alumni issue magazine 13 spring / summer 2013 06 Crystallography How a discovery at Leeds a century ago is still at the forefront of scientific knowledge 14 The Price of art Award-winning artist Elizabeth Price on hard work, history and the importance of art 16 Changing landscapes Philosophy and landscape design from Hyde Park to Hsinchu 20 Future cities Creating a low-carbon urban environment Alumni FROM THE EDITOR Contributors CONTENTS

Ian Beetlestone (English 2000) is a writer, pianist and London cabbie. 06 He has written for the Guardian and the Observer, and before that the Leeds Guide. He has performed throughout Soho and the West End. Regulars

Vicky Ellis Phil Steel (English 1997) As chief reporter for Energy Live Head of Alumni Relations News, Vicky Ellis (English 2009, Alumni news 02 MA Writing for Performance and Publication 2010) writes Radio 1 DJs to restaurateurs… Exactly a century ago, a father-and-son team stories and fronts TV pieces the latest from our worldwide community of scientists at Leeds began researching a new on all things energy-related. analytical technique. So far-reaching were its She regularly reviews for Department round-up 12 consequences for science and engineering that Whatsonstage.com Stories from your department it’s inconceivable to picture a world without the discoveries made by the Braggs, here at Leeds. And Kipper Williams The latest from Leeds 24 yet it’s not a well-known story. We tell it here. (Fine Art 1974) draws for a What’s happening on campus number of publications including The work of all our Leeds people continues The Sunday Times, the Guardian to have an impact across the world. Research by and The Spectator VC's View 31 Professor Andy Gouldson and his team on low- Looking back and forward carbon cities is just one example you can read about. 2013 is a year of anniversaries – the London Forthcoming events 32 branch of the Leeds University Alumni Association Our alumni annual lecture and other celebrated its centenary, and Leeds’ East Asian Elizabeth Price installation view, BALTIC, forthcoming events for Leeds alumni Leeds is published twice a Gateshead 2012. Courtesy of the artist and 14 Studies department marks its 50‐year anniversary year by the University of Leeds MOTINTERNATIONAL with a series of events in the autumn. Alumni & Development Team. It’s also a year of change. And so this summer It is received by more than features we say farewell (and thank you) to Professor 200,000 graduates, members Michael Arthur, our outgoing Vice-Chancellor, and friends of the University and welcome Sir Alan Langlands to the Leeds across the world. community. You can hear from both of them in the Crystal Clear 06 pages of this magazine. The Braggs’ scientific breakthrough at Leeds Finally, we’ve redesigned our website to make it easier for you to contact fellow alumni, update Elizabeth Price 14 us on what you’re doing, comment on our news What winning the Turner Prize means and play a part in Leeds life. So have a look at 16 www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk and join our online Figures in a landscape 16 community. Don’t miss out! Design, philosophy and gardens Leeds Low-carbon futures 20 Editorial Team This magazine is also The economics of a sustainable city Phil Steel, Editor available for download alumni Jill Bullock, Deputy Editor from www.alumni.leeds. Meet Sir Alan 28 Simon Jenkins ac.uk or can be emailed online Our new Vice-Chancellor Melissa Snowden out on request

This magazine is printed Thanks on 50% recycled paper Kathy Fairclough, Chris and mailed out in 100% Hammond, Emma Join the biodegradable packaging McKeown, Kathryn Fisk discussion Email us: Views expressed are those Cover image: Elizabeth Price (PhD Fine [email protected] of the contributors and not necessarily those of Art 1999), Turner Prize Winner 2012. The Turner Tweet us: @leedsalumni the University of Leeds Prize is an annual prize using #leedsmagazine presented to a British Design: Appetite 20 visual artist under the Write to us: Leeds www.appetiteuk.com www.facebook.com/ age of 50. It has become arguably the UK’s most magazine, leedsalumni famous and widely- University of Leeds debated prize. LS2 9JT Visit Leeds Alumni on LinkedIn PHOTOGRAPHER: alumni.leeds.ac.uk Lucy Dawkins, Tate Web: alumni.leeds.ac.uk to view the magazine 28 @LeedsAlumni Photography Tel: +44 (0)113 343 7520 online, to comment on Twitter Email: [email protected] and find out the latest stories alumni news alumni news

ALUMNI Alice Levine is just one of many Leeds voices you’ll hear on BBC radio. Find out who else is a Leeds graduate at NEWS www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/prominent

Photo: Tony Harrison health service is heard. Previously he Soaring credit: served as a Permanent Secretary in the Serving up Jason Alden / Civil Service. singers eyevine success

1

A friend discovered Dan Smith (English Language and Literature Revisiting v. 2 2007) writing and producing his own music in his Leeds flat. Now Bastille, When shown as a film on Channel 4 Dan’s band, has rocketed from a solo in 1987, Tony Harrison’s (Latin and Marketing Chef and Managing Director George project to a full-fledged group, playing Linguistics 1958, DLitt 2004) poem Psarias (MBA 1997) opened The at sold-out festivals and reaching “v.” met with controversy for its maven Olive Tree Greek restaurant 30 years No 1 on the UK charts with their explicit language. Twenty-six years ago and now runs three throughout debut album Bad Blood. “You can’t later he performed the poem, about his At Li & Fung, the global leader Leeds. The family business serves up imagine anything more mind-blowing parents’ vandalised grave in Beeston, in consumer exports, Linda Greek cuisine using fresh ingredients than being onstage in front of 1,500 live on Radio 4. Tam (Management Studies and from all over Yorkshire. In 2012, people, and pretty much everyone in Operational Research 1987) works George and his son appeared on the room shouting along to one of as Senior Vice-President of Brand Channel 5’s Kitchen Wars with Marco your songs,” Dan says. “That’s such Management and Marketing. She Pierre White and George competed an amazing feeling.” creates growth plans, shop concepts on ITV’s Best Dish: The Chefs earlier and business operations for retail in the year. George regularly cooks units throughout Asia, particularly on TV, from BBC’s Food & Drink to China. While ensuring brand ITV’s This Morning and Sky as well Photo: consistency across all sectors, Linda Peter Hendy Knight as appearing on London Greek Radio manages marketing campaigns in and BBC Radio Leeds. each country and also launches 2. 2 Photo: for transport new stores. George Psarias credit: Transport Commissioner Sir photo: Adam Robinson Hitting the Alice Levine Peter Hendy CBE (Economics Photography Online credit: Quiz masters and Geography 1975) received a airwaves Gianni Diliberto knighthood from Princess Anne at Photography Restaurant critic Jay Rayner (Political New role Buckingham Palace for his long- enterprises Alice Levine (English Language 2008) Studies 1987), comedian Alistair serving contribution to Transport may have been recognisable based McGowan (English 1986), political at NHS for London. He was specially on the rise Photo: on appearances as former television Ewan McLennan correspondent Libby Wiener (History Matt Tee (Mathematics 1986) has honoured for his work in planning personality on MTV and Bit on the Ewan McLennan (Popular and World 1981) and Nature editor David Adam taken the role of Chief Operating and managing transport for the 2012 Business guru Nancy Cruickshank Side, but her recent promotion to 1. Musics 2008) won the 2013 Spiral (BEng Chemical Engineering 1993, Officer at the National Health Olympics and also for charitable (History 1993) is no stranger to photo: co-host on Radio 1 might make her DAN SMITH Award for Best Male Singer, an PhD Environmental Science 1998) Service (NHS) Confederation, which fundraising. He advises graduates digital enterprises. She recently infamous by voice alone. The new credit: acoustic, folk, blues and roots prize. battled Bristol alumni on BBC’s 2012 represents the NHS to Government that they can achieve similar served as launch CEO of Weve, a late-night DJ presents cutting-edge Mike Massaro He has received several accolades University Challenge. Answering and the media. Matt’s focus will be on success: “When I see our graduates, mobile commerce platform for the music and interviews the music 2. over the last few years, including the quiz questions about festive foods engaging with member organisations which I do every autumn, I tell them UK’s three largest mobile network industry’s most progressive artists on photo: prestigious BBC Horizon Award. He and much more, the four graduates and building partnerships with the I was where they are 37 years ago. operators, but her ongoing passion the programme’s 10pm – 12am time University now tours the UK and has finished represented Leeds on the season’s first private sector. With his background They can make it, too,” speaking lies in online beauty retail. As slot. The Independent listed Alice as Challenge recording for Transatlantic Sessions 6, episode. Jeremy Paxman (Honorary in communications, Matt will work about his start as a graduate trainee founder of MyShowcase, Nancy credit: “one to watch” in 2013. © ITV Studios to be televised in the autumn. LLD 1999) hosted. to make sure that the voice of the for London Transport. created an online retail opportunity

2 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 3 alumni news alumni news Join the

IN BRIEF

Ed Cartwright (History 2010) Ben Ib (Fine Art 1997) has directed Photo: Nancy Cruickshank champions locally-grown foods, cutting-edge music videos for some leaders credit: promoting partnerships between of rock and pop music’s biggest © Maksim Kalanep food and beverage suppliers and icons, including Kylie Minogue, Are you looking to enhance your career buyers in Yorkshire. He also Robbie Williams and Sir Paul oversees marketing and sales at McCartney. potential, pursue your subject passion or Swillington Organic Farm. Chief Executive Officer Brian St thinking about a change in direction? Achumile Majija (MBA 2010) John (MA European Union 2005) leads Group Risk and Capital of Foundation for Medical Services Optimisation at Prudential. He manages development of Malta’s As a Leeds alumni you may has received honours for his Mater Dei Hospital Oncology contribution to youth development, Centre for adolescents and be eligible for a 10% tuition and works to curb poverty and palliative-care patients. unemployment in South Africa. fee bursary*. Attend our Peter Suh-Nfor Tangyie (MEd Founder and managing director of TESOL 1993) is principal of Postgraduate Open Day Limehouse, Nick Howard (Bretton GBHS Bamenda, the second most Hall, Theatre Acting 2002) won populous Anglophone secondary to find out more. Yorkshire Post’s 2012 Young school in Cameroon, with 5,000 Entrepreneur of the Year. His team students and 200 staff. received Agency of the Year and Award of Excellence for audiovisuals Senior Engineer Pak Keung Mui from the Institute of Internal (Civil and Structural Engineering Communication. 2005) conceptualises and develops national railway projects for POsTGradUaTe At age 36, Richard Wright (LLB Singapore Land Transport for independent beauty products Law 1997) has become one of Authority. that could be sold either online the youngest barristers to join the OPeN or from the comfort of privately- Queen’s Counsel. He is a member Labour Party Councillor Thomas hosted events. Nancy said: “I loved of No 6 Chambers in Leeds, Murray (Metallurgy 1972, PGCE my time at Leeds. With such a specialising in Criminal Law. 1973) has been made Lord Mayor huge population of students and a of Leeds. He served on the Leeds vibrant student community, every City Council for Garforth and day brought new experiences and Swillington wards. daY interesting conversations.” 29 NOV Alisa Amupolo (MA International Communications 2008) founded www.infomation.na, an online media solution that aggregates 2013 information in real time to end users free of charge. She also consults on strategy and transformation in Namibia, mainly in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector; current projects involve the Communications Regulatory Authority of Namibia and Namibia Statistics Agency. To create job opportunities and curb the high unemployment rate in Namibia, Alisa formed a Nation Foundation Trust. She was recognised as one of the Photo: 30th emerging leaders of Southern Alisa amupolo credit to book your place visit: Africa in 2010. © Susan Nel Photography www.leeds.ac.uk/jointheleaders

*terms and conditions apply – www.leeds.ac.uk/alumnibursary 4 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 5

UoL_PG_A4_Advert.indd 1 23/05/2013 14:36 Crystallography - feature Crystallography - feature

Structural biology, geology, engineering, chemistry, physics. Bragg’s law. Spectrometers. Diffractometers. Pioneering work done at Leeds a century ago still feeds into much of modern science. This is how it started

The birth of X-ray crystallography For their achievements, William at Leeds in 1912-1913 through the and Lawrence Bragg were awarded work of Sir William Henry Bragg the 1915 Nobel Prize in Physics. In and his son Sir W. Lawrence Bragg 2013, the Braggs’ work was named was one of the culminating episodes the third most important British in arguably the most extraordinary innovation of the 20th century in an three decades in the physical sciences. online vote of 80,000 people. Between 1890 and the end of Yet research on crystallography the First World War, X-rays and had not even begun when the Braggs radioactivity were discovered, the arrived in England from Australia theories of relativity and quantum six years before the Nobel award. mechanics developed, and the Such immediate recognition is rare constitution of atoms first explained. for Nobel Prizes, and it testifies both During this period Marconi to the importance of their work and developed radio telecommunication, the clarity with which they explained the Wright brothers made their first and demonstrated its potential in flights and Max Planck proposed many areas of science. quantum theory. These were, in Cumbrian-born William came other words, the formative decades to Leeds from the University of of the modern age. Adelaide, Australia, where he had It is not often appreciated established a solid international how important to that incipient reputation for his work on modernity the Braggs’ work was. radioactivity and the nature of the William and Lawrence paved the new invisible ‘emanations’ from way to countless scientific and matter: X-rays, gamma rays and technological breakthroughs by alpha particles. As Professor of revealing the arrangement of atoms Physics and Mathematics, William in crystals. Although it had been long had found in Adelaide a meagre suggested that crystals were made laboratory, so he set about making up of a regular pattern of atoms and his own equipment by apprenticing molecules, there was previously no himself to a local instrument maker. way of knowing precisely how these When Leeds needed a new were arranged. Cavendish Professor of Physics in X-ray crystallography is the 1907, the English chemist Frederick chemist’s most reliable tool Soddy recommended William to the for deducing the shapes and University, saying that, when he had arrangements of molecules. It tells visited Adelaide, “I was much struck us about the nature of terrestrial with the spirit he has created around and extra-terrestrial minerals. him.” William was offered and Through an understanding of crystal accepted the post. The birth of Sir William Henry Bragg structures, it became possible to In January 1909 William and explains the theory of develop new and better materials. his family – wife Gwendoline, sons reflecting light by prisms When applied to the molecules of Lawrence and Robert and daughter By Philip Ball to school children at life, it ushered in the age of molecular Gwendy – boarded the coal-fired a 1931 lecture at the biology and genetics – most famously Watarah for the journey to England, Royal Institution. as the technique that revealed the arriving in Plymouth in March. Photo © Hutton-Deutsch structure of DNA to James Watson They rented a house in fashionable Crystallography Collection/CORBIS and Francis Crick in 1953. Headingley as well as a weekend

6 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 7 Crystallography - feature Crystallography - feature

After only six years the Braggs were awarded a Nobel prize for their work. Not everyone recognised the importance of Bragg explained the idea of their work however. “I was so sheets or planes of atoms with A plaque outside the Parkinson excited that I had to tell my Bragg X-ray spectrometer reference to the rows of vines Building commemorates the work aunt about it, with indifferent England, 1910-1926 in a vineyward of the Braggs at Leeds success,” wrote Lawrence

father was supreme at handling X-ray align and you can see them stretching gathering of Europe’s top physical A Leeds graduate: tubes and ionization chambers. You away in parallel formation. scientists – was a particularly must find it hard to realize these days On this basis, Lawrence worked prestigious platform, and at the from Leeds to Mars what brutes X-ray tubes then were.” out how the reflection angles of the 1913 meeting on “The Structure At Leeds, William had rather better spots depend on the distances between of Matter” William discussed his Would the Braggs ever have looked technical support than Lawrence did sheets and the wavelength of the work with Albert Einstein and Marie up at Mars and imagined that, one in Cambridge, which still pursued X-rays. He expressed this in a formula Curie, along with several scientists, day, an X-ray spectrometer would Photo: a “sealing wax and string” approach now known as ‘Bragg’s law,’ which such as Leon Brillouin and Frederick W. Lawrence Bragg, be there, gathering data on the to experimentation. William, in first appeared in a paper presented to Lindemann, who went on to make who worked with planet’s surface? Although only the contrast, enjoyed the services of the Cambridge Philosophical Society important contributions to the his father at Leeds size of a tin can, the Alpha Particle whilst a student at an excellent workshop led by head in November 1912 and was reported understanding of diffraction and Cambridge X-ray Spectrometer (APXS), mechanic C H Jenkinson. in Nature in December. Here he also crystal structure. developed by the Canadian Space It was Jenkinson who built, from showed that, by assuming a particular Late in 1914, William wrote credit: Agency (CSA), MDA robotics and Science & Society William’s design, a revolutionary kind of arrangement of atoms in a long letter to the Leeds Vice- Picture Library Professor Ralf Gellert’s science instrument that could be used crystals of zinc sulphide, he could Chancellor Michael Sadler, pointing team at University of Guelph, both to measure X-ray wave account perfectly for the X-ray pattern. out the University’s pre-eminence Canada, is sending an enormous lengths (the technique of X-ray The Braggs’ crucial realisation was in X-ray diffraction. “The practical amount of data about the geology spectrometry) and to measure that, if the X-ray diffraction pattern applications are likely to be of no of Mars back to Earth. Attached reflections from crystal plains could be accurately predicted from a less importance than the theoretical,” by an arm to NASA’s Curiosity (X-ray diffraction). The instrument, crystal structure, then one could also he wrote. Although his request rover, the instrument determines used both as a spectrometer and a work backwards, deducing from the for funds was supported, Leeds the chemical composition of the diffractometer, partly superseded experimentally measured pattern, the couldn’t match the offer in early rocks and soil in the red planet’s Laue’s photographic technique in structure of the crystal itself. 1915 of a professorship from wealthy Gale Crater. that it enabled precise measurements Of all the crystals whose structures University College London (UCL). CSA’s mission scientist for of the angles and intensities of the were worked out principally during William at first refused the offer, but Curiosity is a physicist who diffracted beams. 1913 (sodium chloride, potassium by the time he accepted their second studied at Leeds. Vicky Hipkin Adhering to William’s ‘corpuscular’ chloride, calcium fluoride, zinc offer he had decided he needed to (PhD Atmospheric Physics 2000), view of X-rays, the Braggs at first sulphide and diamond) it was the be in London at the centre of the Senior Program Scientist, Planetary sought to interpret Laue’s bright structure of iron sulphide which gave war effort. Exploration, says “Curiosity’s X-ray spots on the basis that X-ray Lawrence “the greatest thrill,” as he William’s departure was not APXS is amazingly sensitive given At the 1913 meeting ‘particles’ were being channelled recorded long afterwards. This was the necessarily the tragedy for Leeds on “The Structure its small size. William Henry along ‘avenues’ between rows of first structure in which the positions of that it might have seemed at the of Matter” William Bragg’s spectrometer at Leeds has atoms, an idea they described in a the (sulphur) atoms were determined time. The Braggs’ seminal work Bragg discussed been miniaturised using modern his work with paper published in October 1912 in from the intensity (brightness) of the here inevitably left a legacy. In 1929 Albert Einstein and technologies – the silicon drift the journal Nature. reflections. Lawrence recalled that “I William’s student William Astbury, Marie Curie detector and sensitive electronic cottage near Bolton Abbey 20 miles Given this interest, the Braggs, But later that month, shortly worked it out in the drawing room of who worked with him at UCL circuitry for pulse detection. north of the city. Lawrence enrolled, father and son, were fascinated by Photo: after his return to Cambridge for our house in Leeds and was so excited and later at the Royal Institution APXS data are very important as his father had 28 years earlier, at news of work in Munich by Max William Henry the Michaelmas term, Lawrence hit that I had to tell my aunt who was in London, came to Leeds as a to geochemists on the Curiosity Bragg with his Trinity College, Cambridge. Laue, a student of Max Planck. Laue spectrometer, on a novel explanation. “The idea sitting in a corner all about it, with ‘textile physicist.’ Textiles was the team. Ratios of trace abundances William was deeply interested in found that when a narrow beam of c1910. William suddenly leapt into my mind,” he indifferent success.” manufacturing base on which Leeds of soluble elements like chlorine the nature of X-rays. At the time X-rays was directed at a crystal, the enjoyed the later wrote, “that Laue’s spots were The collaboration between father had grown prosperous, and the and bromine can tell us about the services of an a vigorous debate raged among scattered rays formed a geometric excellent workshop due to the reflection of X-ray pulses and son continued throughout the hope was that research on wool water history of Mars, and ratios physicists about whether X-rays were pattern of bright spots on a at Leeds, led by by sheets of atoms in the crystal.” whole of 1913 and until the outbreak and other economically important of sodium, potassium and silicon ‘corpuscles’ or ‘pulses’ – particles or photographic plate placed behind the head mechanic What Lawrence understood was of war in 1914. Lawrence spent part fibres might one day improve the oxides can be used to understand CH Jenkinson waves – the latter widely believed to sample. Laue attempted to interpret that the beam behaves as though it of the spring and summer terms in manufacturing process. rocks of volcanic origin.” travel through an invisible medium the pattern but could not account credit: has been reflected by these sheets, or 1913 at Cambridge but the rest of X-ray crystallography had been called the ether. Although William for all the spots. Lawrence, still at © E.O. Hoppé/Corbis layers, as light is reflected by a mirror. the year at Leeds. The Braggs’ work, initially applied to inorganic crystals, preferred the particle interpretation, Cambridge, recalled that he and William explained the idea of for which they jointly were awarded and the challenge of applying the X-rays are in fact electromagnetic his father discussed Laue’s findings sheets or planes of atoms in 1915 the Nobel Prize, was published in a same technique to the study of the waves, like light, but of a very much intensely “when we were on holiday in the Leeds student magazine The series of papers by the Royal Society large biological molecules found in smaller wavelength. Yet Albert at Cloughton on the Yorkshire coast.” Gryphon with reference to the in London, marking the birth of fibres was considerable. Yet Astbury Einstein argued in 1905 that light Over the summer and autumn rows of vines in a vineyard – not X-ray crystallography. met the challenge and, thanks to a can also be considered to be like a of 1912, William and Lawrence an obvious Yorkshire reference, but William delivered talks on this series of breakthrough papers on stream of particles, called photons: collaborated in the Leeds Physics wine had been made in the Adelaide new science around the country, the structure of proteins and to his this ‘wave-particle duality’ was laboratory. Writing in 1961, Hills since the early nineteenth at the British Association and in energetic proselytising, Leeds became one of the first fruits of the nascent Lawrence pointed out how adept century. As you walk through the particular at the Solvay Conference. famous as the “X-ray Vatican” and quantum theory. William was in the laboratory. “My rows of vines, every so often they The conference – a roughly triennial the home of molecular biology.

8 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 9 Crystallography - feature Crystallography - feature

A Leeds graduate: Thomas is part of an Astbury Centre modern devices such as SONAR, team of structural biologists and medical ultrasound, fuel injection A Leeds graduate: Still leading the way virologists that recently discovered valves and parking sensors. Without Saving lives with X-ray how the Schmallenberg virus, which using X-ray diffraction to inspecting A leading pioneer in electron causes birth defects and still births in the atomic structure in piezoelectric Spectrometry microscopy, Ondrej Krivanek some animals, could be targeted by materials, researchers would be FRS (BSc Physics 1971) is anti-viral drugs. They deciphered the unable to observe the results of The study of the structure of developing a new generation of 3-D shape of the Schmallenberg virus their atomic manipulation and protein receptors in cancer cells electron microscopes and other nucleocapsid protein and saw the engineering efforts. and how they react to drugs is electron-optical instruments. proteins bind together in a ring-like Because current commercial at the heart of how one Leeds Nion, a company he co-founded structure, held together by contacts piezoelectric materials only work graduate has saved women’s lives 15 years ago near Seattle, USA, between the protein units, a bit like well up to around 200°C, their around the world. makes the world’s leading people holding hands in a circle. development has been limited. Ionix V Craig Jordan OBE (BSc scanning transmission electron Thomas says: “We are now designing Advanced Technologies, a spin-out Pharmacy and Pharmacology microscopes, which are able to small molecules that could block company based on work done in the 1969, PhD Pharmacology 1973, focus a beam of electrons on one ring formation and could therefore Institute of Materials Research by Dr DSc 1985, DMed 2001), an atom at a time to determine its become an effective antiviral drug.” Tim Stevenson and Dr Tim Comyn, is eminent specialist in drugs for chemical type, its precise location creating novel piezoelectric materials breast cancer treatment and in a complex structure and its that can operate at high temperatures prevention, is known as “the atomic environment. Materials engineering and in extreme environments. If these Father of Tamoxifen” after doing Both the Bragg apparatus and materials could be used in valves his PhD on the oestrogen receptor the electron microscope use a and transducers for cars and aero- (ER) binding with oestrogen radiation with a wavelength short Professor Rik Brydson leads the engines at temperatures in excess or antioestrogen. enough so that individual atoms Leeds Electron Microscopy and of 500°C, they would enable the Today, Craig is Scientific can be distinguished. Compared Spectroscopy Centre (LEMAS) as development of cleaner, more efficient Director and Vice Chairman to the X-rays used in the Bragg In 1938 one of Astbury’s research the University to understand the well as coordinating the National transport systems. of Oncology at the Lombardi instrument, the electrons used Photo: students, Florence Bell, produced the molecular basis of life, and much Facility for Electron Microscopy Comprehensive Cancer A high resolution in electron microscopes have an Field Emission Gun first X-ray diffraction image of ND A, of this work is based on X-ray (SuperSTEM). Based at Daresbury Center, Georgetown University, additional advantage: they can Scanning Electron a crucial step that led in 1953 to one crystal structures. Laboratories in Cheshire, SuperSTEM Washington, DC. He uses be focused into a beam that’s Microscope in the of the most important discoveries of Thomas Edwards, Deputy houses the UK’s best electron Centenary Bragg Chair conformational analysis of In biology, narrower than a single atom. Such Leeds Electron the 20th century: the double-helical Director of the Centre, uses X-ray microscopes (see Ondrej Krivanek molecules binding to the ER to Microscopy and structure is precise focusing requires highly Spectroscopy structure of DNA. crystallography in much the same sidebar) and was formed by a a function. By To mark the Braggs’ achievements, understand breast cancer cell death. perfected electron lenses. These Centre Astbury’s work is one example way as the Braggs, but on a vastly consortium of five universities and seeing the shape the University is creating a new “With conformational analysis of a protein, we have only become available due to of the significance of the Braggs’ different scale. Instead of using four collaborating partners. understand better Professorial post (the Centenary we’re still applying the Braggs’ and a recent breakthrough in electron research not only within the confines diffraction to determine the structure The diffraction and scattering of how it works, Bragg Chair) in collaboration with Astbury’s X-ray crystallography, optics called aberration correction, of crystallography, but more broadly of sodium chloride (which has two high energy electrons rather than or in some cases, the Royal Academy of Engineering, this time to see how one shape a technique pioneered by Nion. across science, engineering and atoms), the lab team is working with X-rays makes it possible to actually doesn’t Diamond Light Source and Infineum of the complex causes survival Nion’s instruments have societal boundaries. It has been biological molecules made up of directly image the planes of atoms that UK. This aims to advance engineering and another death” says Craig. many other features such as fundamental to the development hundreds of thousands of atoms. give rise to the reflection or diffraction applications of crystallography “This knowledge will help us an unprecedented stability that of various scientific fields within They determine the 3-D structure of the electron or X-ray waves. using one of the most intense X-ray help patients.” allows them to keep the beam industry, including microelectronics, of proteins that perform normal SuperSTEM has contributed to sources in the world – the Diamond Craig’s new book Estrogen centred on each single atom for pharmaceuticals, aerospace and tasks within living organisms, and an atomic level understanding of Synchrotron – for studying changes Action, SERMs and Women’s several minutes. They are found power generation. can identify how this is different to the structure of many advanced in the structural arrangements Health (Imperial College in only a few laboratories around The Braggs’ crucial The influence of William Bragg’s a protein that causes disease. “In materials used in electronics, of atoms in crystals in the Press) includes a chapter on the world. Two are located at the realisation was time at Leeds continues to resonate at biology, structure is function,” says chemical catalysis and in the manufacture and use of engineering X-ray crystallography. that, if the X-ray UK SuperSTEM laboratory, based diffraction pattern the forefront of science a century later. Thomas. “By seeing the shape of a application of nanotechnology to materials. — (l.) at a very stable vibrational site in could be accurately protein, we understand better how it healthcare. Notably it has made Cheshire. Bragg’s diffractometer predicted from a works or, in some cases, doesn’t.” a significant contribution to the crystal structure, showed that matter is made of then one could also Leeds today Developing drugs to stop understanding of the new material atoms, and led to figuring out work backwards, malfunctioning proteins, Thomas called graphene (a single layer of how the atoms are arranged. deducing from the says, is “a bit like a lock needing hexagonally bonded carbon atoms) experimentally SuperSTEM is now able to image measured pattern, a key. Once we see the shape of for which researchers at Manchester the individual atoms and analyse the structure of Molecular biology the lock, we’ll look for a small received the Nobel Prize for Physics them one atom at a time. the crystal itself molecule that will fit into it.” Using in 2010. The Astbury Centre of Structural crystallography to find the exact Piezoelectric ceramics are all Molecular Biology brings together shape of the lock can speed up drug around us in sensors and actuators around 250 researchers from across design by five to ten years. and are the irreplaceable heart of

10 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 11 Department round-up Department round-up

Department round-up

Stephen Coleman. Through extensive BIOLOGICAL interviews, he examines influences MATHEMATICS POLITICS AND EAST ASIAN STUDIES on decision-making – from memories, CELEBRATES 50 YEARS SCIENCES habits and media, to freedom, Professor Carmen Molina-Paris and INTERNATIONAL representation and duty. He offers a Dr Grant Lythe are modelling the (MOLECULAR AND unique insight into how it feels to be process that combines molecules STUDIES a democratic citizen. with membrane-bound receptors CELLULAR BIOLOGY) on blood vessels, and what causes Duncan McCargo, Professor of those molecules to die, migrate or Southeast Asian Politics, has told Green tea and red wine contain EARTH AND proliferate. Along with The Nation that Thailand’s political natural chemicals that may disrupt Dr Sreenivasan Ponnambalam in leaders must come up with a solution Alzheimer’s disease development, ENVIRONMENT Biological Sciences they have received to violence in the deep South. He according to Professor Nigel Hooper must improve our understanding £245,031 from the Leverhulme Trust calls the insurgency, which has led to and his team. By adding purified Irish Bronze Age gold artefacts are Photo: of how tropical forests respond to for their project “Understanding more than 5,000 deaths since 2004, extracts of these substances to unsurpassed in size and beauty, but The Daintree increasing temperature and drought” molecular mechanisms that determine “one of the most serious conflicts Rainforest in amyloid protein clumps – which the source of the gold remains a Australia as global climate systems continue cellular fate.” in the world,” and argues that Carnaby Street, Twiggy, The latch onto brain cells, causing them mystery. Rob Chapman has collected to change. decentralisation is needed to end it. Beatles and departments of to malfunction and die – the clumps gold from all over Ireland and has Credit: Chinese Studies – just some of the This work is are reshaped, making them less matched the alloy compositions of licensed under the MEDICINE things that made 1960s Britain adherent and harmful to the cells. artefact gold to natural gold. Gold Creative Commons Photo: special. Responding to the 1961 used in the Early Bronze Age is most Attribution- A BUS WELL GUIDED Hayter report on the study of East ShareAlike 2.5 (Leeds Institute BY ITS FOG LAMPS similar to that from the Mourne Generic License. CRAWLS ALONG THE Asian and other ‘exotic’ languages, BUSINESS Mountains, but 1,000 years later, of Cancer and EMBANKMENT, Leeds University set up an entirely Croagh Patrick is the probable source. 6 DECEMBER 1952 new department of Chinese Cultural etiquette and Mandarin Pathology) CREDIT: Studies, new not just in the sense for business are being taught at a Photo: TOPFOTO of newly established, but in taking new institute that will promote the ENGINEERING Vinicio Capossela ITALIAN Oesophago-gastric cancer, the a strikingly new approach to the understanding of Chinese culture performs as part of second leading cause of cancer study of China. China would not the LivItaly series. and the teaching of Mandarin in Animesh Jha, Professor of Applied Singer-songwriter Vinicio Capossela deaths worldwide, is at the heart of be approached primarily through the UK. The Business Confucius Materials Science, and Abbas came to Leeds to perform his first work by Dr Heike Grabsch and her TRANSPORT its ancient language and literature, Institute at the University of Leeds is Dehghani-Sanij, Senior Lecturer UK concert outside of London after team. Yorkshire Cancer Research on the model of European classical being opened in partnership with the in Mechanics and Robotics, were a talk called “Stories from Sailors, has granted £180,000 to find new In The House Magazine Dr James studies, but through the study of University for International Business awarded a combined total of £1.6 Prophets and Whales” with Gigliola drug targets over the next three years Tate published an article about air contemporary society and the and Economics (UIBE) in Beijing, million from the Engineering and Sulis, Director of Italian, and which will enable oncologists to offer quality since the Great Smog of 1952. language as currently spoken. It one of China’s leading universities. Physical Sciences Research Council Italian journalist Stefano Salis. With new treatment options to patients in He says that while 4,000 people died is hard to imagine now what a for their healthcare projects. Working influences as varied as Tom Waits, the near future. as a result, the same amount occurs revolutionary approach that must with Leeds Dental Institute and tango and rebetiko, Capossela evokes annually from London air pollution. have seemed in 1963 for the first CHEMISTRY Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health worlds pervaded by demons, grace, Road transport, he says, is the cohort of students [pictured] who and Therapeutics, Professor Jha shadows and lost souls. The event PERFORMANCE main cause of pollution in urban entered the University to study Chemists Adam Nelson, Steve will develop a mineral layer to was part of the LivItaly series, which areas, and the increasing amount under the professorship of Owen Marsden and Richard Foster are replace eroded tooth enamel, while brings contemporary Italian culture AND CULTURAL of diesel cars is a leading factor. Lattimore, the distinguished part of a £170 million pan-European Dr Dehghani-Sanij researches the to Yorkshire. He concludes that cleaner vehicle American scholar of China and project to accelerate the development manufacture of lower-limb prosthetics INDUSTRIES technologies are necessary for short- Mongolia. Chinese Studies was of the next generation of drugs. The for improved performance and term recovery. later expanded with the addition European Lead Factory brings together battery life. LAW At the Thackray Medical Museum, of Mongolian, Japanese, and Thai, university researchers, SMEs and students brought the former Leeds South-east Asian and Asia-Pacific seven pharmaceutical companies, and Dr Paul Wragg is one of four legal Union Workhouse to life, allowing Studies: now East Asian Studies will develop and exploit a “library” of GEOGRAPHY academics appointed as an Academic visitors to rediscover the harsh within the School of Modern molecules that may serve as starting Fellow of the Honourable Society conditions of its Victorian inhabitants Languages and Cultures, it will points in drug discovery programmes. Tropical rainforests may lose of the Inner Temple. The scheme on a guided tour. The three celebrate its 50th anniversary this less biomass to greenhouse gas recognises mid-career academics for performances held throughout the autumn with a programme of emissions this century than their contributions to legal research building dramatised the dangers of activities including a conference, COMMUNICATIONS expected, according to work by and teaching. Dr Wragg’s research under-developed surgical procedures, seminars, exhibitions and a David Galbraith and his team, primarily involves free speech the difficulty of obtaining medicine reception for alumni and friends. The actions and thoughts behind collaborating with researchers theory applied to contemporary and the ever-looming fear of For further information see voting in a democracy are examined worldwide. Dr Galbraith says legal problems, such as privacy and the workhouse. www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/EAS50. in How Voters Feel by Professor that despite their resilience, “we the media.

12 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 13 Elizabeth Price - profile Elizabeth Price - profile

Since 1984 The Turner Prize has been awarded to a British visual artist under the age of 50 for an outstanding piece of art that year. Leeds has previous connections with the prize: sculptor Anish Kapoor won the prize in 1991 and was awarded an honorary DLitt from the University in 1993

of 24-hour party animal; she took her limit opportunities for younger and work seriously, but she did like to go emerging artists in particular.” As out and socialise with us.” a result, she says, there’s a danger Elizabeth took advantage of the art will become “reflective of only a Leeds PhD programme to build and narrow range of social experience.” experiment with her creative portfolio. Elizabeth intends for her art to be She welcomed opinions and ideas engaging and accessible. “I think of from academics and peers, held local my art as public art. Everything in my exhibitions, engaged in art theory and films is ‘found’ (I always use existing practised with a diversity of media objects, footage and photographs), including film. Joanne suggests the and so this is stuff we have in interdisciplinary nature of study common. It is part of our collective at Leeds encouraged Elizabeth to inheritance, whether we like it or not.” Turner prize-winner Elizabeth Price may be explore connections between everyday It’s a fitting sentiment, considering life and culture in her work. that Elizabeth effectively created rising but she still has her feet on the ground After graduation, Elizabeth moved a community from those affected to London, teaching and doing hourly by the Woolworths fire. “My By Melissa Snowden paid work to earn a living. “As for interest is in collective memory and many artists, it was a struggle to keep imagination and I wanted to make going,” Elizabeth explains. “The a commemoration. My intention in high-lives of celebrated artists as the edit was to bring the witnesses “If you’re a winner, you could probably Yorkshire for her PhD, entering the while depicting the tragedy may risk featured in the mainstream media together as a powerful collective voice swagger about for a few days,” Art Practice course at Leeds, then in Photo: controversy, Elizabeth’s thoughtful are not indicative. Most have a tough to tell us, remind us, about that event.” Elizabeth Price commented a panel judge, minutes its infancy. Fellow classmate and now installation view, treatment of regional loss, culture time, living precariously, working Since graduating, Elizabeth has before the Tate Turner Prize winner Lecturer in History of Art at Leeds, BALTIC, Gateshead and memory makes the work both very hard without affirmation. There returned to campus both as visiting was announced on 4 December 2012. Dr Joanne Crawford (BA Philosophy 2012. Courtesy sensitive and seductive. “She’s are lots of dark days – but there is a lecturer and an external examiner. Swaggering seems to be the last and History of Art 1995, PhD Fine of the artist and considerate. She thinks about certain freedom of the imagination As an artist she still personally MOTINTERNATIONAL thing Elizabeth Price might do, on the Art, History of Art and Cultural the impact, she thinks about the too, which I felt another life, or treasures Leeds: “I love much of basis of her visibly shaken reaction Studies 2001) recalls: “Only one importance of getting that message profession, could not enable. So I the architecture of the University, upon the announcement that she person before Elizabeth had done it, out there,” says Joanne. “The best kept at it.” particularly the bold, brutalist shapes had won one of the world’s most so she was allowed to gather ideas works are the ones with intelligence At the same time, Elizabeth of the [Roger] Stevens Building and prestigious modern art prizes. and have the time to think about her behind it; hers are very intelligent makes it clear that scholarships also the big, optimistic spaces to gather. Perhaps this shows the practice in its wider context. I think because she thinks before she acts.” enabled her to develop her career It is an invigorating habitat. I come unpretentious air of a woman the University fed that.” Does Elizabeth agree? “I try to as an artist, and that cuts in arts back to the Department from time moment I’m assembling a complete less concerned with the award The Woolworths Choir of 1979, have a relationship of generous and funding will prevent others from to time, and have lots of family in “I didn’t expect to chronology of technical images of be nominated…it or its £25,000 prize money than her 18-minute prize-winning film thoughtful encounter to whatever or doing the same. “Cuts in funding to and around Leeds too, so I’m in the will make a big the sun,” she explains, “from plate memorialising local history. Or installation, displays archival whoever is the subject of my art,” she museums and galleries will diminish neighbourhood quite often.” difference to my photography in the late 19th century maybe it’s because The Woolworths photographs and interviews with responds. “I actually rarely make art access to contemporary art and Leeds Art Gallery is hoping to show career I think” to contemporary HD video taken I don’t like Choir of 1979, her winning video survivors, witnesses and those that directly features people. I don’t Elizabeth’s work at some point in the from stereo satellite.” She plans to pointing my camera Credit: installation about the devastating affected by the fire on giant screens, at other people. like pointing my camera at other future, and there’s no doubt that the Lucy Dawkins, Tate integrate them within another film 1979 Manchester Woolworths accompanied by a soundtrack of So I felt very people. So I felt very cautious about city would welcome her reappearance, Photography that has still to “unfold.” cautious about department store fire, wasn’t top 1960s pop music, finger-snapping and using the footage using the footage of the witnesses of this time as a prize-winning artist “I’m doing the same thing as ever contender on the shortlist – even for hand-clapping, making the viewer’s of the witnesses the Woolworths fire.” and champion of the North. That may really,” she says modestly, “but the artist herself. “I haven’t had that experience one of total sensory Joanne knew Elizabeth well while not happen any time soon, though, perhaps with more choices and more many big shows, so I didn’t expect immersion. “It’s definitely important they were fellow Leeds students. They with Elizabeth’s busy schedule. security – which makes life happier, to be nominated. It will make a big to physically encounter my work, they shared courses together and had the She often continues to edit and for sure.” — (l.) difference to my career, I think,” aren’t just films,” says Elizabeth. “I same social circle, spending time at adds to an artwork up to a year Elizabeth said in a post-win interview. build environments that are crucial hangouts like The Faversham near after original completion, as she Yorkshire-born and brought up to the whole experience, which is campus. “She was always lively in did between the original showing in Bradford and Luton, Elizabeth intended to be sensual as much as it is those respects, in a good way. That’s of The Woolworths Choir of 1979 earned her BA in Fine Art at Oxford intellectual.” what I remember about her,” laughs at BALTIC in Gateshead and its University’s Ruskin School of Art, Annually the Turner Prize goes Joanne. “I remember she had a quirky installation at Tate Britain. 1988, and MA in Fine Art at Royal to a living British artist under 50 way of dress sense that impressed Shortly before winning the Turner College of Art, at the same time years old for an outstanding exhibit me, but she always kind of stood Prize money, Elizabeth secured a enjoying a side-career as a vocalist within the year, and recipients have out. She was engaged, but also quite fellowship at Rutherford Appleton Credit: with pop bands Talulah Gosh and often been labelled as controversial. thoughtful about what she’d say Laboratory’s space unit, where she is Lucy Dawkins, Tate The Carousel. She returned to Joanne Crawford suggests that before she said it. She wasn’t a kind the first Artist in Residence. “At the Photography

14 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 15 Landscape gardeners - Feature Landscape gardeners - Feature

Lucky enough to be ambling around practices were crucial: “that was the gardens at Kensington Palace on a really good project on all things the only warmish, sunny day in early sustainable – a completely polluted March, and as a first-time visitor to site, contaminated land, parkland, the grounds, you might think it had meadows, wetland… new drainage… forever been like this. all the rain that comes down gets taken Walking up the Broadwalk – the by swales into wet woodlands where great path that leads from Kensington it gets cleaned by the trees, then it goes Road in the south to Bayswater Road into frog ponds.” in the north, with the palace and its Sustainable practices are also gardens to the west and the Round important in an ambitious new Pond, Kensington Gardens and, cutting-edge eco-village on the edge ultimately, Hyde Park itself to the east of Taipei, near Taiwan’s version – you come to the gleaming marble of Silicon Valley. Work on a small statue of a young Queen Victoria set in garden in North London with Gianni a small octagonal pond, behind which Botsford Architects led to Landscape topiary-lined paths lead down through Design being brought on board the crisp lawns and understated planting, mountainside scheme, along with drawing you to the baroque loveliness Botsford and Mole Architects. of the palace itself. The master plan for Hsinchu Stone The whole scene is imbued with a Village draws heavily on traditional regal, timeless quality which belies the materials, planting and features – fact that it was only recently the site of basing modern blocks around a take image: an intensive £1.2 million redesign at on traditional communal spaces, Sketch for eco-village in Taipei the hands of Todd Longstaffe-Gowan for example, and using clean-lined, Landscape Design, whose purpose contemporary water features as the Hsinchu was to re-establish the very connection a reference to traditional ponds.

with the landscape that appears, now, The project uses modern drainage Photo: Village work so obvious and eternal. The newly techniques and the storage of Jet-setting refurbished palace and gardens were rainwater, along with locally quarried gardeners James Fox, left, and Steve is all about in fact only opened by the Queen in stone and renewable energy sources. Walker, right, March last year. Crucially, just as the work at scope out a site in finding a Two Leeds alumni work with Kensington Palace was about looking Taiwan with their st Longstaffe-Gowan and, a couple of at the existing fabric and responding colleague. 21 century weeks after my jaunt, I meet James Fox appropriately, so the Hsinchu Village (Philosophy 1997) and Steve Walker work is all about finding a 21st expression of (Geography 2000) at Landscape century expression of the traditional Design’s Smithfield office to talk to architecture and design of a Taiwanese the traditional them about, among other things, hillside community. “At Kensington Kensington Palace, their other work Palace,” says James, “we looked at architecture and Leeds. the character of the landscape and we James joined the office in 2006, drew our plans from that character. It’s and design of Steve later on in 2011, after a spell a very traditional design. At Hsinchu with LDA Design. It was actually at we looked at the indigenous character a Taiwanese postgraduate study at Sheffield that of the landscape and architecture and Changing they met and trained in landscape we’re making it contemporary. But it’s hillside architecture, but I wonder – despite the basically the same process.” difference in undergraduate studies – The previous incarnation of community. did their time at Leeds have an impact Kensington Palace’s gardens had lost on their future choice of career? its vital connection with the wider the landscape Steve’s Geography degree “definitely grounds and park, with security fences made me appreciate the social and barring access except at obscure, environmental things,” he says, “as confusingly signposted gates, and tree- Landscape designers James Fox and Steve Walker well as just a good design aesthetic and planting obscuring vistas in and out of how things look.” In his previous job the palace. try not to leave their mark at LDA Steve worked on the Olympic The famous statue of Queen By Ian Beetlestone Park in Stratford in which sustainable Victoria, sculpted by her daughter

16 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 17 Landscape gardeners - Feature Landscape gardeners - Feature

The timeless gardens at The master plan for Hsinchu Kensington Palace have only Stone Village draws heavily on recently been the site of an traditional materials, planting intensive redesign and features James and Steve have no current distance as well. To try and make Leeds wins at the plans to enter a Chelsea garden the best decisions in a design process themselves. They do, however, have you need that distance,” he says. Chelsea Flower Show plenty of other projects on the go. A lot “Philosophy is still a much more of Steve’s current working day is spent powerful thing in my decision-making The University won a gold medal on a large conference centre and hotel than my design education.” at last year’s Chelsea Flower Show site in Berkshire. At Heckfield Place he So is James a landscape philosopher for its “Gardening for Champions” is designing a landscape that progresses then? “Not at all.” But philosophy does exhibit, which emulated a “typical from individual gardens accessed creep into the design process at the northern garden.” Designed by from the rooms to a larger communal point when, James says, “I’m starting Martin Walker, it was based on estate, to views from the hotel grounds to get excited. At this moment I need research into sustainable practices out to the wider countryside. It’s to step back and say ‘Is it actually a done at the University. another large-scale project involving good idea?’ You’ve always got to be The garden included permeable some pretty hefty practical challenges somehow able to tear yourself away paths, water butts and green roofs like removing huge piles of earth to from a design and look at it as an to slow the flow of water and help establish the right level for the gardens. abstract question – is it right or not? it absorb into the ground. Longer James, meanwhile, has just set – and that’s what philosophy’s really grass and wild-style flowers, along up his own practice, Fox Fernley good for. In that sense philosophy and with sandy soil and rotting logs Landscape Office, with partner Claire design are incredibly close.” were used as methods of attracting Fernley. They recently won the Paredes My landscape philosopher quip is bees and other insects into the International Furniture Competition not as daft as it may appear. In this garden. Not used were double- for a delightful – and delighting – profession there is a surprising buds, garden-centre favourites, chair up a ladder called “a point of which are high on flowers but low perspective.” On top of his work with on pollen. Meanwhile composting, Longstaffe-Gowan Landscape Design, Photo: the planting of vegetables and Order restored to mainly taken up with Hsinchu, he Kensington Palace fruit, and the eschewing of artificial Princess Louise in 1890, had ended up The importance of context follows also lectures for the universities of gardens fertilisers helped create a carbon marooned on a nondescript piece of through to the way they see Chelsea Greenwich and New York, the latter at I think it’s not bad if I plant, sink. The garden even included lawn, hemmed in with fencing. Now Flower Show. The University of Leeds Photo: its London base. credit: a “bee-vision” camera to allow Using traditional Johnny Green it is restored as a focus of the palace won a gold medal at Chelsea last year tiers as a base for during my career, a thousand visitors to see the garden from the approach, the fulcrum around which (see sidebar). What do they think landscaping perspective of the insects. the visitor’s view of the palace gathers. about Chelsea and did they notice the trees. If I have a forest’s worth of Dr Rebecca Slack at Leeds’ The objective of the Landscape Design University’s gold? Straight away James Faculty of Environment said: “It approach was, in this way, to reconnect talks about how Chelsea gardeners trees at the end of my career, I’ve is estimated that gardens take the palace with its surrounding respond to the show’s context. His a really good up between 20 and 35 per cent landscape. They chopped down slight beef with the show is that many not done as well as a doctor, but of space in urban areas, so if we superfluous trees that blocked views entrants ignore the constraints of example of a can help gardeners to make a few and complicated the plan, removed Chelsea’s small plot and hedged-in I’ve not done too badly either simple changes, it will improve fences, opened up sightlines and setting and just install a temporary garden that’s the environment for millions of installed pathways as continuations of “garden from Mars.” people in the UK. We are absolutely routes throughout Hyde Park. Steve argues that there are two demonstrating delighted to have come away from They also added some playful types of Chelsea entry – those which our first experience of Chelsea with touches, like a wiggly path through are egotistical and look like they’ve what normal amount of debate about job titles. growth. “There’s the question of what a medal. It’s a real accolade for the hornbeam planting (which as well as just been “dropped from the sky and Longstaffe-Gowan has been known to you believe in,” says James. “I think whole team, but more importantly being fun, serves as wheelchair access) landed there” but also those that serve people can do refer to himself simply as a gardener it’s not bad if I plant, during my career, it’s a great way to draw attention to leading from the café at the palace more of a purpose, that educate and – which is disingenuous to say the a thousand trees. If I have a forest’s the science behind the garden.” towards the Orangery and they’ve promote sustainability and provide, in their homes least – and there are different camps worth of trees at the end of my career, taken a bold, geometric approach to as Leeds did, “a really good example of ‘landscape’ or ‘garden’ ‘designers’ I’ve not done as well as a doctor, but the topiary that lines the paths from the of a garden that’s demonstrating what or ‘architects.’ Depending who I’ve not done too badly either.” Broadwalk. normal people can do in their homes.” you ask, the alternative terms are Steve concurs: “As a summing up This concept of reasserting the They agree that the University’s entry varyingly “ghastly,” “conservative” or comment about what drives us, that’s position of the palace gardens into the was perfect for Chelsea in that it James draws a strong link between “pompous,” so perhaps it’s useful to probably a pretty good one.”— (l.) wider landscape around them is critical responded to its small-plot context his Philosophy degree and landscape remain philosophical about it all. to the way that Landscape Design by creating a realistic, workable design. “Philosophy is about how Whatever their titles, Steve and operates. As far as James and Steve garden for a small plot – that of the to be rational and how to keep your James both take the long view of their (and, indeed, Todd) are concerned, quintessential northern garden. eyes open… philosophy is the art work, which likely becomes a natural context is a key to landscape design. of distance, and design is the art of approach when dealing with plant

18 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 19 Future cities - feature Future cities - feature

INDIA Kolkata

Leeds

LEEDS Population: 3 million Population: 14 million UK Economy £52 billion Economy £9 billion Energy bill: £5.4 billion Energy bill: £1.4 billion and rising a year through reduced energy bills, Leeds vs Kolkata: meaning it could earn back that big sum in seven and a half years, in the how do they compare? process stimulating the economy and helping to tackle poverty. Another The Leeds City Region has a eye-catching benefit was that this population of 3 million, an level of investment would create economy of £52 billion and spends nearly 2,000 new local jobs. With £5.4 billion on energy bills a the region’s energy bill totting up to year. Kolkata by contrast has a £5.4 billion a year – potentially rising population of around 14 million, to more than £7 billion in a decade, and an economy worth roughly according to the report – many of the £9 billion. Although they can’t be savings laid out by the University’s certain until the final calculations team made too much economic sense are dusted off, the Leeds team to be ignored. estimates Kolkata’s annual energy The research has led to practical bill in 2012 was £1.4 billion – but impacts. As Tom Knowland, Head at current rates it will increase Is it really possible to get of Sustainability for Leeds City to £10 billion by 2025 (these are Council explains, the mini-Stern provisional figures). But Kolkata’s Review made his job much easier. economy is growing at a rate of 7 major cities to significantly “We can now say for definite that kk per cent every year and so should addressing climate change is about double in size over the next

sensible economic investment.” He narvio/ decade – which could mean even t says that for Leeds, going green o bigger bills and also much higher p h ck

isn’t as easy as other places: “It’s o carbon emissions in future.

cut their carbon footprint? t

not terrifically windy or by the sea.” is City leaders in both contexts Work at Leeds shows there is a way By Vicky Ellis That rules out large-scale renewable © want to promote greener and energy like wind or wave power, lower carbon forms of growth – forcing the city to look at less about to release another mini-Stern and the cities work helps them to well-known alternatives. What the Review for the growing city of more Photo: do that whilst also pointing out Daily life and rush report has done, Tom says, is “open than 14 million people. traffic at Mirza the limits of green growth and the A symbol of civilisation throughout Stern Review for the city. first analysis of this detail anywhere in the door to that discussion rather “It’s a megacity, big and bustling,” Ghalib street in the need for the changes that can be the 20th century and into the current Photo: As Andy explains: “The Stern the world. than people dismissing it as a low- says Andy, “large parts of it are centre of Kolkata. made now to be compatible with Man with a vision: one, more than half of the world’s Andy Gouldson, Review on the Economics of Climate By assessing the impacts of carbon fantasy.” very poor, it’s kind of chaotic to more ambitious plans for much population already lives in a town or Professor of Change in 2006 was instrumental thousands of everyday activities – The mini-Stern Review hasn’t a Westerner.” Kolkata is growing lower carbon and more broadly a city, and that number is predicted to Sustainability in getting governments to support like driving to the shops or using just set an example for cities in the quickly, its economy expanding at a sustainable development. rise to two-thirds by 2030. Research at Leeds action on climate change. The a photocopier – they worked out UK. While Andy has led subsequent rate of 7 per cent every year – which If this is progress then there’s a headline finding was that if we don’t how much carbon could be cut research for Sheffield, the Humber means it will double in size every catch: 21st century urban living do anything about climate change by switching to more efficient region and Birmingham, it is also 10 years. “Much of the future city frequently demands massive quantities it will cost us between 5 and 20 per appliances, changing behaviour inspiring city leaders around the isn’t built yet. So if they’re going to of electricity which at the moment, in cent of GDP, but that avoiding it or installing renewables. Building world. In 2011, the team launched spend huge amounts of money on most countries, is mainly generated will cost the world between 1 and 2 up a picture of how the city could its research programme at an official new infrastructure, why not spend Much of the future with fossil fuels. There’s global per cent of GDP. In other words, it’s transform itself into a low-carbon side event of the UN’s climate change it smartly?” city isn’t built If we don’t do scientific consensus that overusing much cheaper to do something than economy and society, the team’s summit in Durban. “We got a really The challenge posed in Kolkata yet. So if they’re anything about going to spend oil, coal and gas is leading to climate climate change to ignore it.” figures showed that the Leeds City good reaction,” Andy says. “It was is different to that of British cities, huge amounts change. But changing our ways in it will cost us Andy was originally hesitant to see Region (including nearby centres voted one of the most transformative particularly as many of its power of money on new response seems like a monumental between 5 and 20 if that economic case also applied in like Halifax and Bradford) could cut ideas to be presented. People said it stations are coal-fired. “The energy infrastructure, per cent of GDP. In why not spend it task. This is where Leeds comes in. other words, it’s the Leeds City Region: “To answer its emissions by around 19 per cent was nice to have a positive story to consumed is much higher carbon smartly? A couple of years ago, Andy Gouldson, much cheaper to do this question at the level of a city or by 2022. Taking into account wider tell, when international negotiations than in the UK: more polluting something than to Professor of Sustainability Research, ignore it city region meant developing a whole factors like national initiatives to are so complicated and the progress is generally, but they pay less for it was approached by Leeds City new approach in a relatively short decarbonise electricity, the mini- rather glacial.” and use much less of it.” Poverty Council. With a target of cutting 40 period of time – and I wasn’t sure Stern report found the Leeds City That positive message brought levels are much higher too. In per cent of its emissions by 2020, the whether or how it could be done in a Region could emit 42 per cent less Leeds attention from far and wide and Kolkata, “Twenty per cent of the Council needed strong evidence on robust way,” he says. But Andy and carbon by 2022. significantly from Kolkata in India. population are the urban poor,” says the economic basis for such a carbon his team rose to the challenge, finding That result would come with a Following collaborations with state Andy. “You’ve got to make sure the cut, and so they asked him to carry a way and crunching the numbers, hefty price tag of £13 billion – but and city governments, and with local changes help them, and that they out what’s become known as a mini- beginning what he believes was the crucially it would save £1.7 billion partners and stakeholders, Leeds is certainly don’t disempower them or

20 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 21 Future cities - feature Future cities - feature Ambitions in law > Alumni scholarship > Legal Advice Clinic volunteering > Helping the next generation

When Sammie heard that she had been accepted to study Law at Leeds, it was the first step towards fulfilling a dream. In addition to working hard, she make them poorer.” needed the support of alumni There’s clearly a will in the city Today to achieve it. to begin to change things though, 10% of city-scale GDP leaves the Sammie’s £1,000 a year and the Leeds team has worked with local economy every year through scholarship, provided by the the West Bengal Government and payment of the energy bill. By 2022, Footsteps Fund, has given her organisations like the Confederation this is forecast to grow to 15%. the support she needs to be of Indian Industry. “We’ve worked y able to make a difference - from om hard to make sure this isn’t a study on 10% of ec volunteering in the Leeds Legal e that is parachuted in with no local al GDP leaks sc Advice Clinic and giving free y- it out of the support,” says Andy. The study will c legal advice to members of the economy end with the development of an community, to going into schools outline financing and implementation to encourage students from low- plan to help turn the findings income backgrounds to come into reality. to university. The full study is under wraps until the Leeds team complete it. What On top of all this, with the help of could have an impact – and it’s just Tomorrow her Footsteps Fund scholarship an idea for right now, says Andy – is Sammie’s been able to purchase building lots of small, relatively low- the materials she needs to keep tech housing units with electricity, on top of her studies and achieve incredible grades so far. running water and sanitation, Investing 1% similar to those promoted in South of GDP p.a. Leads to... Africa by Nelson Mandela. “If Just 25 gifts of £40 to the Footsteps Fund will provide you could design one for the three a whole year’s scholarship for million slum dwellers in Kolkata and Energy another student like Sammie. gradually enable it to be adopted, 1% of GDP could be profitably reductions in the energy bill equalling 1.6% of GDP Please give today, and help invested, every year for ten that would have a huge impact on Financial viability another student follow in quality of life, well-being and help years, to exploit commercially four years for measures to pay for themselves attractive energy efficiency Employment her footsteps. them to develop, but in a relatively and low carbon opportunities. more jobs and skills in low carbon goods and services low-carbon way.” Wider economic benefits Send back a donation with the Elsewhere, Andy has also worked energy security, increased competitiveness, extra GDP ‘Update Your Details’ form with with Chinese officials who are Wider social benefits reductions in fuel poverty, improvements in health this magazine. drafting the next Five-Year Plan, a new chapter of China’s famed Alternatively, give online at economic strategy. Partly because leeds.ac.uk/makeyourgift of the work on low green growth Potential to reduce CO2 emissions in Chinese cities, the next Five- 1990 2022 or text ‘STEP05 £3’, ‘STEP05 £5’ or ‘STEP05 £10’ to 70070. Year Plan includes targets for green 10% CO2 reduction 23% CO2 reduction 35% CO2 reduction 40% CO2 reduction growth. The Leeds approach has (Texts are charged at your carrier’s rate, in caught the eye of officials from addition to your donation, and you must have Peru’s capital city Lima too. “We’ve the permission of the person who pays the bill in order to text. Text donations are handled had loads of queries from different by Justgiving in partnership with Vodafone so cities to say, ‘Can you do this for After responding to Plus supply of lower Plus exploitation of Plus exploitation of that 100% of your donation is received by the energy price increases carbon electricity the profitable options the no net cost options Footsteps Fund) us?’ One question we were asked after Durban was, ‘So you’ve done it in the UK, is it as relevant in a Image: developing country?’ That’s why The economic case we’re doing it in Kolkata. We’ve for investment in funded it ourselves to begin with in lowering a city’s the hope that we can prove its value. carbon footprint Now we’re looking for a sponsor to say, ‘Do it in another 10 cities.’ If you did it for a few other high profile cities we could really prove it is possible. We could really get things moving.”— (l.)

22 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 23 The latest from Leeds The latest from Leeds

The latest

Over 1,000 new individual study spaces will give users access F ROM L eeds to online materials through the mobile devices

in their daily work by a ‘free open- air museum of architectural and A new library social history,’ and I think that holds as true today as it ever did,” says for Leeds Chris. “You go from the domestic scale of the terraces and the Leeds University Union to Chancellor’s Court and the Roger Stevens Building, to the Parkinson Building – from the intimate to the grand to the iconic – in a few minutes’ walk.” Copies can be obtained at a discounted price for Leeds alumni from Jeremy Mills Publishing at www.jeremymillspublishing. co.uk/bookshop or sales@ jeremymillspublishing.co.uk. Photo: University Road and LUU Building Photo: The Great Hall, the heart of the University’s historic ‘red-brick’ area

Open Days On 14th September and 12th October we are holding Undergraduate Open Days, giving you the perfect opportunity to visit Leeds. Do you know anyone considering applying to Leeds this year? Open Days give Work starts in July on the University’s The community classroom will visitors the ideal opportunity to new library, which will open its doors host outreach work with local schools explore our campus, meet with staff to students in 2015. and colleges, encouraging talented and current students, and find out The landmark building, on the young people from disadvantaged more about the courses we offer. All main approach to campus from the backgrounds to aim high. A café our academic departments will be city centre, will have entrances on and courtyard will encourage its use open, with a full programme of talks, Woodhouse Lane and Hillary Place. as a social centre; artwork from our demonstrations and taster lectures, It has been designed to complement gallery and collections will be put on alongside tours of the Students’ Union, its surroundings, incorporating a public display and picture windows some on-campus accommodation and Portland stone finish that echoes the will afford a panoramic view south source on the University’s buildings our sports centre. As a member of our Photo: iconic Parkinson Building nearby. across the city. Clad like the Red Brick and open spaces since it was alumni community, you are invited to The four-storey building will be “It will provide our students with Parkinson Building published in 1980. join us in the 1913 Room for drinks packed with the texts central to the a state-of-the-art, high-quality in Portland stone, The new edition overseen by Dr and cakes, and a space to relax. If the new library revisited first two years of undergraduate study. study environment,” says University will face onto Chris Hammond, Life Fellow in you’re interested in sharing your Over 1,000 new individual study Librarian Stella Butler. “Students Woodhouse Lane The rich architectural heritage of the Material Science at Leeds, brings experiences as a Leeds graduate with spaces will give users access to online and staff are tremendously excited University of Leeds is explored in a Beresford’s classic up to date, adding prospective students at the Open Day, materials through the mobile devices about the new building and we are new edition of a classic walking guide revised histories and notes on the please let us know too! To attend an many use as an integral part of their all really looking forward to seeing to its campus. latest additions to the University’s Open Day, book at www.leeds.ac.uk/ work, and flexible group study spaces it take shape.” Walks Round Red Brick by the architecture. “Professor Beresford opendays. will enable students to work together late Professor Maurice Beresford wanted to remind members of the on joint assignments and presentations. has established itself as the definitive University that they were surrounded

24 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 25 The latest from Leeds The latest from Leeds

THANK 1,300 4,700 £600,000 more than 1,300 new donors more than 4,700 alumni CURRENTLY have helped raise nearly £600,000 YOU to the Footsteps Fund this year donating to the Footsteps Fund FOR THE FOOTSTEPS FUND so far this year

Photo: stint working in Sierra Leone – have The Footsteps Fund has raised more Clothworkers’’ Chris Carr, instilled in Hilary a strong sense than £3 million for scholarships and Off campus Professor of of the transformative power of student projects since it was created grant will Textile Technology education. “I am very lucky and have eight years ago. had some wonderful experiences. I’d create like to help students who have ability but not the resources to enjoy some fabrics of the of those opportunities. Getting a Photo: “Through my life in education I future John Priestley, have seen the much bigger hill which the 10,000th close-up view donor to Leeds’ these kids have to climb to get to A £1.75 million grant from the Footsteps Fund university. Hopefully my support can Clothworkers’ Foundation is make a difference.” Donor Michael Beverley (Economics enabling the development of new and Politics 1973) was on campus healthcare products which will this spring to see the Super Resolution benefit millions of people. The grant Light Microscope which his donation Photo: LUHKAA Annual is funding new research equipment, enabled the University to build. Dinner postgraduate students, a research The microscope, one of just fellow – and a new Professor to help a handful of its kind in British Leeds University Hong Kong drive this vital research. universities, allows scientists to Alumni Association held its The University is already renowned examine in previously-unimagined Annual Dinner in November. More for its work in this area, but the detail the structure and function than 80 alumni attended the event appointment of Chris Carr represents of human proteins. Understanding at Hong Kong Football Club, along a significant new addition to the team these could be key to creating new with Deputy Vice-Chancellor working in The Clothworkers’ Centre Professor Carr explains. “Clinicians treatments for a range of diseases Professor John Fisher and Director for Textile Materials Innovation here work with patients on a daily and conditions. of Development Michelle Calvert. for Healthcare. He has moved from basis and can tell us exactly what Michelle Peckham, Professor of www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/hongkong the University of Manchester where patients need – what works and Cell Biology, explains: “It allows us Leeds University Old Students he was Professor of Textile Science what doesn’t.” to create detailed images of structures Association (LUOSA) London and Technology. Welcoming Professor Carr to smaller than 200 nanometres (two Branch has been organising Textiles has been a key feature Leeds, Stephen Russell, Professor of Photo: Footsteps 10,000ths of a millimetre) across, alumni activity for 100 years. The of the University since its earliest Textile Materials and Technology, Hilary Spurrier and there are things you can do in a (left), pictured at Association celebrated its centenary days – and the grant continues a said: “I’ve known Chris for some light microscope that you can’t do in 1 the Leeds alumni Fund receives with a party at Glaziers’ Hall in tradition of support for Leeds from time and it is quite a coup to be able Olympics event an electron microscope. If we’re using London. The Vice-Chancellor, the Clothworkers’ Company which to bring him here.” last year its 10,000th live cells, we need to be looking at Professor Michael Arthur, and Phil stretches back to Victorian times. This was 1969 – Jack Straw was them through a light microscope.” Steel, Head of Alumni Relations, Robin Booth, Master of the Union President; Fleetwood Mac, donation Research teams working in met with more than 60 alumni. Clothworkers’ Company said: “We A legacy of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd were dementia, heart disease and kidney www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/luosa are delighted to be able to make playing in the Refectory and Don John Priestley (Law 1964), became disease, and those examining More than 2,000 people have this grant to the University. The support Revie’s Leeds United were league the 10,000th donor to our Footsteps how viruses replicate, are already already attended a Leeds Alumni University of Leeds is the UK leader champions. “They were excellent Fund, which helps support students benefiting. It has also led directly to event this year. From pub quizzes in academic research and teaching of Hilary Spurrier (History 1972) times; it was a really lively place to coming to Leeds, and provides Leeds winning a £1.4 million grant to professional networking events, textiles, and the establishment of the knows well the importance of a be a student.” opportunities while they are from the Medical Research Council formal receptions to informal new Centre builds on this strength.” university education. Her legacy Now “easing towards retirement,” studying. John, a retired solicitor to develop a second type of super- get-togethers, alumni events have As we reported in the last edition will ensure that young people from Hilary’s thoughts have turned to how from Otley, gave his gift as he resolution microscope and further taken place in Leeds, Accra, of Leeds, our research into nonwoven disadvantaged homes can feel that she can help others – both now and reached his 70th birthday. strengthen our work in this area. Cape Town, Dubai, Hong Kong, textiles is meeting major medical benefit, long into the future. after her death. She already sponsors John’s education at Leeds helped Kuala Lumpur, Laos, London, needs – from new blood filters “I’d never really been north before,” two students, and her legacy will him to follow in his father’s Manchester, New Delhi, New to products to fight healthcare- says Hilary, looking back on her provide support for many more: “We footsteps to become a solicitor. York, Shanghai, Singapore, Seoul associated infections. The close decision to head up the newly- had no children and I don’t have Both his sons have become solicitors and Tokyo. To make sure you don’t working relationship with colleagues completed M1 from Northampton relatives who are dependent on my as well. miss out on your invitation, keep in medicine and healthcare gives to start life as a student in Leeds. support. So I thought about the most He says: “Young people today your details up to date at Leeds a serious head-start in “I’d heard good things about formative times of my life – and one have to pay so much in order to get www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk developing the right textile products Leeds, and the history course of those was Leeds.” a degree whereas I was able to go and bringing them to market. “What sounded like one I would enjoy. And Her time as a student volunteer to university for free. I just wanted For forthcoming events see p32 really excites me is that there is I liked the fact that the University in the inner-city, her career in to be able to give a little something this two-way flow of information,” was at the heart of the city.” schools and with families – and a back to help the students of today.”

26 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 27 The latest from Leeds The latest from Leeds

I AM DOING BE THEREALUMNI.LEEDS.AC.UK GREAT... I CHANGED universities. And as someone with his finger on the pulse of higher education MY CAREER finances, Sir Alan is confident of a positive future for Leeds amid the AND NOW seismic shift from grant funding to “Does anyone remember higher tuition fees. I AM A that 2014 will be the “Leeds is well positioned; it has a strong heritage, excellent values and fi ftieth anniversary of the DIRECTOR & Sir ALAN LANGLANDS tremendous opportunities to build graduation of the Spanish Department’s Class for the future. I hope to play a strong SUCH A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE 1975... MUSICIAN... THE NEW VC LANDS IN LEEDS role in boosting the University’s of ‘64? academic and research achievements Does anyone have plans and extending its economic, social and for a reunion in, say, July cultural influences.” or early August?” A key ingredient is the alumni body, and it turns out he already knows the figures: “200,000 former students in 190 countries. It’s quite remarkable, and I’m really looking forward to Career highlights our incoming VC talks Seven years into this most public of From October 2013: meeting as many as possible in the 75 about his career so far – public sector jobs, Sir Alan was ready Vice-Chancellor, coming years. to move on. “There were just two University of Leeds “I’d like all students to feel that “Now married with and his excitement at the bigger public organisations anywhere 2009 – 2013: this is their University, one to which 4 children. Still enjoying life, in the world – the Red Army and the Chief Executive, they will always have a connection.” new role Indian railways. After something like Higher Education He has reconnected with his old should probably take things “It was a case of getting down and that, the question is ‘What next?’” Funding Council for England (HEFCE) university: “When I returned to “Would love to hear from anyone in that year or dirty,” says Sir Alan, recalling spells The answer was to do something Scotland I visited the University of more seriously and grow up - anyone who knew me from my degree, the student as a porter and nursing assistant in a quite different, and Sir Alan returned 2000 – 2009: Glasgow, and their vice-chancellor hospital in 1974. to Scotland as Principal and Vice-Chancellor, union bar or James Baillie fl ats in 1978.” University of Dundee made a point of introducing me to the but why start now ?” One of just nine recruits to Vice-Chancellor of the University alumni relations team. Apparently Scotland’s exclusive graduate training of Dundee. “Some people were 1994 – 2000: they’d been trying to contact me for a programme for National Health surprised, but those who really knew Chief Executive, NHS while!” The award of an honorary in England Service management, Alan had to pitch me understood – I’ve always been degree during the celebrations for in at the sharp end of healthcare. “It passionate about higher education and Glasgow’s 550th anniversary in 2001 1978 was a fast-track scheme but very much biomedical research. closed that particular circle. “It was a grounded in reality.” “In the health service I was closely very proud moment,” he says. It was also the launch pad for his associated with medical schools His Knighthood was another, and meteoric rise through the biggest public and helped develop the reproductive came on the 50th anniversary of the sector organisation in Europe. By 1994 biology centre at the Royal Infirmary NHS in 1998. “It’s an institution “HI THERE! ANYONE FROM CHEM ENG 1974 OUT THERE?” he was NHS Chief Executive – leading in Edinburgh. I led the merger of that I believe in with passion. The at 41 an organisation with a million University College and Middlesex Knighthood didn’t just recognise me, employees and a £45 billion budget. hospitals and their medical schools.” but all the people who put their life and He first came to Leeds in 1994. He jokes that outgoing VC Michael Leeds is well soul into the NHS.” “There was a drive to decentralise Arthur should thank him for the huge positioned; it has Asked about interests away from a strong heritage, Government departments and I strength of the biomedical sciences excellent values work, he laughs: “My wife Elizabeth “Looking for my led the move to Quarry House. At he will inherit at UCL. And he was a and tremendous would say I’m always working. But I a meeting to announce the plans, pioneer, giving research a central role opportunities enjoy music and walking in the Dales, ex-classmates in Chemical to build for This website is making me someone asked if I’d be going to in the Department of Health. the future Scotland and Cornwall.” remember some great days... Engineering 1993...” Leeds too – and instinctively I said Sir Alan has held other key roles: “I’m also something of an armchair yes. I then had to go home and tell Chair of UK Biobank, responsible sports fan these days although I my family!” for one of the world’s biggest genetic will actively support sport in the His instincts were sound. They epidemiology studies; Chair of University – and the full spectrum of moved north, bought a house just the Health Foundation; honorary student activities.” — (l.) outside the city – and stayed. “After Professor at Warwick Business School. the election in 1997, Tony Blair said He spent more than four years leading he wanted me based in London, so I the Higher Education Funding Council did a weekly commute for a while.” for England which funds and regulates WHAT’S YOUR NEWS? LET EVERYONE KNOW AND WIN A LEEDS HOODIE

28 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 29 Bottom_leeds_leg_ad_may_2012b.pdf 1 12/06/2013 16:34

The latest from Leeds Vice-chancellor's view Leave a legacy for generations to come

Thanks to our strategy and clear- Many of you say your time at sighted determination, we anticipated these financial changes, made our Leeds was something special. important moves early, and developed VC’s VIEW – with your help – ground-breaking You talk about the impact Leeds measures to ensure no able student of any background is prevented from had on your future. And you tell us studying at Leeds on financial grounds it was the opportunity of a lifetime. alone. Thanks to a wide range of As he prepares to leave for a new role, scholarships, funded by alumni, both to encourage young people to aspire We want the same for all Professor Michael Arthur looks back on his to a place at Leeds and to support nine years at Leeds them to succeed once they arrive, we our future students. remain in the vanguard of widening It was a very tough decision, but – we have been drawing together participation. Needless to say, Leeds Legacy gifts both large and small provide the post of President and Provost of strong case studies which show remains a very popular destination. University College London is perhaps how research from across campus is The strategy is perhaps the aspect vital financial support for your University I know that Leeds the only one which would have ever making a real difference in the wider has a powerful pull of my time at Leeds of which I am – and may give a student the crucial tempted me to leave Leeds. world. So it was timely to hear the for people in a way most proud. Now being refreshed, it assistance to get here in the first place. These have been nine memorable announcement of a new £5.7 million few universities do can guide the University confidently years. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my Centre for Innovative Manufacturing towards the future. It is not my To find out more about legacy gifts to time here and together we’ve achieved in Medical Devices. Led by Leeds strategy, it belongs to the entire Leeds, and how you can give someone so much. Leeds is truly a great and funded by the Engineering and University community. It has guided university with enormous potential Physical Sciences Research Council, us well and, at its core, it is enduring. the opportunity of a lifetime, please – and I know I leave you in fine it will transform the manufacture We are on a very important journey complete and return the coupon below. shape and with every reason to feel and performance of replacement and we must continue to pursue its optimistic for the future. joints and medical implants. destination with vigour. There have been so many highs Talking of transformation, if Though I am by birth and by during my time here that it’s hard you haven’t been back to Leeds instinct a southerner, my accent to highlight just a few. The return of in a while you should, if only to still Essex, my football team still The Who to play at the Refectory see how our Edge sports centre Tottenham, there is now a part of RemRememembering Leeds was clearly one, our Olympic and and swimming pool, magnificent me that will be forever Leeds. I Name:: ...... Paralympic success in London Marjorie and Arnold Ziff Building, know many of you feel the same: LLeeggaaccyy support for your University another. That our key partnerships stage@leeds theatre and new homes that wherever you are in the world, Address:ss: ...... with Opera North and Marks for our work in energy, law and wherever your lives and careers II woulwould liklike further iinformation on leaving a gift to and Spencer are bearing fruit is a the environment have changed the have taken you, Leeds remains an ...... continuing source of pride. face of campus, almost beyond important part of your lives. LeedsLeeds iin my WWill.ill. Pllease contact me by phone/email/ I also take delight in our renewed recognition. And work starts this From meeting so many of you ppoostst ((deletete aas appropriate)...... PoPoststcocodde:e: ...... engagement with you, our alumni. summer on a new state-of-the-art down the years I know that Leeds has It’s been a pleasure to meet so many library which will be a landmark a powerful emotional pull for people I have made a gift to Leeds in my Will, and would like I have made a gift to Leeds in my Will, and would like Emaailil:: ...... of you on the high days of University moment every bit as significant in a way few universities do. It’s a ttoo joijoinn tthe Brotrotherton Circle. life – open days and honorary degrees, as when our Brotherton and distinctiveness hard to convey in an concerts and celebrations – and at Edward Boyle libraries first opened Teleepphhonone:e: ...... undergraduate prospectus, but I know AAnynyoneone wwho plledges a llegacy to the University of Leeds events in the UK and overseas. their doors. that it’s true: that three years in Leeds willwill bebe eentntiittlled to jjoiin the Brotherton Circle, our exclusive Academically we’ve made great These nine years haven’t all been gives our young people an education Please rretetururnn tthhisis ffoorrmm ttoo:: strides. Queen’s Anniversary Prizes plain sailing. The financial landscape and a life experience not always ddoonornor rreecogncogniittiion sociiety created to thank those who are Legacies, Alumni and Development Team for our Institutes for Transport of higher education in 2013 is quite matched elsewhere. susupportpportiingng the Univiversity in this unique way. We will be Legacies, Alumni and Development Team Studies and Medical and Biological unlike that of 2004. That we were One warming aspect of my University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT inin touctouchh toto confirmconfirm your membership. University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT Engineering demonstrate the high able to navigate the transition from announcement has been the regard in which our work is held; a world of significant Government tremendous number of personal Alternatively please contact us on Alternatively please contact us on 01130113 343343 23479037 our strong performance in the 2008 support to one where students must messages I have received from staff, www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/legacies or [email protected]@leeds.ac.uk Research Assessment Exercise proved prepare to fund their own study students and alumni, congratulating www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/legacies a springboard for further success, after graduation, is a tribute to our me on my appointment at UCL. underpinning a steady increase in strategy, which we have developed More than anything this encourages research grant income. over a number of years, and which me greatly, and signals that we have In preparing for its 2014 counterpart remains the set of guiding principles achieved a great deal together. I know – the Research Excellence Framework behind everything we do together. the University will continue so to do. — (l.)

30 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 31 forthcoming events forthcoming events

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

SEP 2013 invited back to celebrate 50 years of 11.30am-12.30pm DEC 2013 Alumni Annual Chinese and East Asian Studies at Leeds University Old Leeds. Come and join with fellow see sidebar Students Association in Lecture 2013 Alumni lounge at the alumni and current and former staff Special collections: Yorkshire University Open Day to reminisce on the past and celebrate Alumni Annual Lunch The feasts of Christmas past the future. Tuesday 10 September: Afternoon Saturday 14 September Photo: Saturday 9 November Monday 9 December visit to the award-winning 1.00-3.30pm Jack Straw Cost: £10. Booking is essential. Why 12.45pm 2.30-4.00pm Holmfirth Vineyard outside The Great Hall, 1913 Room, not make a weekend of it and get University House, University of Leeds Brotherton Room, Brotherton Huddersfield, established in 2007 Credit: University of Leeds Strawberry Rose together with friends from your year? Library, University of Leeds by a Leeds graduate: tour and Studios Visit www.leeds.ac.uk/arts/EAS50 A three-course alumni lunch at tasting. Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee, for more information and all University House hosted by the Our seasonal Special Collections event cakes and strawberries while relaxing the anniversary events at the Deputy Vice-Chancellor and attended might just provide the inspiration and Wednesday 11 December: Festive in this peaceful room at the heart of end of October. by Rt Hon Jack Straw MP will follow ideas you are looking for to make Lunch at Castle Grove, Leeds: campus. the lecture at 12.45pm. The lunch this year’s Christmas catering a little speaker to be confirmed. Alumni lounge at the costs £30 per person. Booking is different! We’ll be exploring the For more info and bookings A changing international Further details at University Open Day essential. Booking and further details cookery collection, discussing changes contact Gillian Roche, LUOSA landscape: The future www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/openday at www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/JackStraw in taste and technology and finding Secretary on of the global economy Saturday 12 October out about the research to re-create [email protected] Rt Hon Jack Straw MP 1.00-3.30pm Leeds University Union 75th old recipes and investigate cooking (Law 1967, LLD 1999) OCT 2013 The Great Hall, 1913 Room, birthday launch event techniques. Leeds University Hong Kong University of Leeds Alumni Association Saturday 9 November Celebrating textiles at Leeds: Saturday 9 November The University’s cookery collection is 11.30am-12.30pm Past, present and future Enjoy complimentary tea and coffee, From 3pm a nationally-important set of works November (date TBC) Rupert Beckett Lecture Theatre, cakes and strawberries while relaxing Leeds University Union, on cooking, domestic life and trends Annual dinner for all Leeds Michael Sadler Building, Friday 4 October in this peaceful room at the heart University of Leeds in health and diet covering the 16th alumni in Hong Kong. For University of Leeds 10.00am-2.30pm of campus. century to the present day. further details visit alumni.leeds. Centre for Technical Textiles, All alumni with links to Leeds Refreshments based on historic festive ac.uk/hongkong This year’s annual lecture will be University of Leeds Further details at www.alumni.leeds. University Union are invited to an recipes will be provided. Booking and given by the Right Honourable ac.uk/openday event to launch the Union’s exciting further details at www.alumni.leeds. Alumni Associations Jack Straw MP (Law 1967, From one of the founding plans for its 75th birthday in 2014. ac.uk/specialcollections LLD 1999) who has been MP departments of the University to one Leeds 2 London pub night The Rt Hon Jack Straw MP, President LUOSA in Yorkshire for Blackburn since 1979. of the top textiles research centres in of the Union from 1968-69, will be Vice-Chancellor’s annual alumni.leeds.ac.uk/luosa Throughout Labour’s period of the world, Textiles has always been Thursday 24 October speaking at the Union between 3pm scholarships reception office from 1997-2010, at the heart of the Leeds tradition for 6.30-8.30pm and 4pm about his experiences as an LUOSA London branch Jack served continuously in excellence and innovation. Textiles The Yorkshire Grey pub, Officer and his time at Leeds. There Wednesday 4 December www.luosa.org.uk/ the Cabinet holding many graduates are invited back to Leeds 2 Theobald’s Road, London will also be a range of events taking 6.30-8.30pm senior positions including those for a special day of talks and tours place during the afternoon and evening Parkinson Court, University of Leeds Leeds University Hong Kong of Home Secretary, Foreign about current research. There will Alumni from all over London come including a reception in the Terrace Alumni Association Secretary and Secretary of State also be time to meet with fellow together for our popular London pub bar, tours of the building and the We will be holding our 6th annual alumni.leeds.ac.uk/hongkong for Justice. alumni and current academics over nights. Drop in for a drink and you’ll chance to meet current students and scholarships reception at Parkinson lunch at University House. end up staying the evening enjoying hear about their clubs and societies. Court. Formal invitations will be sent Leeds University Alumni Jack was President of the The day is free to attend, but places the company. to all of our donors as an opportunity Association Singapore Students’ Union whilst at Leeds are limited and booking is essential. Further details at to meet this year’s recipients. alumni.leeds.ac.uk/singapore and President of the National Booking and further details at Booking and further details at www.luu.org.uk/JackStraw Union of Students from 1969-71. www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/textilesevent www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ This event is by invitation only. For Leeds University Alumni londonpubnight Alumni media group further details, contact Emily Hudson Association Ghana The lecture is free to attend, but East Asian Studies 50th at [email protected] or alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ghana booking is essential. Admission anniversary alumni reception Tuesday 12 November 0113 343 3945. is by ticket only. Booking and NOV 2013 6.30-8.30pm Leeds Alumni Shanghai Group further details at Friday 25 October Central London venue TBC alumni.leeds.ac.uk/shanghai www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/ 5.30-8.00pm ALUMNI ANNUAL LECTURE JackStraw Parkinson Court, University of Leeds Our annual networking event for A changing international landscape: Leeds alumni working in journalism Whether you studied Chinese or The future of the global economy and the media industries. Japanese, Thai or Mongolian, East Rt Hon Jack Straw MP Booking is essential. Visit Asian or Asian Pacific Studies, you’re Saturday 9 November www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk/mediaevent

32 — spring / summer 2013 spring / summer 2013 — 33 Will you help us A gift from one build a neW library generation to the next: a new for leeds? URGENT! library for Leeds BUILDING STARTS: 12 / 8 / 2013

You could transform this car park into a state-of-the-art library You could be part of this historic build In the 38 years since the Edward The new library will stand on Boyle Library opened, student Woodhouse Lane, just down from numbers at Leeds have doubled. The new, state-of-the- the Parkinson Steps. It creates a There are now nine students for every art library will continue fitting entrance to the University seat in the library. We desperately and is testament to our ambition need a new library. Building is set to to inspire generations to be recognised as one of the start in just nine weeks, so we need of students – just as the world’s leading universities. your help today. Will you get behind Brotherton and Edward With your gift today, you can leave this exciting new project and help a lasting mark on the University of build a new library for Leeds? Boyle Libraries inspired you. Leeds and provide a vital resource Please send your gift today - to students for decades to come. building starts on 12 August

Or give by Mobile: Text libr14 £3, libr14 £5, or VISIT alumni.leeds.ac.uk/buildalibrary 5 libr14 £10 to 70070 to give £3, £5 or £10 today

to give a special gift today, and help Post: Fill in the Update Your build a new library for Leeds. Details form enclosed with Ñ this issue and return it in the envelope provided

The University of Leeds is an exempt charity under Schedule 2 of the Charities Act 1993. Our reference number with the Charities Division of HM Revenue and Customs is X6861. Texts are charged at your carrier’s rate, in addition to your donation, and you must have the permission of the person who pays the bill in order to text. Text donations are handled by Justgiving in partnership with Vodafone so that 100% of your donation is received by the Footsteps Fund.

LU10742 A4 Press Ad AW.indd 1 16/05/2013 11:17