projects are to be completed by Members of King’s Islamic Society. exhibition of this year’s best elective student posters and the winners of the elective June 2010 whereupon KCLSU photography competition. Medical students do an elective placement in their DURING 2009’S CHARITY WEEK, will host a celebration event to final year of study, often abroad: the posters and photographs documented their experiences everywhere from Vietnam to Zanzibar. Around 250 photographs were King’s Islamic Society (King’s showcase the projects. For more submitted to the competition, of which 29 were shortlisted. The overall winner was ISoc) raised £27,691 for orphans details contact kim.stanway@ Pause for Thought (above) by Rebecca Mitchelson, a thought-provoking portrait of a and needy children across the kclsu.org Tanzanian child orphaned by AIDS, entered in the Patient Scenario category. globe. This society has raised approximately £111,055 over the last six years. Diwali Show Charity Week began in 2004 as a grass-roots project by a THE 17TH ANNUAL KCL CHARITY DIWALI small team of students from the Show took place last term at the University of London Union Royal Festival Hall. Showcasing Islamic Society. It has since some of the best student talent grown very quickly and now at King’s, guests were treated enjoys participation from students to an array of dance, music throughout Great Britain and the and catwalk numbers, with the rest of the world. aim of representing the best of Every year one Charity British culture through a fusion Week Champion is chosen from of Eastern and Western acts. The amongst the participants. Since show was devised, choreographed its inception five years ago, more and performed by students, led than 100 university and college by the KCL Charity Diwali Islamic societies and organisations Show committee. More than from a variety of backgrounds 200 students were involved in have participated. King’s ISoc the show which raises money was Champion in 2007 with a for charity.

26 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk Books

Cry Havoc Giant Molecules: from nylon Arabian Boundaries Introducing Christian Ethics to nanotubes 1966-1975

Dr Joseph Maiolo, Department of War Professor Walter Gratzer, Richard Schofield, Professor Ben Quash, Department of Studies Department of Cell & Molecular Department of Geography Theology & Religious Studies, and Biophysics Samuel Wells

The arms race, on the run up to When the history of chemistry is This substantial documentary This comprehensive textbook the Second World War, followed written, the 20th century will be collection (16 volumes of offers an unparalleled the faultless logic of paranoia. marked as the century of giant texts and two of maps) is the introduction to the study of Before the First World War, molecules (macromolecules) in product of a four-year research Christian ethics, mapping and the Great Powers measured industry, the century in which effort, it covers in detail the exploring all the major ethical the strength of their rivals by the properties of giant molecules most tumultuous decade in approaches, and offering the size of armies and navies, were first seriously studied the territorial evolution of the thoughtful insights into the and the money spent on them. and applied to technology and Arabian peninsular states, one complex moral challenges facing Afterwards, having learned commerce. that was dominated by Britain’s people today. the lessons of ‘total war’, they Most certainly, the importance departure as protecting power The book encompasses looked at the capacity of nations of giant molecules in industry from the region in the 1967-71 Christian ethics in its entirety, to mobilise their economies and will be amplified in the 21st period. but also offers a new way populations for war. century. Take giant molecules Many difficult questions of viewing this subject. Deep planning, they realised, out of our lives and our present had to be broached during this Professor Quash and Samuel was necessary to prepare for civilization would quickly half-decade and in the years Wells approach it from three potential conflicts; but with this collapse. immediately before and since. In perspectives: universal (ethics attitude came a sense that society In the 20th century giant some cases, as with the dispute for anyone); subversive (ethics might need to be in a state of molecules became the central between Iran and the UAE over for the excluded); and ecclesial perpetual readiness for conflict, feature of the application of the Lower Gulf islands, Britain (ethics for the church). In and a potential openness to chemistry to biological science. felt that an accommodation of doing so, they are able to totalitarian levels of state control One of the most fascinating sorts had to be concluded before highlight the sharp distinctions in ensuring that readiness. properties of some giant it left formally as colonial power. between ethical approaches Dr Maiolo shows how the arms molecules is their ability to In others, such as a long- that are sometimes perceived as race developed. He reveals the self-organise – to form solid or running dispute between Saudi antagonistic, whilst providing full complexity of it by looking hollow spheres, sheets, tubes, sol/ Arabia and the UAE, it was a balance between description, at competition between nations, gel transformers, thermoplastic considered that the remaining analysis, and critique. and how nations reacted to structures, all of them with a insecurities posed by an ultimate It offers students a substantial their rivals moves. He provides variety of emergent chemical failure to settle could be lived overview by re-mapping the field a portrait of the thinking of and physical properties. Self- with. Emphasis in the post pax and exploring the differences those making decisions – Hitler, organising polymeric domains Britannica period (1972-5) in various ethical approaches. Mussolini, Chamberlain, are of great interest in materials would fix upon the northern It provides a balance between Stalin, Roosevelt – and reveals science, and are essential for the Gulf, where territorial disputes description, analysis and critique. the extent of the dilemmas existence of biological systems. had always been viewed as more It also shows how ecclesial ethics confronted by the leaders of The focus of this book is on genuinely destabilising. is respectful of – and indeed, the western democracies who giant molecules in present and The dramatic shift in the often profoundly indebted to – seemed faced with a choice future technology. Professor conduct and pattern of regional other approaches to ethics. This between defending their nations Gratzer presents a fascinating territorial geopolitics occasioned study may be used alongside a and preserving the democratic and readable book about giant by the major Iran-Iraq companion volume of readings, nature of the societies they molecules’ history, chemistry and rapprochement of 1975 dominate Christian Ethics: An Introductory sought to defend. use in technology. the endpoint of the series. Reader. Wiley-Blackwell Oxford University Press Cambridge University Press Wiley-Blackwell

www.kcl.ac.uk | March 2010 |Comment | 27 Books

Three favourite... places near the Strand Campus As recommended by Dr Alexander Heinz, Strategic Projects Officer in the School of Arts & Humanities, Executive Assistant to the Head of School and historian

The Daily Express Building Five minutes east of the Strand Campus on Fleet Street stands one of the most elegant and daring buildings I know. With its rounded black glass panels and chromium strips, Children in Custody Understanding Education Just Wars and Moral Victories the Daily Express Building is no longer what is says on the Dr Mary McAuley, International Professors Alan Cribb & Sharon Dr David Whetham, Defence Art Deco tin but its façade is Centre for Prison Studies Gewirtz, Department of Education Studies Department still so faultless that it’s hard to & Professional Studies believe that (much of it) has been around for 78 years. Despite their very different This book addresses questions While recognising the histories, societies, political and such as, who should be educated, sophistication of the practice of Inner Temple Gardens legal systems, Russia and the UK when, by whom and how? What medieval warfare, many people Surprise is probably what stand out as favouring a punitive purposes should education serve? still have problems reconciling most people sense when they approach to young law breakers, Why does education matter? the widespread use of surprise stroll through the narrow imprisoning many more children These fundamental questions and deception with the code of streets of the Temple area and than any other European of value are not always seen chivalric warfare. houses suddenly give way to a countries. as central to the sociology of Was chivalry really just a fine, often sunlit park hidden This book is based on primary education. meaningless veneer? If true, away from the bustle of Fleet research in Russia where the However, this book argues perhaps more perplexing are the Street. Gently rolling down author visited a dozen closed that they are pivotal. It draws many cases where surprise or the hill and leading to the institutions and on similar attention to the many points of deception were deliberately not embankment trees by the river, research in England and disagreement that exist between employed and advantages were surrounded by red brick and Northern Ireland. major thinkers in the sociology therefore sacrificed. Portland stone. I go there if I The result is a unique study of education, and the values This work argues that need to see nature albeit in its of how attitudes to youth crime on which their ideas are based. understanding these apparent very civil form. and criminal justice, the political By involving readers in crucial inconsistencies requires an environment and the relationship questions about the potential appreciation of the moral Sir John Soane’s Museum between state and society have contribution of sociology to and legal context of medieval Sir John Soane, a distinguished interacted to influence the education policies and practices, strategic thought. architect who designed the treatment of young offenders. Dr it aims to bridge the divide Through taking this approach, Bank of England Building, McAuley’s account of the twists between education as it is talked chivalric warfare can be seen was a dedicated collector and turns in policy towards youth about by academics, and the for what it was – a very real and turned his house into illuminate the history of Russia in concerns of policymakers and framework or system of rules that a museum in 1833. A few the 20th century and the making educators who have to make allowed a result or decision to be minutes by foot north of the of social policy in Russia today. practical decisions. reached which could be accepted Strand, the collection is an This is the first study to Chapter by chapter the book by both sides. eclectic mix from timepieces, compare the UK with Russia – it introduces competing approaches The implications of this work architectural models, and highlights the factors responsible in the sociology of education go to the heart of the very nature drawings to artefacts from for the making of ‘punitive’ and shows how these can be of war itself. It makes clear that Antiquity to the 19th century. policy in these societies and aims applied to major themes such as victory is not something that is to reveal how other European social reproduction, the politics taken from a defeated opponent; Email [email protected] countries manage to put so many of knowledge, multicultural it is something that is given by with your three favourite fewer children behind bars. education, and teachers’ work. the defeated party. things related to a Campus. Bloomsbury Polity BRILL

Comment is the College’s regular newsletter, edited by the Public Relations Department and designed by the Corporate Design Unit | Comment is printed on paper produced with 80 per cent recovered fibre| Articles are welcomed from all members of the College, but please note that the Editor reserves the right to amend articles | Copy for the next issue can be sent to the Internal Communications Officer, Public Relations Department (ext 3075), James Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus, or emailed to [email protected] by 19 April.

28 | Comment | March 2010 | www.kcl.ac.uk