Issue 303 ▸ 23 may 2017 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community

The latest from Imperial’s White City Campus, as Taking development progresses and the larger masterplan shape forms → centre pages

IMPROBABLE COUNTER FAB FESTIVAL RISE RESISTANCE A round-up Imperial Mini drug of all the graduate’s factories highlights startup valued could find new PAGE 11 at $1 billion antibiotics PAGE 3 PAGE 7 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303

Imperial part of £100 million Rosalind Franklin Institute

EDITOR’S CORNER Scientists from Imperial will be laureates Francis Crick, James time molecular processes and playing a major role in a new Watson and Maurice Wilkins. chemical reactions. research institute funded by the The RFI will be managed by the The College’s lead academic Seize the UK Government. Engineering and Physical Sciences will be Professor Elaine Holmes Research Council with its main ‘hub’ (Surgery & Cancer) and the RFI will moment The Rosalind Franklin Institute based at Harwell in Oxfordshire, led draw on the expertise of scientists (RFI) is a new investment by the by the University of Oxford. from across Imperial. government to develop a multi- Alongside Imperial, other Professor Nick Jennings, It’s in Imperial’s DNA to disciplinary science and technology academic partners include Vice-Provost (Research) at Imperial, constantly evolve and research centre. It will bring the universities of Cambridge, said: “Work at the RFI will lead adapt in response to big together the UK’s strengths in Edinburgh, Manchester, King’s to improved understanding of global challenges – to physical sciences, engineering and College London and University diseases, a speedier discovery seize opportunities to life sciences to create a national College London. It will also of new treatments for chronic do things differently. centre of excellence in technology draw on the R&D expertise from conditions, more diverse Prince Albert saw such development and innovation. leading pharmaceutical and life employment opportunities for the an opportunity when The RFI is named in honour of sciences companies and from UK, and economic growth. Imperial he created the Great Rosalind Franklin, the pioneering global manufacturers in scientific is a proud to be a partner in this Exhibition of the Works of British scientist whose use of X-rays instrumentation. effort and we look forward to Industry of all Nations in to study biological structures played Initially, research at the facility helping the RFI become one of the 1851, and then used the a crucial role in the discovery of will focus on the development of world’s great engines of scientific proceeds to purchase land DNA’s ‘double-helix’ structure, next-generation imaging methods, knowledge and advancement.” for a centre of science, alongside the work of Nobel including ways of imaging in real- —COLIN SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS AND music and art − noting that PUBLIC AFFAIRS the disciplines had lapsed into a state of ‘comparative isolation from each other’, which necessarily Imperial celebrates trio of new Royal Society Fellows ‘retarded progress’ (see bit.ly/Reporter285). Fellowship of the prestigious Royal a time that has allowed me the fundamental research resulting in Imperial’s White City Society has been granted to three complete freedom to have carried greater understanding, and also in campus is another scientists at Imperial this month. out what I wanted to do in research, leading and directing scientific and chance to do things for over forty years and to have technological progress in industry differently,integrating The researchers – who had a host of talented and research establishments.” various disciplines and work on solar energy, students and post docs Imperial’s Provost Professor approaches at an even viruses, and in my group to have James Stirling said: “I’d like to offer more fundamental, ultrafast lasers – worked with.” my congratulations to the members granular level than at any have been elected Also recognised of our community elected to the point in its history (centre to join the ranks is Professor Gerard Fellowship of the Royal Society pages). And the need of the UK’s most Milburn, an eminent this year. It is a fantastic and richly is perhaps even greater eminent scientists Australian scientist deserved honour for Imperial than ever, with economic as part of the 2017 quantum physics, who scientists who have pushed the uncertainty, climate change election of 50 new is currently an academic boundaries of knowledge in their and antibiotic resistance all fellows. visitor in the Department of respective fields – across chemistry, on the immediate horizon. Professors James Durrant Physics at Imperial. physics and medicine. We are proud Perhaps most importantly, (Chemistry), Jonathan Stoye Fellowships are given to of them all.” the White City Campus (Medicine) and Roy Taylor (Physics), distinguished scientists by the —HAYLEY DUNNING, COMMUNICATIONS AND masterplan should be pictured left to right below, are Royal Society in recognition of PUBLIC AFFAIRS able to adapt to recognised for their contributions “contributions to science, both in challenges and scenarios to science and are now permitted to none of us can envisage use the letters FRS after their name. right now (page 10). Roy Taylor is Professor of

ANDREW CZYZEWSKI, EDITOR Ultrafast Physics and Technology, said: “Of course I am absolutely Reporter is published every delighted, who would not be? It three weeks during term time really is the ultimate that I could in print and online. Contact hope for in a career in science. I Andrew Czyzewski: [email protected] have been very fortunate to have worked in a department and at 3 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303 >> newsupdate

Multi-million EU funding boost for Imperial researchers

The European Research Council has invested more than €15 million in a series of new grants across all four Imperial faculties.

The prestigious awards will support cutting-edge research via starting, consolidator, advanced and proof of concept grants. They include work to develop Imperial graduate Peter Lipka (left) wearable devices to tackle epilepsy, nanoscale sensors, new approaches to understanding Imperial graduate’s start-up valued at $1 billion obesity, and behavioural research into entrepreneurial clusters. Virtual reality firm Improbable has raised $502 AI software program that could automatically Since the Brexit vote last June, million just five years after being co-founded understand a video game and learn how to Imperial researchers have continued by Imperial computing graduate Peter Lipka. play it from only seeing pixels on the screen. to apply for and win new grants from He was always remarkably self-driven and I am the European Union. The investment from SoftBank values the not surprised to see him go on to such great UK researchers remain eligible London-based technology startup at more than success.” to apply for new European grants $1 billion. Other Imperial Computing graduates to while the UK is a member of the EU. Improbable uses cloud-based distributed experience startup success include Zehan For projects that continue beyond the computing to enable the creation of virtual Wang and Rob Bishop, who co-founded date when Britain leaves, the UK worlds for use in games and massive-scale machine learning and image recognition firm government will underwrite the simulations of the real world. Magic Pony, which sold to Twitter last year payments of those awards. Improbable was co-founded by Imperial for a reported $150 million. It is currently unclear what graduate Peter Lipka, 28, along with Daniel Rueckert, Head of the Department relationship the UK will have with Cambridge classmates Herman Narula, 29, of Computing, said: “The Department’s the ERC after and Rob Whitehead, 26. Narula serves as success is firmly based in the research-based Brexit, but “We are CEO, Whitehead is CTO and Lipka is COO. education we emphasise. This means that Imperial is determined Peter Lipka graduated with a 1st class we not only focus on theoretical foundations campaigning to maintain honours MEng in Computing from Imperial in and practical programming skills, but that for continued and grow our 2011 before working at Goldman Sachs. He we also enable students to engage in cutting access to European ties.” co-founded Improbable in 2012. edge research during their projects as well as EU research Professor Andrew Davison, Head of the sending them to industrial placements where networks Dyson Robotics Lab, said: “Peter was one of they get unique insights into how computing is and the College has set out its firm the brightest students I’ve supervised. In his shaping the world around us.” commitment to future European individual final year project he developed an collaborations. —ANDREW SCHEUBER, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Professor Nick Jennings, Vice- Provost (Research), said: “This Imperial responds Surviving or thriving? on Masculinity and Mental Health. latest success from our researchers The week’s events at the College Imperial has responded to the This month saw staff across the also included a special Mental shows Imperial’s excellence and government’s consultation on College’s campuses finding out Health First Aider course with a international competitiveness across their Building our Industrial more about promoting good focus on male mental health. all faculties. Strategy Green Paper. mental health. The theme of

in brief Following consultation across the national week this year was “We are determined to maintain the College, the response ‘Surviving or thriving?’ Aimed at Reader’s comment and grow our European ties. That is highlights its investment in staff, a series of talks, workshops Kevin Hodson why we will keep applying for and world-class talent and research and classes held throughout the “My wife and I Ann (IC Maths winning European grants, and forging that drives productivity and week looked at the steps staff 1970) were impressed by the new connections across the continent. growth across the whole of the can take to look after their mental enthusiasm of the PhD students UK. The consultation response health and build resilience to cope for their projects. And also the —ANDREW SCHEUBER, COMMUNICATIONS AND emphasises that investing in with the demands of life. Short stand promoting the Children’s PUBLIC AFFAIRS high-level skills for a broader courses and sessions were held Intelligence Agency for 8+ year ERC 10th anniversary event: On 16 June cross-section of the population on topics ranging from managing old potential coders. We have two Imperial will hold a special event with will supply our science, research change and stress awareness, such 8 year old grandchildren ERC President Jean-Pierre Bourguignon and innovation pipeline for to a meditation session. Dr Tim and bought the packs - hoping showcasing the College’s past and present years to come. Read the full Lomas, from the University of East they might plant a seed. Looking ERC-funded research. consultation here: bit.ly/strat London, delivered a guest lecture forward to next year’s Festival.” 4 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303

Excellence in health Postgraduate and safety Graduation Ceremonies

Imperial marked the achievements of more than 3000 new engineers, doctors, scientists and future business leaders at Postgraduate Graduation Day.

Watched by a record 9400 guests, this year’s new graduates took to the contributions to the College, research and stage in the Royal Albert Hall to receive wider society with honorary degrees and Imperial’s Provost presented the College’s their awards in the largest Graduation in Imperial College medals. 2017 Health and Safety awards to staff at a Imperial’s history. This year Imperial presented an ceremony last week. Addressing the audience of new honorary degree to Professor Sir Leszek graduates and their guests, Imperial’s Borysiewicz, Vice-Chancellor of the The Provost’s Awards for Excellence President, Professor Alice Gast commended University of Cambridge and Chairman in Health and Safety were established the achievements and potential of this of Cancer Research UK. Sir Leszek is to honour staff at the College whose year’s graduating cohort. an alumnus of Imperial and former endeavours have resulted in significant “You have the potential to accomplish Deputy Rector. improvements in health and safety over great things. I hope that you will use your Outstanding student achievement was the last year. intelligence and education to solve the celebrated with awards for Ms Clementine Introducing the award presentation, problems of today and the problems that Chambon, a fourth year PhD student in Provost Professor James Stirling said: will arise in the future,” she said. Chemical Engineering. Clementine is the “The College strategy states that we will During the ceremonies Imperial co-founder of social enterprise Oorja.

achieve the highest standards of safety also honoured others who have made – JON NARCROSS, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS and promote a culture where all who show a commitment to excellence are recognised, whatever their role or field. These awards are part of that effort, and reward colleagues who have worked over Imperial students collaborate on drug and above their normal role to embody excellence in health and safety practice.” discovery for neglected diseases The awards are presented in individual and team categories. Dr Mel Bottrill, Chemistry students are making compounds Scientific Programmes Manager in Student that may help treat diseases thanks to Recruitment and Outreach, won the an open collaboration with the Drugs for individual award for her work creating the Neglected Diseases initiative (DNDi). health and safety protocols for the Wohl Reach Out Lab and for all centrally run The Open Synthesis Network outreach activities. (OSN) involves both Mel said: “The Wohl Reach Out Lab is a undergraduate and Masters unique space at the College. It’s completely students at Imperial designing multidisciplinary and focused on school and synthesising potential students, so from a safety perspective anti-parasite compounds that work with a global organisation there is a lot to cover.” the DNDi is interested in testing. doing the best science for the The team award this year went to In its first year, the students most neglected tropical diseases, Caroline Detchenique and Dr Peter Petrov have been working on compounds contributing to international development from the Department of Materials for their targeting the neglected disease visceral and networking with their peers across work changing the culture around safety leishmaniasis – an illness that kills up to three continents. in the department, through combining the 30,000 people yearly. The disease is caused “In return, the students provide the DNDi creation and revision of safety policies and by parasites transmitted by sandflies, and is with the opportunity to investigate aspects codes of practice with a communications characterised by prolonged fever, enlarged of potential drug molecules that they would campaign. spleen and liver, substantial weight loss, not have the resource to look at in detail Caroline Detchenique, Senior and progressive anemia, eventually leading themselves. We could open up a new Marketing and Communications Officer to death if untreated. avenue of collaborative discovery if we find in the department, added: “I’m not in All work generated by OSN will be something of interest, which they could then a health and safety role and I’m not a published in the public domain in real time quickly move into preclinical development. researcher. Health and safety is everyone’s and remain free of intellectual property, “This is the first open, ongoing project responsibility, and that’s what I’m trying to allowing faster development. of its type, and could provide an interesting demonstrate. You don’t need to be a health Professor Ed Tate, Course Director for template for future collaboration with the and safety specialist to get involved.” the MRes Drug Discovery and Development pharmaceutical industry.”

said: “Our students get the opportunity to —HAYLEY DUNNING, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS — ELIZABETH NIXON, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS 5 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303 >> newsupdate

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The pros and cons sulphur that plunged Earth into a global winter, prices relative to incomes if certain conditions of working into your 90s scientists have found. Professor Joanna Morgan hold. House prices can rise forever if people (Earth Science & Engineering) helped to organise prefer to bequeath housing equity rather than CNN ▸ 04.05.2017 a multimillion-pound drilling expedition to dig spend it in retirement; if people are unwilling deep into the Chicxulub crater about 24 miles to build more homes on existing land; if people Society often suggests that we should slow down from the coast of Mexico. “The samples suggest prefer not to economise much on housing as in later life. With retirement, we can reflect on more than 100bn tons of sulphates were thrown prices rise; and if the available land for new what we have achieved, get out to see the world into the atmosphere, plus soot from the fires building is constrained.” and spend time with family. But most research that followed,” Morgan told the Sunday Times. suggests that slowing down may not be the “That would be enough to cool the planet for a Role models: engineering best option for your health. “People who stay decade and wipe out most life.” active socially, physically and intellectually have is not just a man’s world less chance of developing dementia,” Dr James May’s challenge to reward THE TELEGRAPH ▸ 06.04.2017 Warner (Medicine), an old-age psychiatrist, told CNN. He added that “the biggest single risk factor effort more than inheritance The Telegraph meets four women who are for becoming depressed in the elderly is social FINANCIAL TIMES ▸ 12.05.2017 using their engineering skills to change the isolation.” Both can be staved off, to some extent, world we live in: Roma Agrawal is a structural in some people by continuing to work, he said. Theresa May styles her appeal to the electorate engineer working for construction company as the strong and stable champion of ordinary Interserve in London. “My projects have working British families, the FT writes. There been very varied – I helped design the Shard 30 seconds was all it is little doubt that the gap between the haves at London Bridge, but I’ve also worked on took to doom the dinosaurs and have-nots will widen as people die and bridges, skyscrapers, railway stations and THE SUNDAY TIMES ▸ 14.05.2017 their offspring inherit, so long as house prices even sculptures. I studied physics at Oxford remain so far detached from income levels. In University and completed a master’s in structural For the dinosaurs it was the unluckiest strike. a sobering public lecture last week, Professor engineering at Imperial College London.” The minor asteroid that destroyed them David Miles (Business School) demonstrated pulverised a massive lode of rock rich in that there is no natural upper limit on house awards and honours Association’s (iHEA) 25th Arrow and Tom Williams are among 46 Award, which recognises new Fellows elected this year. excellence in the field of health Their expertise spans women’s economics. The researchers were health, immunology, public awarded the prize for a paper health and infectious disease, demonstrating that allowing for among many other fields. competition and also permitting patients to choose where they are COLLEGE treated substantially increased Sustainable hospitals’ incentives to improve success NATURAL SCIENCES quality of healthcare. The Royal Chemistry Geographical champions MEDICINE Society has Scientists working on Forward-thinking Fellows awarded one of environmental chemistry, Eight Imperial researchers have its Royal Medals to membranes and biomedical been elected to the Fellowship of Professor Sir Gordon Conway diagnostics have been honoured BUSINESS the Academy of Medical Sciences. for his work in agricultural with Royal Society of Chemistry’s Healthy business The Academy honours elected development. Professor Conway prizes. Professor Tony Cass is Professor Carol Propper Fellows for their contribution to (Centre for Environmental awarded the Sir George Stokes (Business School) has received biomedical and health research Policy) is awarded the Founder’s Award and Dr Mark Crimmin will a prestigious award for her work and its benefits to society. Medal. The Royal Medals have receive the Harrison-Meldola examining reform in health Imperial Professors Jane Apperley, been approved by Her Majesty Memorial Prize. The Membrane economics. Alongside two US Phillip Bennett, Azra Ghani, the Queen, and are among the Biophysics Platform team have collaborators, she received the Alison Holmes, Michael Seckl, highest honours of their kind in also been recognised with the International Health Economics Robin Shattock, Robert Wilkinson, the world. Rita & John Cornforth Award. 6 >> scienceroundup www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303

Daddy time Fathers who interact more with their children in their first few months of life could have a positive impact on their baby’s cognitive development.

Researchers from Imperial, King’s College London and Oxford University looked at how fathers interacted with their babies at three months of age and measured the infants’ cognitive development more than a year later. Study lead Professor Paul Ramchandani (Medicine), said: “Even as early as three months, these father-child interactions can positively predict cognitive development almost two years later, so there’s something probably quite meaningful for later development, and that really hasn’t been shown much before.” In the study, researchers recorded videos of parents interacting with their children, with mothers Artist’s impression of Vouivria damparisensis and fathers playing with their babies without toys, at three months, and then during a book-reading session at two years of age. After analysing data for 128 fathers, and Gentle giants accounting for factors such as their income and age, Scientists have re-examined an Cretaceous mass extinction, when an they found a positive correlation between the degree overlooked museum fossil and asteroid wiped out most life on Earth. to which dads engaged with their babies and how the discovered that it is the earliest A lack of fossil records means children scored on the tests. member of the titanosauriform family that it has been difficult for scientists Professor Ramchandani concluded: “For those of dinosaurs. to understand the early evolution fathers who are more engaged it may be that there is a of titanosauriforms and how they lot more positive stuff going on in their lives generally. New analysis of the fossil indicates it spread out across the planet. The That might be the reason for the link, but we can’t is a brachiosaurid sauropod dinosaur, re-classification of Vouivria as an be sure of that. All we can say is that there is a signal which lived around 160 million years early titanosauriform will help here, and it seems to be an important one. ago, died at an early age, weighed scientists to understand the spread “The clear message for new fathers here is to get around 15,000 kilograms and was over of these creatures during the Early stuck in and play with your baby. Even when they’re 15 metres long. It had a long neck held Cretaceous period around 145 – 100 really young playing and interacting with them can at around a 45 degree angle, a long tail, million years ago. have a positive effect.” and four legs of equal length. —COLIN SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS —RYAN O’HARE, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS The researchers from Imperial and France named the species Vouivria damparisensis (see below). Lead author Dr Philip Mannion, (Earth Science and Engineering) said: “Vouivria would have been a herbivore, eating all kinds of vegetation, such as Digging into the past ferns and conifers. This creature lived The Vouivria fossil was originally discovered by palaeontologists in in the Late Jurassic, around 160 million the village of Damparis, in eastern years ago, at a time when Europe was a France, in 1934. Ever since, it has series of islands. We don’t know what been stored in the Museum National this creature died from, but millions d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris. It was briefly mentioned by scientists in studies of years later it is providing important in the 1930s and 1940s, but never evidence to help us understand in more recognised as a distinct species. detail the evolution of brachiosaurid The genus name of Vouivria is derived sauropods and a much bigger group of from the old French word ‘vouivre’, itself from the Latin ‘vipera’, meaning dinosaurs that they belonged to, called ‘viper’. In French-Comte, the region titanosauriforms.” in which the specimen was originally Titanosauriforms were a diverse discovered, ‘la vouivre’ is a legendary group of sauropod dinosaurs and some winged reptile. The species name damparisensis refers to the village of the largest creatures to have ever Damparis, from which the fossil was lived on land. They lived from at least originally found. the Late Jurassic, right to the end- 7 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303 >> scienceroundup

Brain strain Scientists have modelled what happens to and studies on post-mortem data of the brains the brain of an American footballer when he of footballers from America’s National Football collides forcefully with another player. Association (NFL) with CTE, previously donated to science institutes in America for analysis. They The results also bolster the link between observed tau deposition in the brains, which was traumatic brain injury (TBI) − sustained for then diagnosed as CTE. example in motorcycle accidents or The Imperial team showed in all their 3D sports events − and the development models that the damage created from a TBI The red zone shows the most damaged areas chronic traumatic encephalopathy is greatest in the depths of the folds on the (CTE), a form of dementia surface of the brain called sulci. Previous blood vessels and damaged nerve cells, and more associated with long-term studies on CTE have shown that tau also severe complications later on. We’ve been able build-up of proteins called tau. accumulates in sulci. In addition, the to replicate those initial moments when the ‘jelly’ The researchers modelled team discovered that the location and brain is first deformed on impact, by combining how brain tissue deforms during severity of the blow to the head on engineering principles and medical knowledge. an impact between two American impact can have a significant influence This is providing us with new insights.” football players on the field. They on the magnitude and pattern of the The researchers say further clarification have also modelled what happens injury later on when CTE develops. of these links in future studies will be the key to a person’s brain when they have a Study co-lead Dr Mazdak Ghajari to analysing the long-term effects of head ground level fall and the initial impact to the (Dyson School of Design Engineering) said: “In impacts. This could lead to new improvements brain in a motorcycle accident. TBI, the force of the blow shakes the brain, which in protective strategies, including new types of They compared their 3D high-fidelity models is similar in texture to jelly. This shaking process helmet designs. to MRI data on a cohort of 97 patients with TBI, deforms the brain tissue and can cause ruptured —COLIN SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

Making mini drug factories

Synthetic biologists from Imperial have produces penicillin. These genes allowed the re-engineered yeast cells to manufacture yeast cells to produce the nonribosomal peptide penicillin, raising the possibility of penicillin via a two-step biochemical reaction developing new forms of antibiotics and process. anti-inflammatory drugs. The yeast cells then expelled the penicillin directly into the solution it was in, which was then Penicillin is a member of a family of added to a petri-dish containing streptococcus biological compounds called nonribosomal bacteria to observe its effectiveness. peptides, which are normally produced by “The rise of drug-resistant superbugs has bacteria and fungi and form the basis of brought a real urgency to our search for new most antibiotics today. antibiotics. Our experiments show that yeast The rise of antimicrobial resistance means can be engineered to produce a well-known there is a need use genetic engineering antibiotic. This opens up the possibility of using techniques to find a new range of antibiotics yeast to explore the largely untapped treasure from bacteria and fungi. Pharmaceutical trove of compounds in the nonribosomal peptide companies have long experimented with family to develop a new generation of antibiotics nonribosomal peptides to make antibiotics, and anti-inflammatories.” however, genetically engineering the exotic —COLIN SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS fungi and bacteria likely to have antibacterial properties is extremely challenging. Baker’s yeast, on the other hand, is easy to genetically engineer. Scientists can simply insert DNA sequences and experiment with different gene combinations making yeast mini factories Lasting Legacy for antibiotic production research. Penicillin was first discovered in 1928 by Sir Alexander Fleming at St Mary’s Hospital Medical Study lead Dr Tom Ellis (Bioengineering) School, which is now part of Imperial. He also explains: “Humans have been experimenting predicted the rise of antibiotic resistance soon with yeast for thousands of years. From brewing after making his discovery. “We hope, in some beer to getting our bread to rise, yeast is the small way, to build on his legacy, collaborating with industry and academia to develop the next microscopic workhorse behind many processes.” generation of antibiotics using synthetic biology In their experiments, the team used genes techniques,” Dr Tom Ellis said. from the filamentous fungus which naturally 8 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303

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R o a One of the wonderful things about science and technology is that it’s difficult to d Indicative view of the new route under the Westway predict where avenues of experimentation might ultimately lead. One of the most famous examples is that of Imperial’s own Alexander Fleming, who whilst working on the properties of staphylococci bacteria at St Mary’s, returned after a holiday to find penicillin mould had infiltrated one of his petri dishes and destroyed some of the bacteria. Thus was born the era of antibiotics and modern medicine.

Now at the White City Campus, we could be on the cusp of designing new drugs from scratch using techniques such as synthetic biology and dial-a-molecule chemistry (see page 7). Planning for the future needs of scientists can be particularly difficult, but one of the key aims of White City has always been to provide the flexibility and room to accommodate whatever new advances lie ahead in the next 30–40 years. As science and technology continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, it is also important that we involve wider society in that journey and look for new ways to engage and inform. 9

Timeline of White City

1838 The railway comes to Shepherd’s Bush 1908 Franco-British Exhibition and Olympic Games 1912 Hammersmith Hospital opens as a workhouse- CGI of the ReachOut Makerspace at The Invention Rooms infirmary 1960 the molecular level; harnessing molecular science BBC Television Centre opens Our new campus will provide for clean sources of energy; and creating materials 2008 for the twenty-first century. Also, by creating a new space to expand our work and offer Westfield London opens, kick-starting facility dedicated to molecular research, the College the latest transformation of White City new collaborations with business can explore opportunities to improve and expand and academia, as well as the local teaching at South Kensington. 2009 community and other partners.” In 2019, the Michael Uren Biomedical Engineering Imperial purchases former Research Hub will open, pioneering a new approach BBC Woodlands site to biomedical research and bringing together over 2012 500 engineers, clinicians and scientists to develop Shaping up GradPad Woodlane Studios Gradpad Opens For the past five years, Wood Lane Studios new and affordable medical technology. The first has provided accommodation for some 600 and largest facility to be located within the building 2013 postgraduates; but it won’t be long before the north will be the biomedical engineering hub. This will The College purchases the south site of part of White City is bustling with Imperial staff and be led by co-directors Professor Anthony Bull, the campus, extending its collaborators going about their day-to-day work of Head of the Department of Bioengineering; land holding to 23 acres research and innovation. and Professor Justin Cobb (Surgery and Cancer), 2016 The now complete Translation and Innovation Chair in Orthopaedic Surgery. The I-HUB opens Hub (I-HUB), which provides space for start-ups and international corporations, is attracting a growing 2017 list of tenants. Imperial’s ThinkSpace, which runs Next phase The Invention Rooms the I-HUB, recently signed an agreement with While construction on the north site continues apace, due to open workspace provider Central Working. The first the masterplan for the larger south site of Imperial’s tenant at Central Working will be OGCI Climate White City campus is starting to take shape (see also 2018 Investments – a start-up with $1bn of funding to page 10). This site presents some unique challenges Molecular Sciences Research Hub due invest in technology to accelerate the development and opportunities, with major dual carriageway to open of emission reduction technology. roads immediately to the north and east of the site In the coming months, the Invention Rooms on (A40 Westway and A3220) and rail lines immediately 2019 Wood Lane will open its doors, allowing people from to the east and west. It means that connectivity – Michael Uren Biomedical the local community to collaborate with our staff, with the north site, to Hammersmith Campus as Engineering Research Hub students and partners in turning creative ideas into well to the rest of the White City area – is crucial. due to open reality. Inside the building, there will be a Reach It’s a key principle of the south site masterplan to 2020 Out Makerspace where young people living in the provide common spaces to support community South site begins local area can get hands-on experience of prototype and collaboration, with cafes, restaurants, shops, to take shape development. There will also be an Advanced exhibition space and other cultural facilities where Hackspace with workshop facilities for our staff, people can meet and share ideas. students and partners to turn research ideas into Professor Neil Alford, Imperial’s Associate breakthrough prototype products. Lastly, there will be Provost (Academic Planning), said: “We are making an interaction zone where local people and College a long-term commitment to create a world-leading Professor Neil Alford speaks at the launch partners can connect with Imperial’s research. research and innovation campus in White City. Our of the I-HUB in 2016 Next year, the Molecular Sciences Research Hub new campus will provide space to expand our (MSRH) will open as a new home for research from work and offer new collaborations with the Department of Chemistry – marking the latest business and academia, as well as the step in an journey that began with the creation of local community and other partners. the Royal College of Chemistry at Hanover Square in We want to gather input to feed into 1845. The MSRH will provide a new way of working for our proposals for the southern up to 800 molecular scientists, clinicians, engineers part of the campus, involving our and commercial partners. Research areas will include community at an early stage and understanding disease, prevention and cure on long into the future.” 10 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303

Sketch of the central space looking north and,(below), Designs on looking south. White City

Allies and Morrison is the award-winning architecture and urban planning practice that has been appointed to work on the masterplan for the White City Campus south site. Here we speak with Practice Partner and project lead Paul Eaton.

Tell us a little about Allies and Morrison? don’t know what the future holds. I talk about As architects, our work spans a range of different the masterplan being a flexible chassis – with projects across different scales. Rather than fixed elements such as the thoroughfares but focusing solely on one type of project, in a way, where you can plug in buildings as required, we like to specialise in being generalists. A good in any order. Ultimately, the College needs this portion of our work is also masterplanning. What flexibility so it can continue to be agile. You we do bring is an understanding of how to create don’t need to know exactly what the buildings places, the importance of the public realm and, will be. Of course, it’s likely that there’ll be importantly, the way in which buildings relate multi-disciplinary research hubs, but equally to the public spaces they face. We don’t believe the masterplan is there to accommodate in holding dogmatic positions on anything; you and White City Working Group, but also the commercial partners who have different needs. don’t come in with all the answers, rather you Energy Futures Lab, Imperial College Union, Also, you have to expect the unexpected. For come in with the ability to listen and learn and non-executive members of the College Council, example if the latest focus of a particular branch shape the answers with people. White City Syndicate, Estates Facilities and the of research needs a particular type of space or CFO’s team. labs, you need to be able to cater for that. How do you work with Imperial? Everybody has different perspectives, and Part of the process is for everybody to somehow that really colours how they think about White How does that approach differ from be involved in the masterplan. We’ve been City. Some people can’t wait to go over there science and research parks in say onboard for nine months now and the first few because they are the people who crave new Cambridge or Surrey? months were spent in extensive consultation things and new ways of working. But everyone I think London is the big difference; it’s a with a number of groups around the College – at the College has been open to ideas – because good thing to be embedded in London. including the senior academic leadership that’s the currency of the College. Instead of building a science park-like campus, you’re forced into a buzzy, urban condition. What did you take from the consultation? Theoretically, that makes it harder, but if you A pillar of the masterplan it to allow the College get the chassis right, you can accommodate do what it does best – but even better. It’s about those opportunities and produce places with bringing people together and allowing them more intensity − this is a whole new way of to exchange ideas. You can think about the doing things. Working with all of the adjacent masterplan as a kind of serendipity machine landowners and the local community, – a way of orchestrating the space to facilitate the momentum is building, it is feeling more the all-important interactions. What’s really and more like the most exciting part of London interesting is that this happens at South to be in. Kensington almost by accident; everybody is jammed in together − to some extent that’s part of the secret sauce of the place. White City is a Have your say chance to do that in a slightly more structured way and in a way that’s more inviting to the All members of College are invited to give their input by Friday 16 June 2017. To give your feedback on the local community. draft proposals for the south site visit: What are some of the challenges of applying www.imperial.ac.uk/white-city-planning these principles to a world-leading university? The wonderful thing about science is that it’s Find out more about the campus at: www.imperial.ac.uk/white-city-campus at the vanguard of knowledge, therefore you 11 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303 insidestory

Fab festival attracts record numbers

Around 20,000 visitors flocked to South Dougherty’s talk on the Cassini mission was Engine of discovery Kensington for Imperial Festival earlier this month particularly fascinating. There just wasn’t All inventions and innovations start with ideas, for a weekend of exciting science, new technology enough time to fit everything in! We’ll be back and this year’s Festival took people on an immer- and live music – which was also for the first time next year.” sive journey through the creative process broadcast live to the world through YouTube. Festival Manager Sarah Umar (Advancement) Proving particularly popular was Continuum, said: ‘“Imperial Festival is a wonderful example presented by the Imperial College Advanced The Festival opened at 12pm on Saturday 6 May of what happens when people come together Hackspace and the Dyson School of Design with the IC Big Band, one of Imperial’s student for a common goal; it’s an event that everyone Engineering, which allowed people to put their societies, welcoming visitors to the sixth in the Imperial community can be proud of and ideas through the train of creative thought in Imperial Festival with some jazz. I feel really privileged that I had the chance to the form of a huge set of interconnected Sarah Porter Waterbury, Imperial’s Vice- work with the Festival Team, to make the event machines and tubes. President (Advancement), greeted visitors, come to life.” Once an idea is polished off it heads to proto- saying the Festival is an opportunity for the “If you had the chance to visit then please do typing stage, and that’s where the Enterprise Lab College to open its doors and share some of tell us what you think, we’re currently gathering came in, showcasing some top Imperial student Imperial’s exciting research and the impact it feedback and you can find the link below.” innovations in the Future Zone. is having in the world. imperial.ac.uk/festival/feedback This year’s Festival comprised ten different zones, all focusing on research and innovation Food for thought Oasis of calm across the spectrum of science, engineering, New for this year was the Food Zone, where For those looking to escape the hustle and health and business. Visitors learned to tell festival-goers tried out technology that uses bustle of this year’s festival frenzy, there was good bacteria from bad in the Superbugs Zone, electronic currents to create virtual flavours the Contemplation Zone, curated by students operate next generation drones in the Robot in the mouth, discovered how microwaveable from Imperial’s MSc in Science Communica- Zone, and much more. cutlery could help combat childhood obesity, tion course. It offered chance to reflect on the Commenting on her experience, visitor Cathy and learnt how to make cheese creamier through relevance of science in society and how it is Green said: “We had a brilliant day – saw lots of physics. represented in the media, with science exciting science and all the presenters were Scientists at the Zone explained how documentaries, podcasts and magazines, a credit to the university. Lots of time to answer research is revealing which types of foods providing a space for festival goers to think my 12 year old’s questions. Professor Michelle provide the greatest protection against disease. about science critically. 12 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303

Alberto Ramirez Ramos Culinary excellence

An Imperial chef has secured first place just over two years ago having moved from contains orange zest, cinnamon and iced milk. in a national contest for his exquisitely Spain. Last October he transferred to front of To secure a medal though, required Alberto to go decorated cake. house, and after undergoing barista training, the extra mile. found he had a natural talent for it. “You have to treat the judges as you would The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO) After winning Imperial’s internal barista a customer, talk to them and be charming. I annual skills competitions were held at Warwick competition, Alberto was persuaded to enter gave them a pair of sunglasses, sprayed a little University in April, with 150 delegates from over TUCO. There he had to make two espressos, two orange essence around and said: ‘just imagine 50 universities competing in a range cappuccinos, and two signatures for a panel for a moment that you are in Spain’. It seemed of activities. of industry judges who were looking for taste, to work! I’m really motivated to go one better Stefan Miles was awarded Gold and Best presentation and calmness under pressure. next year and win.” in Class in the pre-prepared cake category for For his signature coffee, called Anisete, Also competing at TUCO were Steven his Alice in Wonderland creation; while another Alberto explains that he drew upon influences Robertson and Andy Crook in the Chef’s member of Imperial catering staff, Alberto from his native country. Challenge, in which a team of two chefs cook a Ramirez Ramos came home with Silver in the “In Spain a lot of people, particularly the three course meal from a list of ingredients barista skills competition, wowing judges with elderly, drink coffee with anise seeds, provided prior to the event. Andrea his signature Anisete coffee. so I wanted to bring a more Galanska competed alongside Alberto in Stefan, who has worked at Imperial for nine contemporary edge to that. the barista skills challenge. years, revealed that he has only been making I started experimenting at Imperial’s Head of Catering and cakes for a few years and that his first attempt home making various syrups Events Campus Services, Jemma was for the birthday of his young daughter, with star anise from the local Morris, said: “We are extremely who suffers from allergies. supermarket, but it just didn’t proud of all the competitors “We simply couldn’t find any suitable work, so I ended up bringing the who represented Imperial and allergen-free cakes, so I decided to have a go right anise back from Spain! absolutely delighted for Stefan and myself. She requested that it be themed around The finished article also Alberto for impressing the judges ‘Mr Tumble’ – who, unbeknown to me, is a and receiving this recognition. clown-like children’s TV character. I thought the “They are all a credit resulting effort was sub-standard, and frankly to the College and Mr Tumble looked a little worse for wear, but glowing examples of she absolutely loved it and so did her party the hard work and guests and their parents. dedication of our “Gradually, I started making more team.” cakes, improving and learning new skills and techniques and word got around I —JON NARCROSS, COMMUNICATIONS AND guess. It’s really spiralled lately, I’m PUBLIC AFFAIRS incredibly busy.”

Smell the coffee Imperial’s other TUCO medal- winner, Alberto Ramirez Ramos, started working as a porter in the College kitchen 13 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303 insidestory

Touchy feely

A recent workshop at Chelsea & Westminster Hospital saw Dr Alejandro Granados from Imperial’s Centre for Engagement and Simulation Science collaborate with sculptor Johann Arens to explore the use and limitations of the sense of touch in both art and medical training.

Johann created a replica of the first known piece of sculpture that was intended to be touched, which was featured at the workshop alongside the Centre’s haptic Digital Rectal Examination (DRE) Workshop participant explores sensory sculpture (credit: Lou MacNamara) trainer. The workshop was part of Johann’s art residency at Hackney- based SPACE Studios. importance of the sense of touch reality headsets and sensors participants found very strange. Johann gave a presentation in medicine and whether clinicians on their fingers, they explored Following the activities, a on how tactility is underused in are becoming more dependent on Johann’s sculpture with their group discussion explored the the art world and his interest in vision, given the ever-increasing hands. Whilst the surface limitations of the sense of touch haptic technologies that enable quality of imaging technology. certainly felt hard, the images in both art and medicine, to medical students to develop their The fifteen workshop they were seeing through the end what participants found to palpation skills without the need participants had the opportunity headset showed the sculpture be an engaging and interesting for a real patient. Dr Granados, to perform a simulated rectal deforming in response to their experience. who has developed the DRE manipulation – a clash of examination using the haptic ­­—DUNCAN BOAK, DEPARTMENT OF SURGERY trainer, then spoke about the device. Then, whilst wearing virtual perceptions that many of the & CANCER

Audience raptures captured

The Data Science Institute hosted who were not connected to an EEG, a one hour classical music were given a questionnaire to fill out concert in a collaboration with regarding their reactions. Hosted by the Guildhall School of Music Dr. Miguel Molina-Solana, his research as part of a pilot experiment to partners and he will be processing gain neurological insights into these data in the upcoming months. audience response. The Guildhall School of Music & Drama is one of the world’s leading The audience was a mixture drawn conservatoires and drama schools, from Imperial members of staff, with as well as a global leader of creative varied levels of experience with music and professional practice and and skills. During the concert, data promotes innovation, experiment was recorded on how musicians and and research. audience members engage through The KPMG Data Observatory the music playing at a brain level. (DO), the largest of its kind in Europe, Hosted in the DSI’s Data features an enveloping circular Observatory, both audience members wall of 64 monitors powered by and musicians were given an EEG 32 computers facilitating 313 degrees brain monitoring cap which recorded of surround vision. brain waves. Other participants ­—CERYS MORGAN, DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTING 14 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303

obituaries

Tim became Chair in Mining Engineering at TIM SHAW the Royal School of Mines at Imperial in 1980. Tim Shaw, Emeritus Professor of Mining Tim went on to act as a bastion of traditional Engineering, died on Friday 21 April at the mining engineering training at the College. age of 82. His college in the Department, He also served a period as Dean of the Royal Emeritus Professor Dennis Buchanan, School of Mines. pays tribute. He launched the European Mining degree with several institutions on the Continent “Tim was born into a mining family and spent including in Delft and Aachen. This legacy part of his school days at the Consolidated continues as the Joint Master European Murchison gold and antimony mine in South Mining, Minerals and Environmental Program. Africa, where his father was general manager. He contributed to the teaching of the MSc Tim was educated at Bishops Diocesan in Metals and Energy Finance together with College in Cape Town before going on to study College’s related continuing professional mining engineering at the University of the development programme. Right up to last Witwatersrand. He then joined Johannesburg month we were delivering team teaching to Consolidated Investment. postgraduate students and he was scheduled Tim’s rapid rise within JCI gave him to deliver a continuing professional eventual overall technical responsibility for development course with me in July. their large gold, platinum, coal and antimony While I consciously attempted to capture operations as Chief Consulting Engineer. It was Tim’s fund of knowledge and experience from this elevated appointment and poised in a new e-Learning course we have only to reach the top position in JCI that he and just launched on EduMine, there will be no his wife decided that their young family would substitute for having him present in the have a brighter future outside South Africa. lecture room. He will be sorely missed but Following an academic appointment as his legacy will continue through the many Professor at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, students he taught.”

our instrument, to make sure they LAWRENCE SOUNG YEE were qualified to survive the rigours Lawrence Soung Yee, Instrumentation of the mission. He was a key player Engineer in the Department of in solving many of the technical Physics, died on Sunday 19 March problems we have encountered 2017 aged 38 years. His colleague during the design and build in the Department, Helen O’Brien phases, providing calm, sound and pays tribute. sensible advice even in the most stressful situations. Even after being “Lawrence joined Imperial College diagnosed with cancer, Lawrence in November 2012 as the Assembly, continued to contribute, coming Integration and Test Manager for the into college around his chemotherapy Solar Orbiter Magnetometer being appointments. His quiet and built here it the Physics Department. calm fight against the disease Solar Orbiter is a European Space that ultimately claimed him was Agency (ESA) satellite, and the inspiring and humbling for his magnetometer is one of the ten co-workers to observe. scientific instruments that will be Lawrence was a talented flown on the spacecraft in its orbit engineer and also a very warm and close to the sun to study how the Sun calm individual, he was a much influences interplanetary space. The valued member of the team and flight model of the instrument has central to our overall success. The recently been accepted by ESA to fly Solar Orbiter magnetometer will take on the spacecraft. Lawrence’s name with it out into Lawrence was absolutely space, both figuratively through all key to the successful build of the work he did to make it a reality, the instrument. He meticulously and literally as his name is written checked and documented all the into the flight software. parts and materials procured for He is and will be much missed.” 15 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 23 May 2017 • issue 303 insidestory

Dr Jan Huckelheim, ESE Ms Mary Reynolds, Mr Richard Husbands, Estates Dr Sophie Piper, NHLI Advancement moving on Division Mr Jacopo Iacovacci, Surgery Dr Yasmeen Rafiq, Computing Welcome & Cancer Dr Fernando Rosas De Mrs Elizabeth Jones, NHLI Miss Lucy Ahfong, Public Miss Sharlene Reid, Surgery Andraca, Mathematics Mr Dan Iorga, Computing Health Mr Zak Kadrou, Faculty of & Cancer Miss Jenelle Rutherford, Engineering moving in Miss Rosie Jenkins, Public Dr Reza Anbari Attar, Miss Karolina Repel, Faculty of Medicine Centre Health Mechanical Engineering Mr Juhan Kahk, Materials ThinkSpace Dr Agata Sadza, Faculty of Ms Jitka Aldhoun, Surgery & Ms Claudina Jensen, ICU Miss Sara Asenjo Sanz, Ms Maja Kecman, Surgery & Ms Kelly Ribeiro Alves, Finance Medicine Centre Cancer Catering Services Cancer Dr Michael Jones, Medicine Dr Luciano Rigano, Medicine Mr Oscar Sanderson, Dr Nick Andreas, Surgery & Ms Maeve Bartlett, Medicine Ms Margaret Kennedy, EYEC Mr Matthew Jones, Life Medicine Ms 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Sciences Division FOR COMPLETE DETAILS: events highlights www.imperial.ac.uk/whats-on June 2017

31 MAY, 17.30 Taking a Scientific Approach to Science and Engineering Education Professor Carl Wieman, of the Graduate information technology is setting the School of Education at Stanford stage for a new approach to teaching University, will present current research and learning that can provide the relevant Staff Survey – that shows more effective ways to learn, and effective science and engineering results roadshows teach, and evaluate learning than what education for all students that is needed is in use in the traditional college class. for the 21st century. A drinks reception All staff are invited to attend one of the The combination of this research with will follow the lecture. Staff Survey roadshows to hear about the survey results and to ask any questions.

Hammersmith Campus: 14 JUNE, 12.30 Friday 9 June, 10.00–11.15 St Mary’s Campus: Research showcase on whole energy systems Friday 9 June, 15.00–16.15 Energy Futures Lab and the Faculty storage and demand side response, South Kensington Campus: of Engineering are jointly hosting this and energy policy. Would you like to Monday 19 June, 10.00–11.15 research showcase event on whole hear more about it from Imperial College energy systems. Whole energy systems researchers? This Research Showcase Silwood Park: research includes looking at how to will explore different perspectives on whole Monday 26 June, 10.00–11.15 integrate renewables onto the grid, energy systems research from the fields how to manage intermittency of of policy, climate change, energy storage, Find out more and apply here: supply using, for example, energy and photovoltaics. bit.ly/SS17-results

31 MAY, 17.30 13 JUNE, 17.30 22 JUNE , 17.30 Data Science in Defence and Security Releasing Friction’s Potential The Bioengineering Lecture As part of the Distinguished Lecturer series, From emission reduction in planes to Distinguished biological engineer Professor Sangeeta Mark Briers will be giving a talk on data science improving the success of brain surgery, Bhatia presents the 2017 Department of Bioengineering in defence and security. Professor Daniele Dini’s inaugural annual lecture. lecture will explore the explosion of 06 JUNE, 14.30 applications of advances in Tribology 27 JUNE, 17.30 Engineering Biology Showcase Memoirs of the This afternoon event showcasing 15 JUNE, 19.00 Memoryless: A work going on at Imperial in the area Antartica: Terra Incognito – A Friends of Imperial Markovian Meander of Engineering Biology is hosted by College event from Disk Drives to the Synthetic Biology Hub and the A hidden land of lakes, rivers, volcanoes, and even life is Digital Money Industrial Biotechnology Hub. changing our image of Earth’s seventh continent forever. Could 100 year old mathematics provide 07 JUNE, 17.30 19 JUNE, 12.00 a source of intelligent Choral Evensong with Imperial College AHSC Seminar Series 2017: Imaging decision making in the Chamber Choir (Pentecost) Join two leading experts and hear how they are using uncertain new world of cryptocurrencies? The service is collaboration between the Chamber Choir, different imaging techniques to investigate and help the Chaplaincy Multi-Faith Team, and Holy Trinity Church. tackle cardiovascular disease.

21 JUNE, 17.30 Measuring the shape of the electron In his inaugural lecture Professor Ben Sauer will talk about the precise experiments that aim to solve the mystery of missing antimatter.

29 JUNE, 18.00 Living with HIV in 2017 13 JUNE, 12.00 Diversity in Engineering In a special joint inaugural lecture, Professors Sarah Fidler and Alan Winston will discuss lifelong treatments Seminar celebrating diversity within engineering at for people living with HIV. Imperial College.

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