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New Research Facilities Open at CEDAR BulletinFortnightly news for staff | 22 May 2008 | 482 New research facilities open at CEDAR As a world-renowned research and teaching 482 | IN THE NEWS: institution, the University of Reading is rarely out of the local, national and international media. This is a selection of media appearances by members of the University and press cutting summaries which highlight the important work being done by the staff and students of the University. 22 May 2008 View all ‘In the news’ items at www.reading.ac.uk/about/about-readinginthenews2008.asp | Front cover: The cover 31 March 28 April, Reading Evening Post 2 May, Asian Voice Bulletin image shows state of the Dr David Ward (Clinical Language The University is one of a number Professor Julia Slingo Sciences) gave an interview to BBC of institutions which has joined (Meteorology) briefs Anil Padhra art milking facilities, part Radio Oxford together with an the new regional Rural Research on the effects of climate change of the multi-million pound adult client from his clinical and Strategy Partnership, which on the Indian summer monsoon. practice on the features of the plans to improve rural refurbishment at CEDAR. 6 May, The Guardian speech/language disorder of development in the South East. See page 3. cluttering, and the often severe An investigation into the rise of 28 April, Financial Times ‘contract cheating’, a cheap and The Bulletin can be found online impact that it can have on social Professor Chris Brooks (Business easy way for UK students to get at www.reading.ac.uk/bulletin life and professional development. The interview prompted a number School) is part of a research team small businesses to do their where you can read a pdf of this of responses from listeners who that found hedge fund managers coursework. With expert issue and access archived issues comment from Guy Haworth recognized the diagnostic features in danger of missing out on of past Bulletins. (Systems Engineering). in their speech. Many had been lucrative performance fees concerned by these, but were The Bulletin is published in-house routinely raise their exposure to 6 May, Financial Times previously unaware of the fortnightly during term time. Items risk, in a gamble to meet their Emeritus Professor Derek existence of this disorder, or that are welcomed from every member performance targets. Clements-Croome (Construction treatment was possible. Management and Engineering) of the University and should be 29 April, BBC 1 - The One Show 22 April, BBC Radio Berkshire says that plants and greenery sent, marked ‘Bulletin’, to Dr David Ward (Clinical Language Dr Graham Crampton improve the working environment Carol Derham Sciences) appeared on the BBC 1 (Economics), a transport policy – not the odd pot plant but plants Communications, DEAO programme, offering expert specialist, was interviewed live by that are designed into the space. Whiteknights comment on the use of “filler Andrew Peach about the The University of Reading words” in speech. 10 May, Talk Radio Network Reading RG6 6AH Competition Commission’s Professor Kevin Warwick email [email protected] announcement that the British 30 April, Reading Evening Post (Systems Engineering) talks to one Airports Authority’s dominant Wantage Hall, which was opened of the US’s national radio stations Please note that we reserve the position in the UK might not be in in 1908 and is the University’s about cyborgs and his research right to edit items and not all the public interest. first example of student into artificial intelligence, control, material may be used. Free small accommodation, has been given robotics and biomedical engineering. ads from University members will 25 April, Reading Evening Post Grade II listed building status. be included if space permits. Professor Laurence Harwood Professor Viv Edwards (National (Chemistry) has been awarded 1 May, BBC South Today Centre for Language and Literacy, Copy date for the edition over £63,000 to develop his novel The BBC reported on the opening Bulmershe Court) has been published on 19 June is 5 June. method for the synthesis of of the University’s new multi- elected as a Fellow of the Royal The Bulletin is typeset by peptides, which are molecules Society of Arts, an international million pound Animal Science and Diana Arnold in Communications, that are increasingly being used as network of influencers and Nutrition Research facilities at the DEAO and is printed by Advent new drugs to treat serious diseases innovators who support the aims Centre for Dairy Research. Colour, Andover like HIV and cancer. of the RSA. 20 years of KTP 2008 marks the twentieth achievement the University anniversary of the University’s hosted many of the past first Government-funded beneficiaries of these projects Knowledge Transfer at a drinks reception at MERL Partnership project (KTP). on 21 May. The aim of KTP is to use the The Head of Knowledge Transfer expertise of the academic staff at the University, Kate Darby, to help local companies develop commented: ‘We are absolutely new products and services, delighted to be celebrating the boosting competitiveness and University’s work to help local the profitability of companies companies to access the grant as the key aim. funding and expertise left to right: Frances Young, Susan Matos, Kate Darby, Diana Reynell, Sheila Gainey In the last 20 years the available at the University of University has been involved Reading in this way. Working in over 150 projects utilising through Knowledge Transfer expertise from construction Partnership grants and other solving “real world” problems management through to funding mechanisms allows and provides benefits to typography. To celebrate this the lecturers to get involved in businesses and students alike.’ 2 482 New CEDAR facilities | The University has opened multi-million pound Animal Science and Nutrition 22 May 2008 Research facilities at the Centre for Dairy | Research (CEDAR) as it is announced that the School of Agriculture, Policy and Bulletin Development has topped The Guardian University Guide for 2009 for agriculture. The top rating for agriculture teaching and learning at Reading reflects the high achievements, satisfaction, and employability of students at the University. The Animal Science and Nutrition research facilities, officially opened on 1 May, are the best of their kind in Europe, if not the world, and the centre is one of only three in the EU to conduct studies through the food chain from animal feed through to health outcomes for humans. Judith Batchelor, Director of Brand, Sainsbury’s, who attended the opening of the facilities, said: ‘This £5.3 million Some of the University’s cows inspect their visitors at the opening investment at Reading could not come at School of Agriculture, Policy and a better time for the UK food and Development. It will benefit the School, farming industry. The valuable work the Faculty of Life Sciences and the that Reading does on animal science, entire University, making it possible to nutrition, and environmental impact of look at issues as a whole, involving food production systems, plays a vital expertise from across the University and part in Sainsbury’s being able to develop not working in isolation.’ food supply chains that are sustainable for all, and provide our customers with products that bear scrutiny and that address their concerns.’ Professor Ian Givens, Professor of Animal Science, said: ‘The research facilities are truly world class and the research carried out here will become increasingly nationally and globally significant. The new facilities are testament that the University recognises Vice-Chancellor, Gordon Marshall; Professor Richard Ellis, Head of School of Agriculture, Policy and the significance of these areas of Development and Judith Batchelor, Director of Brand, research and has confidence in the Sainsbury’s Turing’s test The School of Systems Engineering is Turing’s text-based measure for machine in which a machine conversationally hosting this year’s prestigious Loebner intelligence. Little did Turing know, imitates a human. A judge, sitting in Prize for Artificial Intelligence. when he wrote his now famous, oft another room, has to decide which is the discussed ‘Computing Machinery and human and which is the machine during This competition is sponsored by a text-based conversation. American scientist and philanthropist Intelligence,’ published in the journal Professor Kevin Warwick will be seeking Dr Hugh Loebner. The event will take Mind in 1950, that text-mediated judges for the preliminary round during place on Sunday 12 October in the communication, through emails and June and July. If anyone is interested and Palmer Building. mobile text messages, would be a major would like to participate or would like interaction platform between humans The 2008 Prize is the 18th consecutive more information please email across the globe in the 21st century. contest based on 20th century British [email protected] or h.shah@ mathematician and code-breaker Alan Turing devised a Test, an imitation game reading.ac.uk 482 | Security of holograms market but restricted in the same way as 22 May 2008 bank note materials. | Professor Mitchell said: ‘Buying a counterfeit ticket for a sporting event is Bulletin extremely annoying but this is trivial compared to the problem of counterfeit news pharmaceutical drugs, which are a real problem in less regulated countries. Counterfeits are likely to contain harmful ingredients or no effective ingredients at all. This new hologram can positively identify which are genuine.’ Sue O’Hare who is Head of the University Technology Transfer Team that managed the funding said: ‘The Technology Transfer Team has a strong record of supporting commercialisable ideas and translating these into fundable projects. We are looking forward to identifying a route for licensing this Professor David Ezra and Professor Geoff standard hologram that can be seen only technology which has been patented’ Mitchell from the School of Mathematics, when looking at it through a polarising For more information on Technology Meteorology and Physics have received an filter costing a few pence.
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