| 3 Counting cosmic rays | 5 Profile: Professor Margaret Brown | 6 King’s Awards 2008 | 12 New virtual tour of College

CommentThe College newsletter Issue no 184 | November 2008 King’s honours staff The King’s Awards 2008: celebrating the excellence of staff, students and alumni

The 2008 King’s Awards dinner took place at The Inner Temple New student support centre opened on 18 September. For the second alfredo year, members of the College community gathered to celebrate the excellence and contributions of staff, students and alumni. Katherine Grainger, Olympic Silver medallist and student at King’s, accepted the Principal’s Award, a new award which this year recognised the success of Katherine and her King’s team mates, alumni Frances Houghton and Annabel Vernon, in rowing at the Olympic Games. The Lifetime Achievement Award was shared between Margaret Brown, Professor of Mathematics Education, and Robin Murray, Professor of Psychiatry. Other winners included: Dr Michael Goodman and Dr Jonathan Mill, Young Researcher The Compass, the College’s first centre offering a variety of services to support students, was opened in October. Read more about the launch on page 13. of the Year; Dr Stephen Minger, Media Personality of the Year; Professor Robert Walton, Helen dinner is a night for celebration Stop press Hudson Award; Professor Judith and not only recognises those Herrin; Academic Author of who have made an outstanding the Year; Nicola Sainsbury and contribution to the College but King’s rise in global rankings Dr Mary Davies, Professional provides a forum to develop Services Award; Dr Barbara friendships and collaborations King’s place as one of the which was rated 73rd in 2005, Moreland, Lecturer of the Year; to the benefit of us all. world’s leading universities has 46th in 2006 and 24 in 2007. Professor Chris Shaw, Research Adam Boulton, Sky News’ been confirmed again with the The Times Higher Education Project of the Year; Professor Political Editor and member of publication of the Times Higher league table reflects a combination Adrian Hayday, Business College Council, reprised the Education-QS World University of factors including academic Development Award; and role of Master of Ceremonies. Rankings. peer review, employer review, Lucia Boswell and Vivien Cheah, Turn to pages 6 and 7 for The College has risen to 22nd, research citations and student/ Staff Volunteers of the Year. photos of the event. A full list of an increase of two places on last staff ratios. Full details of the Principal Professor Rick Trainor the winners can be found at: year. This year’s position marks story will be published in the comments: ‘The King’s Awards http://kcl.ac.uk/media/awards/ a consistent rise for the College next issue of Comment. News

Wargaming aids biotech crisis

King’s social science spin-out Business programme. played the game and generated a and made a very strong argument company, Simulstrat Limited, Ken Charman, Chief Executive consensus view on how to address for better funded spinout projects who develop and run simulations Officer of Simulstrat, explains: the current crisis in funding mid in the future,’ concludes Mr based on wargaming methodology ‘Most of our work is so mission stage UK biotechs.’ Charman. to deliver solutions to client- critical it is conducted behind The methodology of The Bioscience Futures Forum specific problems, were called locked doors. This was the first wargaming has its origins in the is an expert group to represent in by The Bioscience Futures game we have operated in the military where King’s has a strong the views and interests of the UK Forum over the summer to set up public domain. connection via the Department of Biotech sector, and to encourage a ‘game’ on the funding crisis in War Studies. This simulation was a more supportive environment UK biotech. designed to bring parties together for biotechscience development. The significance of Biotech for ‘A great success’ who have different viewpoints to It identifies issues and brings them the UK economy led to Radio share a common experience and to the attention of politicians and 4 broadcasting a 30 minute ‘There is no doubt it proved build a consensus solution. senior civil servants in a way that programme in August about this the value of the wargame ‘The day was a great success... establishes the basis for change. wargame for Peter Day’s World of methodology. Top people Principal’s Column

£1 million cardiac grant greg funnell student survey. We are devoting his team to develop new tools to much attention to these results in treat cardiac arrhythmias, which order to make real improvements cause the heart to beat irregularly, to the student experience, not potentially leading to strokes, heart least with regard to assessment failure or sudden death. and feedback. There are many Cardiac arrhythmia diagnosis initiatives under way such as and treatment is usually performed the Graduate Project and the under X-ray guidance, but this opening of The Compass (see does not give the cardiologist page 13), a new information sufficient detail. In addition, both centre for students. patient and staff are exposed to a Dear Colleagues Like most universities we Professor Tobias Schaeffter, significant amount of radiation. Firstly I would like to await the release in mid- Philip Harris Chair in Imaging Professor Schaeffter’s project congratulate every member of December of the results of the Sciences at King’s, has been will develop the first Magnetic the College on our rise to 22nd RAE with much anticipation. awarded a £1 million grant to Resonance (MR) guided place (5th in the UK) in the We are also preparing vigorously develop novel devices and arrhythmia therapy procedure THE World University league for the forthcoming institutional imaging technology for minimal- using a novel catheter device, tables. This is particularly audit by the Quality Assurance invasive treatment of certain which avoids radiation completely. gratifying when over two thirds Agency, which I expect the heart problems. The team will also develop of other British Universities College to pass with flying This funding, granted jointly non-invasive MR-techniques to in the top 100 have dropped colours; it is very important that from Philips Healthcare and the visualise the treatment lesions for places this year. A high placing we do so. Technology Strategy Board individual assessment of therapy. in this league table is especially Lastly, despite the economic (a public body, sponsored by Industrial partner in the project, important because the global downturn we are still in the Department for Innovation, Philips Healthcare have a long nature of higher education is negotiations with Somerset Universities and Skills), will history of collaboration with increasingly evident. House about acquiring part of allow Professor Schaeffter and imaging scientists at King’s. The trend in our position their estate. I sincerely hope that, in two domestic league tables, finally, I will have more to report however, has been downward, in the next issue of Comment! More equity for academics largely as a result of the national Rick Trainor

The College’s Code of Practice for College staff in the course of their will now operate such that the work has direct commercial intellectual property, commercial duties, for example in the licensing originating academic units will benefit. I would encourage you exploitation and financial benefits of new technologies to industry benefit directly. to make full use of this facility has been revised to encourage or the formation of a spin-out Chris Mottershead, Vice- as it is designed to enhance staff to commercialise the outputs company from the College. Principal (Research) comments: the College’s entrepreneurial of their research. The changes to the Code mean ‘Research produces new activities.’ The Code relates to the that revenue-sharing procedure is knowledge which at times has The new code of practice for ownership, protection and now more generous than that of great commercial value. We intellectual property is available to commercial exploitation of similar universities. The procedure have changed the rules to download on the College website intellectual property created by has also been simplified and generously reward staff whose at: www.kcl.ac.uk/college/policyzone

2 | Comment | November 2008 News

Counting cosmic rays greg funnell Scientists from King’s began which the earth is located. working with pupils at Highgate They are crucial to interpreting School in September to detect, how the universe was created, analyse and understand the and understanding their behaviour effects of cosmic rays. This has important implications for the project, the first of its kind in the manned exploration of space. UK, is designed to involve pupils Three cosmic ray detectors, in real scientific research. assembled by undergraduate Using specially-built cosmic physics students from King’s, ray detectors placed in the have been placed in the grounds school grounds, the pupils will of Highgate School, north be involved in experiments . The project came which could make important about following King’s Physics contributions to scientific final year student, Jasper Pandza, discovery in this field. The taking part in an Undergraduate project is based upon similar ones Ambassador Scheme to the elsewhere in the world. school. Cosmic rays are sub-atomic The project is being led by particles from space that are Professors Alan Michette and From left: Professor Alan Michette, Jasper Pandza and Professor James Pinfold. continually bombarding the earth, James Pinfold, Department of but are so small they cannot be Physics. Professor Pinfold is a These experiments relate more detectors will be set up in seen or felt. Cosmic rays are Leverhulme Visiting Professor directly to the GCSE and other schools. ‘We’d like to set generated by the sun, by sources at King’s who has undertaken A-level syllabuses, enhancing up a gigantic array, using GPS such as neutron stars, supernovae similar projects in Canada, pupils’ learning through direct to link schools around the world,’ and black holes in the galaxy in North America and Mexico. experience. It is planned that says Professor Pinfold. Detecting forest fires in Asia

A forest fire and smoke pollution enable the team to access real- satellite data that is vital for our monitoring system for Asia is time data from Chinese satellites long-term goal of building a the latest King’s project to win in order to develop a forest fire geographic information system for funding from Innovation China- monitoring system for China estimating real-time atmospheric UK (ICUK). Seven King’s and Asia. emissions from global wildfires. projects have now successfully The data will also be sent back ‘Though the funding is only bid for grants from ICUK. to the UK to act as a component of for a year, we already have much The latest is an award of a ‘global’ fire emissions monitoring of the software operating with £63,500 made to a project led system being developed by King’s European satellites through an by Martin Wooster, Professor system for China and the wider and collaborators for the purposes existing National Environment of Earth Observation Science Asia region’ will allow the Chinese of air quality forecasting. Research Council grant, and of the Department of Geography. National Satellite Meteorological Professor Wooster comments: have a further year’s funding The project ‘Development Centre access to the wild fire ‘We are absolutely delighted to secured through an EU research of a geostationary forest fire detection algorithms, and software have won this ICUK money, project that will help build the monitoring and characterising developed at King’s, and will which gives us access to Chinese global system.’ Modern Language Centre wins major contract

A new language training pharmacovigilance of medicinal within the Common European relevance to King’s activities contract has been awarded to products. Framework of reference for in the field of Medicine and the Modern Language Centre The four-year contract is Languages (CEFR). Research. The EMEA contract (MLC) at King’s by the European worth €1.4 million and the MLC Ms Dominique Borel, Director is the second large Public Sector Medicines Agency (EMEA), was ranked first in a cascade of for the Centre comments: ‘I am contract awarded to the MLC the European Union body providers. Languages taught will delighted the MLC succeeded in within the last 12 months and responsible for coordinating include English, French, German, securing this prestigious contract testifies to the MLC team’s existing scientific resources put at Greek, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, as the number one language professionalism, commitment its disposal by Member States for Spanish and Swedish. training provider to the EMEA, and expertise in language the evaluation, supervision and The courses will be taught especially given the organisation’s training delivery.’

November 2008 | Comment | 3 News

Launch of Spanish theatre project

‘ouT of The wINg’s’, A uNIQue Spanish-American Studies. By the end of the three-year Spanish theatre translation project She continues: ‘The great project, which has been funded that seeks to open up the riches value of that season is that it by a Research Grant from the of the theatres of the Spanish- brought academics and theatre Arts and Humanities Research speaking world to English- practitioners together in an Council, the website will contain language theatre practitioners, was unusual but highly fruitful entries of around 300 plays drawn launched at King’s in September. collaboration. This project will from right across the Spanish- build upon and extend that speaking world. collaboration.’ The technical research and opening the riches of Through the creation of a development will be undertaken spanish theatre wide-ranging and fully interactive by the Centre for Computing in website, the project will help the Humanities at the College, English-speaking practitioners number of characters, keywords, and will combine approaches that ‘The origins of the project become more familiar with, author, country or period. Sample are fast becoming staples of digital are in the Royal Shakespeare and gain greater knowledge of, translations of each play, as scholarship (text encoding and Company’s highly successful Spanish-language theatre. well as synopses and detailed relational data modeling) with Spanish Golden Age season 2004- The website will enable users production notes, will further aspects of community engagement 5,’ explains Professor Catherine to make programming choices help practitioners to decide which familiar from the contemporary Boyle, Department of Spanish and by searching for plays by theme, plays suit their particular needs. experience of the internet.

Asthma vaccine hope Muscles discovery at King’s dr AlIsTAIr Noble from The mrC levels of T cells (white blood cells) Dr Mathias Gautel, Professor The research will help & Asthma UK Centre in Allergic that are necessary to kill infected of Molecular Cardiology from towards the understanding of Mechanisms of Asthma at King’s, or malignant cells. the Randall Division for Cell & conditions which involve loss has developed a new technology Dr Noble’s team have shown Molecular Biophysics and his of muscle mass, such as for vaccine development which that the new adjuvant known as team from the Cardiovascular Edstrøm’s Myopathy, a lethal could be used for a variety CASAC is much more eff ective Division at King’s, have shown muscle disease. of diseases such as asthma, than existing approaches in for the fi rst time, how muscle The work, funded by the tuberculosis, HIV and infl uenza. treating melanoma (cancer) in can be regulated by mechanical Medical Research Council, The research published an animal model, but the force, a fi nding that is likely European Union and Centre in a paper in the Journal of technology could also be used to be typical for other biological for Integrated Protein Science has found that in a wide variety of vaccines for systems. in Munich, was a joint project combining adjuvant molecules other diseases. In a paper published in between Professor Gautel’s team that are already known to be safe The work was funded by the journal Proceedings of the and the Max-Planck-Institute to use in humans, increases the Asthma UK and King’s. National Academy of Sciences, for biophysical Chemistry in immune responses that can be Dr Elaine Vickers, Research the team proved their long Göttingen, Germany. generated with a simple protein or Relations Manager at Asthma suspected theory that the This research is part of peptide target to a much greater UK comments: ‘These are exciting giant protein titin, an elastic the work being undertaken level than is achievable if the initial fi ndings, which could help connection holding the muscles within the King’s British Heart adjuvants are used alone and not scientists overcome some of the contractile machinery Foundation (BHF) Centre of in combination. problems they have experienced together, contains a signalling Excellence, recently established Adjuvants are substances that when trying to develop eff ective domain that can be switched with £9 million funding from amplify the immune response, and immunotherapy treatments in on mechanically. the BHF. are required to induce the high the past.’ 150 years of Gray’s Anatomy

ImAges of A NoVel NeuroImAgINg at the Institute of Psychiatry, image of the language pathways, technique have been used by who used a modifi ed magnetic demonstrated using state-of-the- Gray’s Anatomy for the cover of resonance technique, to perform art technology, to confi rm that their 150th anniversary edition virtual dissections of the language after 150 years of continuous of the world’s oldest and most pathways in human brains. publication, Gray’s remains true to popular anatomy textbook. Professor Susan Standring, its original aim of communicating The image is taken from a study Department of Anatomy & the anatomical basis of clinical carried out three years ago by Human Sciences and Editor-in- practice to its readers, combining Dr Marco Catani and colleagues Chief, said: ‘What better than an text and stunning illustrations.’

4 | Comment | November 2008 Profile

Professor Margaret Brown david tett Margaret Brown, Professor of Mathematics Education, was joint recipient of this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award with Professor Robin Murray, Insitute of Psychiatry, in the King’s Awards. Here she talks about her 39-year career with the College, her work outside King’s and what the future holds in store.

Describe your career at the College. Tell us about your work outside King’s. In 1969 I was enjoying life as a maths teacher As a mathematics educationist it’s almost in Hemel Hempstead when out of the blue a impossible to do significant research without telegram landed from the first ever Professor of getting involved both with maths teachers, and Mathematics Education, at Chelsea College, with policy makers. At times I’ve been able to asking me to go and see him that evening. We use the status of elected positions (eg President hit it off and he offered me on the spot the post of the Mathematical Association and of the of lecturer in mathematics education in a new British Educational Research Association, Chair Centre for Science Education. As I was about of the Joint Mathematical Council of the UK, to marry a Whitehall-based civil servant, an Deputy Chair of the Royal Society Education unsolicited job offer along the District Line Committee) to engage in policy critique. was serendipitous. I am rather proud that my various research My first research experience came when a results have been denounced in the national team of us at Chelsea landed the then largest press by two ministers of education (one ever grant from what is now the Economic and from each party) when these contradicted Fact file Social Research Council (ESRC), to investigate their policies. I have also worked on the other the development of ‘Concepts in Secondary side as a member of government-appointed Book on my bedside table Mathematics and Science’. We established a committees (again from both parties), including I gave up fiction sometime in my finals year, learning progression in mathematics (which the National Curriculum Mathematics Working and I haven’t yet had time to get back into it. later formed the basis for the national Group, and the (Primary) Numeracy Task So on holiday I read mathematical histories/ curriculum), a major assessment programme Force. In addition, I’ve directed government- biographies – recently I’ve enjoyed Paul and a best-selling textbook series. It also got me funded teams, developing and piloting the first Hoffman on Paul Erdos, and James Gleick a PhD along the way. national mathematics SATs at secondary level, on chaos theory, which contain a good Since then I’ve directed more than 25 evaluating the maths national curriculum, and balance between the mathematical, research projects on the teaching, learning proposing redesigned mathematics curricula the personal and the social. and assessment of mathematics at every level across the 14-19 age range. from early years to university and adult basic Recently I’ve been a member of the Advisory Favourite holiday destination numeracy. Committee on Mathematics Education, which Music festivals in places like Salzburg and Chelsea merged with King’s in 1985, and has involved a further series of battles with Lucerne combine mountains, lakes, music in 1992 I was parachuted unexpectedly into a government and its agencies. and art. Head of School post to take over from Arthur Lucas when he became acting Principal. This What attracted you about the field of Proudest work moment involved being the only female member of mathematics education and why have you Receiving a Lifetime award in September the rather distinguished 12-member College made it your life’s work? from the Principal was a pretty special Committee. College decision-making was an My best experiences have come through moment. Outside the College, the final interesting experience but it squeezed out the tackling difficult and important problems celebratory dinner of the RAE 2008 research and policy work I was committed to, with a team of intelligent, committed and fun Education Sub-Panel, which I chaired, so I gratefully resumed life as a normal people. In my youth I thought mathematics was also a recent high. academic in 1996. The one contribution I am had the best problems. After a Cambridge first, quite proud of was to have added ‘… in the mathematical research might have been the service of society’ to the end of the College obvious path, but sitting in a with only teachers on a new three-year ESRC project mission statement. symbols for company for three years sounded to improve the teaching of algebra and In all the 39 years I’ve been at Chelsea/ a lonely experience, whereas teaching allowed multiplicative reasoning through formative King’s I’ve only applied for one other post, and me to indulge my passions for both mathematics assessment in the early secondary phase. was pretty relieved not to get it. I’ve never really and people. I later found that mathematics I have an overdue book to finish and another felt a desire to work anywhere else (and I know problems were simple compared with those in contracted. I also plan to help out a day a week the competition pretty well). I’ve been lucky to mathematics education, which have provided in a primary school where I am a governor, and have had a sequence of brilliant collaborators continuing challenges. in a local secondary. I’m still on some national on hand, have enjoyed the stimulation and advisory committees. And there’s a first friendship of some great colleagues, and have What are your future plans? grandchild on the way. So the gardening will appreciated the civilised ethos of King’s. I’m enjoying working with colleagues and have to wait!

November 2008 | Comment | 5 King’s people King’s Awards 2008

all Photos by Greg Funnell

The Inner Temple’s Main Hall provided a fitting backdrop to the presentation of the awards.

Winners of the Greatest Student Group Achievement were the KCL Diwali Society. From left: The Business Development Award went to Professor Adrian Hayday (left), presented by Rajdeep Sadhra, Rahil Mandalia, Puja Ghumra, Nirooban Sivarajah and Alan Ganesh. Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman.

Professor Nairn Wilson (left) won the award for Staff Member Who has Contributed the Most Olympic rower Katherine Grainger, pictured with Professor Trainor, collected the Principal’s to Outreach/Student Recruitment. Award for her dedication to, and success in, the sport of rowing.

6 | Comment | November 2008 King’s people

Professor Stephen Minger (far left) won Media Personality of the Year, while Professor Barbara Moreland (second from right) was named Lecturer of the Year.

Sky News’ Political Editor and member of Professor Judith Herrin (pictured with Council, Adam Boulton reprised the role of Professor Keith Hoggart) won the award Master of Ceremonies for the second year for Academic Author of the Year for her running. acclaimed book, Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire.

Margaret Brown, Professor of Mathematics Education (pictured left), was this year’s Lifetime Achievement Award winner, along with Robin Murray, Professor of Psychiatry at the Institute of Psychiatry (pictured right).

From left: Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, with Supervisory Excellence Award winner, Professor Sarah Cowley, Leon Cowley, and Dr Patricia Grocott.

Alumnus of the Year 2008, Sir Ian Gainsford with presenter Dame Janet Nelson.

Professor Lawrence Freedman (centre) StaffV olunteers of the Year was awarded to presented the award for Young Researcher Lucia Boswell and Vivien Cheah for their help Professor Chris Shaw (left), pictured with of the Year to Dr Jonathan Mill from the and contributions to the charity Blackfriars Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman, was Institute of Psychiatry (left) and Dr Michael Settlement. Nicola Sainsbury and Dr Mary Davies won the deserved winner of Research Project the Professional Services Award for their Goodman from the Department of War of the Year. Studies. efforts on the RAE submission.

November 2008 | Comment | 7 Focus

The Department of Anatomy & Human Sciences Anatomy is an ancient and classic medical discipline, but as the new Head of Department Professor Jon Clarke explains, how the subject is taught is constantly evolving.

Alfred Pasieka/Science Photo Library he Department of Anatomy & Human Sciences at King’s is Tpart of the School of Biomedical & Health Sciences, based at the Guy’s Campus. It currently has 24 academic staff, with an excellent balance of experienced teachers and international researchers. Members of the Department provide courses in functional and applied topographical anatomy (including surface and radiological anatomy), neuro-anatomy and histology, for medical, dental, physiotherapy and science students. In addition to the Department’s non- clinical staff, there is a team of experienced clinical anatomists and surgical demonstrators who largely teach in the practical classes, and who are able to reinforce their teaching with a variety of up-to-date clinical knowledge and anecdotes. As well as anatomy-based teaching, the Department is particularly strong in the fields of developmental biology, neuroscience and cell biology and it delivers research-led courses in these topics to both undergraduate and graduate Brain scan. Coloured Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan through a human head, showing a healthy brain in side view. students. ‘We believe the quality of our teaching is high, and members of the Department have demonstrator be able to say to the student ‘sorry Research frequently been voted ‘Best Teacher of the I can’t find the accessory nerve, you must have Most of the Department’s staff are also Year’ by medical and science students’, says sliced it off’. members of research divisions in the School Professor Jon Clarke, the new Head of the of Biomedicine & Health Sciences as Department. Dissecting well as School of Medicine. Staff research Of course the introduction of these medical interests include the development and repair Anatomy is changing imaging methods to the classroom will not mean mechanisms of the brain; the mechanisms of Although anatomy is an ancient and classic that the dissecting room becomes redundant. cell migration; pain; human brain function; how medical discipline it is not standing still. The ‘We will continue to include the dissection the brain controls reproduction; small mammal traditional methods of teaching anatomy of human cadavers and the examination of ecology, and muscle cell biology. Each of these are being invigorated by the introduction prosected (ie prepared) body parts in our special interests is integrated into the teaching to of computer reconstructions of the body’s courses because we believe that there is no ensure the students get a feel for the excitement architecture. The imaging techniques designed substitute for the ‘hands on’ experience of three- of research and an understanding of some of the for diagnosis in the clinic – for example dimensional human anatomy’, says Professor questions currently being addressed. ultrasound, CT, MRI and PET – generate Clarke. ‘Many students say that dissection is virtual bodies whose internal structure can be the best feature of our teaching programmes, Gray’s Anatomy analysed prior to surgical intervention. ‘These and it will remain important for students to ‘Not many departments have a popular TV data are also perfect teaching aids’, points out explore real bodies, but this approach will series named (allowing for a slight difference Professor Clarke, ‘because computer trickery increasingly be augmented by sophisticated in spelling) after their favourite textbook’, allows virtual dissections as each organ of the computer imaging.’ The Department has two Jon Clarke says. ‘The Department at Guy’s body to be viewed either in isolation or in well-equipped dissecting rooms, both sited in Campus has a long association with the relation to its normal neighbouring tissues. the Hodgkin Building. classic medical textbook, Gray’s Anatomy, and The virtual bodies have other advantages too. The material available for students to study this continues as Editor-in-Chief Professor Unlike the preserved cadavers of the traditional is complimented by the fantastic collection Susan Standring oversees the latest edition. dissecting room, the computer-generated of human organs and exquisite models in Revitalised in 2004, this classic title is now bodies are derived from images of living humans the Gordon Museum, a separately-managed also accompanied by an ‘e-dition’ format that and they are indestructible by a nervous resource on the Guy’s site but one that works combines the traditional text with student’s scalpel. No longer will the anatomy closely with the Department of Anatomy. CD-ROMs containing all the illustrations.’

8 | Comment | November 2008 King’s people

where ambitions can be declared, Honorary Degrees 2008 relationships started and ended, the future predicted, the past A Nobel Laureate, the President life and climate change, and revealed and sometimes lives of the Royal Society and a developer of the Gaia theory threatened.’ leading scholar in Confucian Professor Joseph Raz FBA, In 2006, Roger won the studies are among this year’s Professor at the Law School, Playwright of the Year Award at eight King’s College London Columbia University, and the central London based Player- Honorary Graduates. Research Professor, University Playwrights for his farce A First They will receive their of Oxford Time for Everything. degrees at a ceremony at the Baron Rees of Ludlow OM Kt FRS, College on 26 November. Astronomer Royal, President The full list of new Honorary of the Royal Society, and Master Five star review for Graduates for 2008 are: of Trinity College, Cambridge Professor Junji Tagami, King’s CD Professor Michael Bishop, Dean of the Tokyo Medical and Into the Little Hill; Dance Figures; Chancellor of the University of Dental University Roger Mayhew Sometime Voices, the classical California, San Francisco Professor Romila Thapar, CD by Professor George Benjamin, Professor Peter Brown FBA, Emeritus Professor in production of his play Kitchen Henry Purcell Professor of Rollins Professor of History History at the Jawaharlal Nehru Nights, at the King’s Head Theatre Composition at King’s, has and Director of the Program University in . received a five star review in in Hellenic Studies, Princeton Professor Tu Wei-Ming, Both written and directed by The Guardian. University Harvard-Yenching Professor of Roger, Kitchen Nights encompasses Reviewer Andrew Clements Dr James Lovelock CH CBE FRS, Chinese History and Philosophy five short plays. Each play is set in said of the CD: ‘Into the Little Hill key figure in thinking about at Harvard University. the kitchen and their themes vary [premiered in Paris in 2006] was from humour, drama, mystery and George Benjamin’s first modest tragedy. venture into the world of music she has established a reputation He comments: ‘Kitchen Nights is theatre. Just two singers, a soprano New Head for for upholding the principles of about relationships – all my plays and a contralto, are required to professional integrity, policy tend to be on that theme – and it unfold Martin Crimp’s acerbic SSPP relevance and methodological portrays five different encounters updating of the story of the transparency. with five different outcomes. I Pied Piper of Hamelin… it is Professor Lievesley comments: chose the kitchen because I think an exquisite piece, full of beguiling ‘I am very fortunate to be joining it is the beating heart of the home sounds.’ a university with such strength in the social sciences. One of my early tasks will be to seek the views Comms collect CASE award of both academic staff and students on the future development of the School in order to help shape my priorities. I am looking forward to developing further the links with other Schools at King’s, and exploiting the synergies across departments within the School.’ Professor Denise Lievesley Professor Keith Hoggart, Vice- Principal (Arts & Sciences) says: Professor Denise Lievesley has taken ‘I am delighted that the School up the position of Head of the of Social Science & Public School of Social Science & Public Policy is to have a Head of such Policy, to provide an institutional distinction and experience as focus for social science teaching Denise Lievesley. The School is and research at King’s, succeeding very fortunate to attract a leader Professor Christopher Dandeker. who has the vision and drive to be Professor Lievesley is one able to enhance and extend the of the country’s leading social outstanding capabilities it already From left: Chris Coe, Christine Ayre, Sue Buchanan and John Lippincott, CASE President. statisticians, who has been posseses.’ comitted to protecting the integrity Christine Ayre, Head of Corporate international CASE conference of official statistics and ensure Identity, Chris Coe, Director of in Brighton in August. The that they remain free from political King’s playwright Communications, and designer purpose of the publication influence. Sue Buchanan collected the was to ‘promote interest and a Her various roles have led her to centre stage Bronze Award in the ‘Individual sense of belonging amongst work with ministers, ambassadors, Roger Mayhew, Staff Development Institutional Relations’ category staff, friends of and stakeholders senior civil servants and officials of Consultant at King’s, took to the for the King’s Calendar at the in the College’. international agencies, for which boards in September with the

November 2008 | Comment | 9 King’s people

Department of Physics, and Dr Brant comments: ‘I am HRH awards water prize Dr Andrew Wood, Division of delighted to have won this ESSE Cecilia Österberg copyright of SIWI Genetics & Molecular Science. prize – it is a great honour from an Dr Kelly, supervised by international association of breadth Dr Len Kantorovitch, was and cutting-edge significance.’ joint winner of the award for The prize was presented to his doctoral thesis ‘Theoretical Dr Brant in Aarhus in Denmark at Modelling of Two Dimensional the end of August. It is significant DNA Base Assemblies’, while that a book about a period and a Dr Wood, supervised by Dr genre will be recognised across Rebecca Oakey, won the award Europe as a work of substantial for his doctoral thesis ‘The and valuable scholarship. Identification and Characterisation of Novel Imprinted Genes’. The Tadion Rideal Prize, HFC Literary which is valued at up to £1,000, is awarded annually to students Translation Prize of King’s who have carried out Professor Roderick Beaton, Head exceptional doctoral research in Byzantine & Modern Greek the area of Molecular Science. Studies at King’s, has won the The Prize was instituted in Hellenic Foundation for Culture 1983 by a gift of £10,000 from (HFC) Literary Translation Prize Dr J Tadion to commemorate his 2008 for the translation of Levant association with the late Sir Eric Journal by George Seferis. Rideal FRS and King’s. Professor Beaton was presented with the award by Sir Peter Stothard, editor-in-chief of Major literary prize the Times Literary Supplement magazine, at a ceremony held at for Dr Brant the Queen Elizabeth Hall (South Bank Centre) on 29 September. On winning the award, Professor Beaton commented: ‘I am HRH Crown Princess Victoria Geography commented: ‘This especially proud to have won this of Sweden presents King’s prize gives recognition to Tony award, which I hope will help to Geographer Professor Tony Allan Allan’s seminal contribution find new readers for Seferis, as well the 2008 Stockholm Water to our understanding of the as doing credit to Ibis Editions, Prize for his pioneering importance of water. His who certainly deserve it.’ concept of ‘virtual water’. He concept of virtual water has Nobel prize-winner, Greek received the $150,000 prize at transformed our understanding poet and diplomat George Seferis a ceremony and Royal Banquet of the importance of this is a key figure of 20th century in the Stockholm City Hall in vital resource.’ Full details of Dr Clare Brant literature. Levant Journal presents August. Professor Tim Butler, the Prize can be found in for the first time in English Head of the Department of Comment 181. Dr Clare Brant, Senior Lecturer in selections from the journals the Department of English, has he kept while travelling in the been awarded one of the 2008 Middle East. ominous illustration imaginable European Society for the Study Shipman drama of the unbridled power that a of English (ESSE) prizes for her murderous medic, a posturing book Eighteenth-Century Letters Comms top 100 Brian Hurwitz, D’Oyly Carte practitioner or a hoax clinician can and British Culture. Professor of Medicine & the wield over unsuspecting patients.’ The book, which offers For the second year running King’s Arts at King’s, was advisor to the Professor Hurwitz was recently an extensively-researched Director of Communications, drama documentary about Harold awarded a prestigious Wellcome understanding of the central Chris Coe, has been elected to the Shipman, aired by the BBC World Trust £2 million strategic award place of letters in 18th-century CorpComms 100 Club – the 100 Service in September. to establish a centre of excellence writing, and a new way of looking most influential in-house PR The play is interwoven with in the emerging field of medical at 18th-century life, beat off stiff professionals in the country. Chris interviews and one of Shipman’s humanities. competition in the category was elected for his leadership of the patients and seeks to shed a very of ‘Field of Literatures in the College’s strategic communication, different light on this horrifying English language’. such as promotion of the College’s story and how a community tries Tadion Rideal In the ESSE citation, the groundbreaking research and to cope, 10 years on. judges said: ‘Clare Brant offers an keynote speeches from influential Professor Hurwitz comments: Prize 2007 excellent survey of letter-writing as figures including the Prime ‘I am fascinated by the life and The Tadion Rideal Prize 2007 well as a profound, well-researched Minister, Gordon Brown, and activities of Harold Shipman has been jointly awarded to and documented study of the former UN Secretary General because they offer the most two candidates: Dr Ross Kelly, 18th-century British culture’. Kofi Annan.

10 | Comment | November 2008 Flashback The constant gardener This year marks the 150th anniversary of the death of the surgeon and eminent botanist John Forbes Royle (1798-1858), Professor of Materia Medica & Therapeutics at King’s from 1836 to 1856.

ohn Forbes Royle was born in Cawnpore, India, in 1798, the only son of Captain William Henry Royle, who was serving with the East India Company at the time. He was educated in Edinburgh and later trained in medicine, believing that a medical career would allow him to pursue his interests in natural history, particularly botany. Royle obtained a post as an assistant surgeon in the service of the East India Company and was sent to India in 1819, serving on the medical staff of the Bengal army at various stations before succeeding Dr George Govan (1787-1865) as Curator of the Saharanpur Botanic Garden in the Himalayas in 1823.

Quinine As curator, he transformed the gardens; he had them landscaped and cleared of invasive shrubs, and had a lake dug for aquatic plants. He sent collectors as far as the borders of Tibet and the mountains around the Vale of Kashmir in search of plants for the garden. Royle’s particular interest was in plants with an economic or medicinal value and he Plates for: ‘Himalayan birds of European forms’ and ‘Two species of cotton, Gossypium herbaceum and Gossypium arboreum’, established a nursery for their cultivation at the from Royle’s Illustrations of the botany and other branches of the natural history of the Himalayan Mountains and of the Flora of Cashmere (London: Wm H Allen and Co, 1839). Foyle Special Collections Library [Early Science Collection FOL QK341 ROY] hill-station at Mussoorie. Royle was the first to recommend the introduction of the cinchona plant, from the influence of Indian medicine on other medical commemorated in the names of numerous bark of which quinine can be extracted, to traditions. In the same year he was elected a Himalayan plants and also by the genus Roylea India, believing that ‘after the Chinese teas, Fellow of the Royal Society. Wall. ex Benth. no more important plants could be introduced into India’. By the time he left the garden in Great Exhibition Medicinal plants 1831, over 4,000 species of plants were under In 1838, the East India Company set up a The Foyle Special Collections Library at cultivation at Saharanpur. new department to deal with the scientific holds several of Royle’s correspondence relating to the vegetable works, including a copy of his most important, Collections productions of India. Royle was asked to take Illustrations of the botany and other branches of Royle returned to England in 1831, bringing charge and, over the next 20 years, in the course the natural history of the Himalayan Mountains his extensive collections of botanical specimens of his work there he published several works (1839), a magnificently illustrated work which with him and in 1833 was elected a fellow of the on the industrial and commercial uses of Indian drew extensively on researches made by Royle Linnean Society. In 1836 he succeeded John plants, especially the uses of fibrous plants in while at the botanical garden at Saharanpur. Ayrton Paris as Professor of Materia Medica & cordage and textiles. Royle’s interest in the Medicinal plants feature heavily in this work Therapeutics at King’s College London. Royle manufactures of India led him to be appointed and Royle also gives an extensive account of the had made a detailed study of Indian traditional superintendent of the Indian department of the cultivation of native and introduced cotton. The medicine and of the plant remedies used in Great Exhibition of 1851 and later the oriental King’s College London copy was presented to it while at Saharanpur and this study formed department of the Paris exhibition of 1855 (for the College by Royle himself and has recently the basis of his Essay on the antiquity of Hindoo which he was made an officer of the Légion received much needed conservation treatment, medicine, including an introductory lecture to d’Honneur). thanks to the generous support of the Society the course of materia medica and therapeutics, Royle died at Acton on the 2 January 1858 for the History of Natural History, whose delivered at King’s College (1837). and his wife donated his herbarium to the Royal current president is Professor Arthur Lucas, the In this he outlined his ideas on the originality Liverpool Institution. The Roylean Herbarium, former Principal of King’s. of the ancient Hindu medical texts, the efficacy as it is known, now forms part of the collections Hugh Cahill of the remedies contained in them and the of the World Museum Liverpool. Royle is Foyle Special Collections Library

November 2008 | Comment | 11 Around the College

New virtual tour of King’s

A New VIrTuAl Tour of KINg’s hAs information spots in some of the expectations as well as views on been launched by the Marketing views which adds another layer graduate study and starting as Department. of value for the user. Marketing an international student. worked with SE3 Productions, The launch of the new Revolution Viewing and IMAGIZ interactive pages coincided providing a snapshot to produce the tour. with the publication of the 2009 of life at the College There is also new set of video Prospectus. This year’s prospectus clips to help prospective students off ers graduate opportunities in get a fl avour of what King’s has to an exceptionally wide choice of The tour has 32 views from off er, a new set of video clips are programmes, subjects and areas around three campuses (including now available on the web pages of research, and provides an the Maughan Library and a view www.kcl.ac.uk/about/video. These overview of recent news, student from Waterloo Bridge) and provide a snapshot of life at the testimonials and cultural and King’s halls of residence, visit College and cover our London social connections. To order a www.kcl.ac.uk/virtualtour location, academic strengths, printed copy, go to The virtual tour also includes clubs and societies, career www.kcl.ac.uk/about/prosrequest Opening of Year Service Stanford students’ visit gReg funnell IN sepTember, professor pAul students to tour the department Sharpe, Head of the Department and also the Gordon Museum and of Craniofacial Developmental Old Operating theatre on Guy’s Biology, hosted a visit to the Campus. department for 17 medical Professor Sharpe comments: undergraduate students from ‘The purpose of the visit was to Stanford University, California. introduce the Stanford students to The visit was organised as leaders in the fi eld of craniofacial a one-day programme for the biology at King’s.’

UN General speaks at King’s gReg funnell

from left: revd professor richard burridge, rt revd tom butler, revd Alistair mcgrath, ben Quash, Professor of Christianity and the arts, and professor rick Trainor.

Three New professors were Bishop of Southwark. installed at this year’s Opening of The College choir led the Year Service, held in the College worship and there were Bible Chapel on 24 September. readings from, amongst others, Revd Alister Mcgrath, Professor Professor Rick Trainor. of Theology, Education & The Dean of King’s, the Revd Ministry; Clemens Sedmak, FD Professor Richard Burridge, notes: Maurice Professor of Moral & ‘The Opening of Year Service, Social Theology and Ben Quash, including, this time, the installation Professor of Christianity & the of three new professors, is a good Arts, were installed by the Rt Revd example of being faithful to the Tom Butler, Bishop of Southwark traditions of the College whilst FKC. having relevance to the 21st The professors were formally century.’ general martin luther Agwai (right), force Commander of the un african union inducted into the professorial The Opening of Year Service Mission in darfur (unaMid), visited the College in September to discuss the stalls next to the Principal’s stall celebrates the start of the new realities of the ongoing challenges and the activities of the mission in Western at the west end of the Chapel by academic year as staff and students Sudan. general agwai spoke at the Peace Keeping in darfur and the Complexities the Dean, in the presence of the return to or join the College for the of a Hybrid force seminar organised by the Confl ict, Security & development group and chaired by dr ’funmi olonisakin. Principal with a blessing from the fi rst time.

12 | Comment | November 2008 Student news

The Compass launched

david tett The Compass, the College’s including Council tax exemption first centre offering a variety letters; prospective student of services to support students, enquiries and replacement ID was opened by the Principal cards, but this will continually on 1 October. This major new developed. Maya Schram, who development will provide advice joins King’s this month, will take and answers to general enquiries over from Karen Hartley as Head as well as facilitating access to of Compass Support and will lead specialist support services. a team of 15. Professor Phil Whitfield, Vice- The Compass and relocated Principal (Students), comments: Careers Service, which can be ‘King’s has always prided itself found on the B1 floor of the on the range of ways in which Macadam Building, Strand it supports its students. These Campus, will be open from services have been provided Monday to Friday 09.00-17.00 by departments, Schools, in term time, with later closing administrative sections, welfare The Principal, Professor Rick Trainor, pictured with Acting Head of The Compass Karen Hartley. times on Tuesday and Thursday services and KCLSU. nights. The Compass and the the College, with a variety of 2009, via the Compass student For more information about Compass Team offer an exciting services available in one place.’ enquiry system which will be the Careers Service visit the web expansion of these services. They The Compass Team will be reachable at anytime during the pages at www.kcl.ac.uk/careers should provide an accessible and accessible to students on all day or night. or visit their sector specific responsive source of information campuses, via telephone, email Initially The Compass will Facebook pages by searching for and advice for all students across and the website, and from early offer a range of core services the King’s Career Networks.

discovered by Professor Hider In the survey, which is Student wins which is used to remove excess Students rate conducted amongst all final-year iron in the body. As this organ has students at British universities, major award an important role in producing King’s top students are asked a range of hormones that control metabolism, The results of the fourth annual questions on the quality of the the build up of deferiprone could National Student Survey, teaching; assessment and feedback; cause toxic effects. published in September, have academic support; course Commenting on her award shown that the overall satisfaction organization and management; Marie said: ‘It is extremely rate for students at King’s is 84 the availability of learning satisfying to be recognised for the per cent, two per cent above the resources; and students’ personal dedication and hard work I put national figure. development. into my project. In particular, I was In five subject areas, King’s proud to be representing King’s students rated the overall and the Department of Pharmacy. satisfaction as greater than New minibus for SET winner Marie Pang receiving her award. I would like to take this opportunity 90 per cent: to thank Professor Hider for his • Classics = 98 per cent KCLSU Marie Pang from the Department support and guidance.’ • History = 93 per cent The College recently received of Pharmacy has been named Professor Roger Morris, Head • Music = 95 per cent a most generous gift of £20,000 ‘Pharmacology Student of of the School of Biomedical & • Law = 95 per cent from the late Mrs Eunice Phillips, the Year’ in the 2008 Science, Health Sciences adds: ‘This is an • Human and Social Geography = a King’s alumna (Modern Engineering and Technology excellent achievement and we 92 per cent History, 1934), who very kindly (SET) Student of the Year Awards. send her our warm congratulations. remembered the College in Marie beat students from the I think it is also a special and fitting These results also mean that her will. Her bequest will enable Universities of Edinburgh and achievement for Professor Hider in Classics and Music have been the Students’ Union to replace Cambridge with her final year his last year supervising MPharm voted the best in London. In the its much-used minibus. The new project on in-vitro studies on project students in the department, case of Law, the School achieved minibus will have greater capacity deferiprone, which was supervised to have such a prominent success.’ the joint best result in the Russell and accessibility, meaning that by Robert Hider, Professor of The SET Awards are Britain’s Group. King’s students can take part Medicinal Chemistry, and former and Ireland’s most important A number of subject areas in many more events outside of Head of the School of Biomedical awards for science, engineering were first in terms of how they London. & Health Sciences. and technology undergraduates. rated against other For more information about this In her work, Marie set out Marie was presented with her Universities in London. Also or how you too could remember to investigate the reason for award at a ceremony held at there was an increase of more than the College in your will, contact the thyroid accumulation of the Royal Lancaster Hotel in 10 per cent in the response rate [email protected] or visit deferiprone. Deferiprone is a drug September. by King’s students. www.kcl.ac.uk/support/legacies

November 2008 | Comment | 13 Media watch

Lifestyle 50 School nurses Pakistan Life expectancy

Dr Stephen Minger, Director Dr Mark Haddad, Institute of Anatol Lieven, Professor of Professor Robert Weale, Institute of the King’s Stem Cell Psychiatry, discussed his project International Relations & of Gerontology, addressed Laboratory, was named by which trains school nurses on Terrorism Studies wrote a Russia’s failure to focus on the The Times – Body & Soul as dealing with mental health number of columns for The life expectancy of both Russian one of the top 50 people who issues in The Guardian. Times on Pakistan, Russia men and women – which is influence the way the public and Georgia. way below that of the west eat, exercise and think about – and falling in a letter to the themselves. Dr Minger was also EU soft power Financial Times. featured in an article in THE Lavender ‘calms’ about complementary and Russia and the EU are too alternative medicine. interdependent not to formulate A study of 340 people by King’s ‘Truman syndrome’ a way of living with each other College London researchers that – rhetoric and threats are not found those exposed to lavender Dr Vaughn Bell, psychologist Papyrus to web the path forward, writes Denis oil scent were less anxious at the Institute of Psychiatry Corboy, Former EU ambassador about the treatment ahead was discussed 21st century CNN, The Guardian, The to Georgia and Director of the reported in the in The Daily psychosis and the ‘Truman Independent and The New York Caucasus Policy Institute in the Telegraph, Daily Mail and BBC syndrome’ where people believe Times reported on work by an Irish Times. News Online. their every move is being filmed international team led by Simon for reality television in an article Tanner, Centre for Computing in The New York Times. in the Humanities, who are Education matters Penal laws digitising and photographing every fragment of the Dead Jonathan Osborne, Professor Penal laws and the persecution Biofuels fright Sea Scrolls to publish on the of Science Education, was of Irish Catholics during the internet. interviewed on the BBC World eighteenth century were the Professor Tony Allan, Department Service about creationism. subjects of discussion for Dr Ian of Geography, the winner of Professor Osborne also McBride, Department of History, the Stockholm Water Prize, Health visitors commented on the benefits on Newstalk’s Talking History criticized the growing use of of teaching primary school programme. biofuels in an article in the Professor Sarah Cowley, Florence children magic tricks in The International Herald Tribune Nightingale School of Nursing Guardian and research into and urged people to eat less & Midwifery, was interviewed making science fun in the A stronger IOC meat to help cut the amount of on BBC Radio 5 Live about New Scientist. water used in food production. research which found that Cees van Dam, Visiting Professor nearly half of new mothers see in the School of Law, wrote a health visitor just once or Patient power to the International Herald Crime rise twice in the first two months Tribune about human rights after giving birth. Paul Salkovskis, Professor of and the International Olympic Richard Garside, Director of the Clinical Psychology & Applied Committee. Centre for Crime & Justice Science, took part in BBC Studies was quoted in an article Tale of Turandot Radio 4’s Analysis programme in The Guardian and took part ‘Trust me, I’m a patient’ which Thames shipwrecks in discussions on Radio 4’s As a production of Brecht’s explored an apparent frenzy of Today programme and BBC Turandot premiered in the UK health anxiety coupled with The BBC 2 documentary Radio Wales. John Deathridge, Professor of unproven worth and asked if Thames Shipwrecks: A Race Music, discussed the fable on patients are fit for power. Against Time featured Professor BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. Andrew Lambert from the Credit crisis Department of War Studies. Quentin Bryce Chris Hamnett, Professor of Uni expansion? Human Geography, has written Dr Frank Bongiorno, Senior Teens translated a number of articles recently on Professor Rick Trainor, Principal Lecturer in Australian the economic situation for the and President of Universities Studies at the Menzies Centre Tony Thorne, Language & ‘Comment is free’ section UK, was interviewed on Radio discussed the appointment Innovation Consultant, Slang of The Guardian website. 4’s Today programme about of the first female Governor & New Language , the funding of universities General in Australia on discussed a new website See www.kcl.ac.uk/headlines and their relationship with the BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour. that provides parents with a for the latest media coverage Government. Professor Trainor Quentin Bryce, is the 25th dictionary of teenage language or on Campus noticeboards. was also quoted in The Times, person to take up the post on the Channel 5 News. The Comment is keen to know of The Guardian and THE on as the Queen’s representative dictionary aims to breakdown any staff featured in the media, higher education issues. in Australia. the language barrier. email [email protected]

14 | Comment | November 2008 Research

Care in rural communities King’s part of major MRC scheme King’s College London has been Foundation (USA) and led by people working with older people included in an award scheme by Dr Sarah Tabrizi (Institute of in rural communities and describes The Medical Research Council Neurology) is in progress. The the implications of an ageing rural (MRC) to give £10.6 million to MRC, in partnership with the population and its potential impact fund research to develop better CHDI Foundation, will fund on the future of adult social care. models of human disease. Professor Gillian Bates and Dr Currently 1 in 12 is over 75 and The grant holders are based Mike Modo at King’s to conduct it is estimated that the number of in a range of universities across a parallel study in mouse models this will increase by 90 per cent the UK, including University of Huntington’s disease to cross over the next 25 years. College London, UCL Institute validate markers that are targeted The paper was written by of Ophthalmology, Edinburgh at early stages of disease. and Professor Jill Manthorpe and Dr University, University of can be used to assess efficacy in Martin Stevens. They say: ‘Our Manchester, King’s College preclinical trials. report explores the likely impact on London, Aberdeen University, The MRC call for proposals resource allocations, community Oxford University, Queen’s on models of disease is part of Members of the Social Care social cohesion and the social University Belfast, UCL Institute the coordinated approach to Workforce Research Unit care workforce in rural areas. We of Neurology and UCL Institute translational research agreed have produced a report for have also identifies the vital role of Child Health. between the MRC and the the Commission for Rural the voluntary sector will play and The institutions will look at a National Institute for Health Communities which will feed into the need for local government to wide range of diseases, including Research, developed with the the Government’s forthcoming work in partnership with outside diabetes, stroke, heart disease, Office for Strategic Coordination Care and Support Green Paper. agencies, including rural interest Huntington’s disease and age- of Health Research. The report, The Personalisation groups, on the personalisation of related macular degeneration. Enhanced models of disease of Adult Social Care in Rural Areas, services.’ Read the report at An international non- will help scientists to learn about is based on the views of a range of www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk interventional clinical trial to disease development and identify identify markers of disease in potential treatment targets, to people with pre-manifest and test whether new therapies are early stage Huntington’s disease, toxic in any way, and to test how £100,000 music prize funded by the Child Health and effective new treatments might Development Institute (CHDI) be as they are developed.

Calming influence of lavender Metaxia Kritsidima, an MSc Dental Public Health graduate, working with Dr Koula Asimakopoulou Lecturer in Health Psychology, at the Dental Institute, have discovered that lavender can have a calming influence on nervous The Department of Music and Gramaphone Co. and Columbia, dental patients. the Centre for Computing in the created a monopoly which, In the study, the dental anxiety Humanities (CCH) have been coupled with the effects of levels of 340 adult patients were awarded £99,999 by the Joint the Depression, led to a sharp measured while they waited for Information Systems Committee ‘rationalisation’ of the catalogue, a scheduled dental appointment. (JISC), matched by King’s, for the cutting out many of the local Some patients were exposed to a because they are ‘scared of project ‘Musicians of Britain and artists. As a result, many very fine lavender scent while the rest were the dentist’, which can have a Ireland, 1900-1950’. performers and recordings have not. Patients who were exposed significant impact on their dental The project, which runs for been forgotten and never reissued. to the scent reported feeling less health’, Metaxia Kritsidima 12 months from October, will The new project aims to anxious than the control group. explained. ‘The anxiety digitise around 2,000 recordings enable a revaluation of the earlier This significant effect was present experienced by these patients once of classical music from the King’s recordings by issuing them in regardless of the type of dental they get to the dentist is stressful Sound Archive, highlighting digital formats for free download. appointment (eg routine check up, not only for them, but also for the musicians who were stars in The recordings will be combined drilling). However, the exposure dental team.’ Britain and Ireland during the with the 3,000 being transferred to lavender had no effect on the She concludes: ‘Our findings early decades of commercial already at King’s by the Arts and patients’ anxiety regarding future suggest that lavender could recording. Humanities Research Council- dental procedures. certainly be used as an effective The formation of EMI in funded Centre for the History & ‘A substantial number of people ‘on-the-spot’ anxiety reduction in 1931, through the merger of Analysis of Recorded Music. avoid going to dental surgeries dentists’ waiting rooms.’

November 2008 | Comment | 15 Books

Three favourite... Speciality shops near the As recommended by Wendy Pank, School Administrator, Information, Publications & Research, Strand Campus

godiva Chocolates, russell street, Covent garden Pure indulgence! I rarely think about the Earl of Mercia and his lady when I wander past (or even go in) although the Godiva website tells me that the name was chosen to embody Concentration Camps on the Paranoia: The 21st Century Contemporary Debates in ‘timeless qualities of passion, Home Front: Japanese Fear Indian Foreign and Security style, sensuality and modern Americans in the House of Policy: India Negotiates its boldness’. And it is remarkably Jim Crow Rise in the International good chocolate! System Culpeper the herbalist, The market, Professor John Howard, Head of the Dr Daniel Freeman, Senior Lecturer Dr Harsh V Pant, Covent garden Department of American Studies in Clinical Psychology, Institute of Department of Defence Studies Many years ago I worked in a Psychiatry, and Dr Jason Freeman Culpeper shop, fi rst as Saturday girl, then as temporary manager, Without trial and without due Are we living in a uniquely As a consequence of India’s in the days when Culpeper sold process, the United States paranoid age? Catalysed by the attempts to carve out a foreign medicinal herbs, honeys from government locked up nearly all threat of terrorism, fears about policy that is in sync with India’s around the world, and a few of those citizens and longtime others have reached a new rising stature in the international soaps and colognes. Culpeper residents who were of Japanese intensity. The roll call of apparent system, Indian foreign and shops now sell aromatherapy oils descent during World War II. dangers seems to increase by the security policy is currently dealing and skin care products rather Ten concentration camps day: muggers, child abductors, with a range of issues that are than valerian and mistletoe by were set up across the country drug dealers, hoodied teenagers. controversial but central to the the ounce. But my main reason to confi ne over 120,000 inmates. Until recently, no one suspected future of Indian global strategy. for going there now, apart from The fi rst history of these camps, just how common paranoia was. These include India’s relations the nostagia element, is the Concentration Camps on the Home But new research suggests that with the US, the idea of a strategic catnip toys for cats – they are Front is an eye-opening account around a quarter of us have regular triangle involving Russia, China quite simply the best! of the inmates’ experiences and a paranoid thoughts, and probably and India, India’s nuclear doctrine searing examination of American lots more have them occasionally. and its impact on the emerging london review bookshop, bury place imperialism and racist hysteria. Yet, although paranoia is as civil-military relations. When I want to read something John Howard’s extensive common as depression or anxiety, On almost all these issues, there other than medieval studies, I research gives voice to those most of us know almost nothing is an intense debate in the Indian can aways fi nd something in whose stories have been forgotten about it. polity and the strategic community the London Review Bookshop, or ignored. He also exposes the What is paranoia? What causes and how this debate resolves itself an independent bookshop in government’s aggressive campaign it? Are some people more prone to will in many ways determine the Bloomsbury, just near the British to Americanize the inmates and paranoia than others? Are we more direction of Indian foreign policy Museum. While they do have a even convert them to Christianity. paranoid now than we used to for years to come. website, there’s nothing to beat Howard’s recreation of life in be? How should we deal with our This book attempts to examine the feel of the printed book and the camps is a provocative and paranoid thoughts? And how can these issues so as to deduce some faint aroma of ink in the shop. disturbing. Concentration Camps on we reduce the amount of paranoia major trends in the Indian foreign You can browse for hours – and the Home Front rewrites a notorious in our society? This lively and policy of today and argues that come away pounds lighter. chapter in American history – a accessible book answers these key while the ongoing debates are all shameful story that speaks to the questions, highlighting for the fi rst important, they are ultimately of Let us know your three favourite strength of human resilience in the time the central role of paranoia in little value as they fail to clarify the things related to a Campus. Email face of the most grievous injustices. our world today. singular issue facing India today. [email protected] Chicago University Press Stanford University Press Palgrave Macmillan

Comment is the College’s regular newsletter, edited by the Public Relations Department and designed by the Corporate Design Unit | Comment is printed on paper produced with 80 per cent recovered fi bre | Articles are welcomed from all members of the College, but please note that the Editor reserves the right to amend articles | Copy for the next issue can be sent to the Internal Communications Offi cer, Public Relations Department (ext 3075), James Clerk Maxwell Building, Waterloo Campus, or emailed to [email protected] by 11 November.

16 | Comment | November 2008