The free magazine for The University of Manchester
5 February 2007 Uni LifIse sue 6 Volume 4
Manchester still the top choice Features Letter from the President News
News Manchester still the top choice Lindow Man returns to Manchester page x The University of Manchester has retained its position as the UK's most popular university, according to figures released last month. The University received The 2006 figure is virtually Research 62,657 applications to its unchanged from the previous year WMIC gets undergraduate courses for when there were 62,806 applications, green light a fall of less than a quarter of one per entry in 2006, the cent. The three most popular courses page x Universities Central at Manchester are Medicine (MBChB), Admissions Service (UCAS) Law (LLB) and Pharmacy (MPharm). statistics reveal. It confirms Nationally, the final figures from Manchester as the country's UCAS for students starting courses in premier destination for 2006 show that the number of would-be students. applicants for full-time undergraduate courses fell by 3.0%. In Feature Tim Westlake, Manchester's Director 2006, there were 506,304 people of Student Recruitment said: "We are applying to universities and colleges Pinning it on very pleased that our figures are in the UK, 390,890 of which were the poison Is the devil in the detail? My own experience eligible for more than one panel) being returned to holding up, contrary to the national accepted. suggests a qualified, “yes.” The devil does detail well. the right panel. In determining how many page x trend, and we believe our generous Anthony McClaran, Chief Executive of He – and I accept, reluctantly, the case for the researchers to return, detailed decisions will have to package of scholarships and bursaries UCAS, commented: "The fall in the masculine pronoun here - is certainly an be made to balance the prospective financial is helping to maintain our status. accomplished all-rounder! But detail is his speciality. benefits of high return rates against the potentially number of applicants for entry in negative reputational consequences of a high-return "Students are aware of the September 2006 was considerably That is why “execution, execution, execution” is so strategy. Manchester’s research eminence is likely in University's great reputation and less than many predicted. The key important a mantra for good managers. In our the long term to rest on legitimate claims to research want to come here to take part in the question now is whether these particular case, with high ambitions, bold plans and Contents power rather than per capita comparisons of research Manchester experience. 2006 saw figures represent a temporary blip or aspirational goals driving a daunting Manchester outcomes. Everywhere, at all levels, expert decisions the introduction of tuition fees, but the start of a longer-term trend. Our 2015 Agenda , persistent, painstaking hard work that will have to be made, lest we do irrevocable damage this appears to have had no impact figures for the 15 January advisory leads step-by-step in the right direction is all that to the 2015 Agenda . on the number of applications from deadline for 2007 entry, which will be 3 News stands between us and diabolical failure. people wishing to study at published next month, will begin to Resource management and revenue generation will Each February we complete a “stock take” of Manchester." answer that question". 7 Research also loom large in 2007. Otherwise we will find it performance against plan, concentrating especially increasingly difficult in future to build the kind of on the previous year. At all levels of the University 11 Teaching and Learning internationally competitive resource base needed to we use this detailed review of the previous 12 fund the Agenda . Having worked hard to improve the 12 Profile months to refine our strategies and/or redefine processes and procedures governing international operational targets for the year ahead. Professor Karl Herholz student recruitment, for example, we must now 14 Reaching Out But under-pinning all such planning and re-planning, ensure that changes in curriculum, marketing, the persistent, painstaking hard work has to go on, recruiting and admissions processes are translated Thanks a million! 16 What’s On whether by researchers being as meticulous in by dint of further painstaking effort into improved conducting experiments as they are ingenious in outcomes. Having run up planned deficits to fund The University of Manchester has received a share young person in ten actually ends up as an 18 Feature designing them; or by academics taking the time to our pre-RAE expansion, we must now balance the of £1m of funding as part of a new Goldman Sachs undergraduate,” said Stephanie Bell-Rose, President enrich the undergraduate curricula with new University budget. Foundation and Sutton Trust initiative to help up to of The Goldman Sachs Foundation. “The Goldman 20 Museum Piece scholarly thinking, and to keep abreast of pedagogic 900 gifted students in areas of deprivation access Sachs Foundation is delighted to be working in Otherwise we will fail. The diabolical temptation, as opportunities presented by new learning leading Universities over the next three years. collaboration with the Sutton Trust and The always, will be to leave stones unturned here and technologies; or by administrators leaving nothing to University of Manchester to help talented students there along the way, whether in preparing for the TThe University of Manchester Academic chance in facilitating academic priorities, supporting realize their potential and acquire critical skills that RAE, managing costs or generating revenue to invest Enrichment Programme is working to attract high student recruitment, maintaining IT services or they will need to succeed in a global society.” in scholarly excellence. Execution, execution, potential students from non-professional ensuring that the University responds positively to execution – that is the only way to keep the devil out backgrounds or from families with little tradition of Dr Tim Westlake, Acting Director of the Student student needs. of the detail. higher education from state schools. The overall Recruitment, Admissions and Widening programme, which will cost about £1m, will begin The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) will loom Participation Division, said: “This programme will in July 2007 and attract 100 students a year to large in 2007. Judicious appointments may still be significantly extend the opportunities that the initiatives being led at Manchester, Nottingham The Academic Enrichment programme will select crucial, but from now on Manchester’s RAE University is able to offer to talented students from and Birmingham Universities. students at the end of their lower sixth year to go performance is likely to depend mostly on getting non-privileged backgrounds across our local to on a one-week Summer School, which has input the detailed operational dimension of the exercise The University of Manchester was chosen, region.” from each of Manchester’s faculties. They will have right. The final deadline may still seem a long way off alongside Birmingham and Nottingham, because Sir Peter Lampl, Chairman of the Sutton Trust, the two follow-up sessions during the next year. They but there is a huge amount of work to be done and of the region’s low progression rate to higher educational charity which he set up in 1997 to help will receive mentoring from current education (around 25% compared to a national all the intermediate deadlines are therefore critical. non-privileged children, said: “Over the life of the undergraduates and are given leadership training participation rate of 43%). Care will have to be taken to ensure that all those project we will be active in persuading the and personal development programmes. who are returned make the very best case, Professor Alan Gilbert “In the most deprived areas of all three cities, Government and other institutions to adopt the Further information is available from submitting the right publications and (for those President and Vice-Chancellor within a short distance of University libraries, Academic Enrichment Programme model more [email protected] or 2 lecture halls and student residences, only one widely across the education system.” [email protected] 3 News
In brief The world famous Lindow man is to Creating a region of excellence return to The Manchester Museum for Nobel Laureate visit a temporary exhibition next year Nobel Laureate of Medicine Professor Arvid which the public is being invited to Carlsson visited the Neuroscience and Psychiatry contribute to. Unit to meet staff and give an informal talk recently. The Museum is keen to reflect a range of different points of view in their interpretation of the body He also presented to a conference of the Royal including those of archaeologists, museum curators, College of Psychiatrists’ Special Interest Group in the city, special interest groups and members of the Psychopharmacology hosted by the Unit, public. outlining the status of and prospects for The Museum will not be telling one story but looking neurotransmitter targets in the treatment of at Lindow Man from many different perspectives. schizophrenia. They are very interested, for example, in gathering Professor Carlsson was made Nobel Laureate in evidence of how Lindow Man is important to the local community. 2000 for his discovery of the neurotransmitter dopamine in the late Fifties - now accepted as Lindow Man is the name given to the naturally- key to the experience of pleasure and reward preserved body of an Iron Age man, discovered in a and important in causing addictions, depression peat bog at Lindow Moss, Mobberley, near Wilmslow, and psychosis - and subsequent research into its Cheshire in 1984 by commercial peat cutters. The behavioural functions. In the Sixties he body has been freeze dried and is now on display in established that drugs for the treatment of the British Museum. psychotic illnesses work by blocking dopamine The Manchester Museum will borrow Lindow Man receptors. from April 2008 to March 2009. He has been on Professor Alistair Ulph (Left) and Sir Richard Leese (right) display at the Museum twice before in 1987 and 1991 He is currently working on a new approach to and is fondly remembered in Manchester. drugs for schizophrenia and hopes to collaborate Centre for Educational Leadership (CEL) and the The Centre for Local Governance has The Museum is keen to hear from members of the with the neuroscience group in Manchester. Centre for Public Policy and Management (CPPM) been launched at The University of public who have particular memories about Lindow at Manchester Business School (MBS) - are Manchester as part of a wider plan to Man, either because they live near the site where he involved in the partnership, along with SOLACE transform the North West into a region Enterprises Ltd and NWIN. was found or because they remember coming to see Turing Lecture of excellence. him on display at The Manchester Museum. Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City The Museum is in the early stages of developing A visionary computer scientist explored the In partnership with the North West Improvement Council and Chair of NWIN, said: “All local proposals for the redisplay of Lindow Man but the beauty and elegance of computer software at Network (NWIN), the Centre aims to create, authorities in the North West face major following storylines are among several which may the third Manchester Turing Lecture at the generate and transfer knowledge which will challenges. The new North West Improvement University last month. contribute directly to improvements in local Network (NWIN) has a key role to play in well be considered: Lindow Man’s discovery and authorities (LAs) and their role in community unearthing and spreading good practice across excavation and how and why did he end up in Grady Booch, IBM Fellow and Chief Scientist at leadership. It will also build the capacity of LAs to these authorities. London?; his significance as an example of an ancient IBM Rational Software, delivered a talk on 'The manage their own knowledge and learning. sacrifice, as an aspect of ancient religious belief and promise, the limits, and the beauty of software' “I believe that an academic partner is vital to the his importance to modern pagans; how museums The Centre for Local Governance, which is unique Lindow Man returns at the University’s School of Computer Science. process of improvement. In particular, I welcome treat human remains – Lindow Man and other The annual lecture was organised in association to the North West, will act as a focal point and the extra challenge, rigour and support that can be human remains such as Mary Rose, Egyptian knowledge hub and will focus on assessing, with the British Computer Society and the provided to North West local authorities by the mummies, WWI dead, cenotaphs etc; At the British sharing and building on good practice in local Institution of Engineering and Technology. new Centre for Local Governance at The University to Manchester Museum, in the North West or reburied?; and the government. of Manchester.” value of such a body for archaeological science. Booch is recognised internationally for his Three centres from the University – the Institute innovative work on software architecture, To take part in the project, please send any thoughts, for Political and Economic Governance (IPEG), the comments or memories that you may have about software engineering and modelling. A Lindow Man to the Museum: renowned industry visionary, he has devoted his [email protected] before 10 February 2007. life's work to improving the effectiveness of software developers worldwide. Partners Come Together Booch served as Chief Scientist of Rational Software Corporation from its foundation in 1981 Representatives from The University of Manchester and continues to serve in that capacity within and IBM put their heads together last month to IBM. He is one of the original authors of a further bolster a strong on-going relationship. programming language known as Unified Simon Pendlebury, IBM’s VP Business Partners and Modeling Language (UML), which is now used by Professor John Perkins, Vice-President and Dean of global giants like Microsoft, IBM and Oracle in the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences, New Year’s honours their products. hosted an event, which saw John Ibbotson of Professor John Perkins, Vice Ruth Durrell, in the Cathie Marsh Booch offered some conclusions on the last 60 IBM's Hursley Laboratory talk about company President and Dean of the Faculty of Centre for Census and Survey activity ripe for potential collaboration. years of software development and some Engineering and Physical Sciences Research (CCSRC) in the School of expectations and cautions for the next The Partners Think Tank session also looked at has been awarded a CBE in the New Social Sciences was awarded an MBE generation and also explored the idea not how to build on excellent foundations and Year’s Honours for services to for services to Social Science. Ruth is everything software developers want to build mutual trust. Science and Engineering. Administrator of the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) should be built, for moral, economic, social, and The relationship between the University and IBM His academic career spans periods at Research Methods Programme (RMP). political reasons. is continuing to develop and evolve following the Cambridge University and at the The RMP forms part of the ESRC’s signing of an official Memorandum of University of Sydney as well as strategy to improve the standards of Understanding (MoU) in 2005 which marked the Imperial College. He has industrial research methods across the UK creation of the IBM-Manchester Partners experience with Shell and with ICI, in social science community. Programme, an initiative designed to identify key the UK and in Australia. His research staff to partner with IBM for future opportunities interests cover a number of facets of for collaborative research. process systems. 4 Professor John Perkins CBE Ruth Durrell MBE 5 News Research In brief Study gives hope to accident victims Medical Milestones Doctors have voted anaesthesia the greatest medical breakthrough of the last 150 years – but their choice was at odds with that of the public, a British Medical Journal (BMJ) poll has found.
The online vote by medical professionals supported the view of Dr Stephanie Snow, a historian of medicine at The University of Manchester, who championed anaesthesia.
Readers of the journal had been invited to nominate what they considered to be the greatest ‘Medical Milestone’ of recent times. From an initial list of 70 nominations, judges whittled down the number to just 15, each with The Chinese Consul General, Mr Gong (left) opens the fair with Professor Rod Coombs, The University’s Vice-President for its own expert campaigner. Innovation and Economic Development (right) and Jean Krasocki, The Director of NCUK (centre).
By the time voting ended, five clear finalists were left – anaesthesia, antibiotics, the discovery of DNA, sanitation and, finally, vaccines, which was championed by the head of Manchester’s Centre Chinese recruiters for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine and Wellcome Unit, Professor Michael Worboys. impressed with
At the final, held in London, each champion was given a final chance to make their case in front Manchester’s students of an audience of medical professionals before Professor Giorgio Terenghi (left) and Adam Reid (right) the results of the online poll were announced. The University’s first-ever Chinese “The Fair provided me with the opportunity to hear the company’s presentation [and] chat face-to-face Professor Worboys made the case for Louis Graduate Recruitment Fair, held recently Researchers at The University of the skin die in large numbers in response to injury, With the assistance of a research grant from the at the Renold Building, was deemed a with the company’s human resources executive. I Pasteur’s development of the rabies vaccine in feel very fortunate to have secured a good job in Manchester hope to put an end to the but following treatment with a clinically safe drug, East Grinstead Medical Research Trust, Adam Reid, a 1885, while Dr Snow championed the cause of a massive success by students and graduate such a short time.” nerve cell death that affects around N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), this cell death is virtually Surgical Research Fellow, is aiming to measure the distant relative, John Snow, whose work with employers. eliminated. Sensory nerve cells from the muscle expression of key molecules that influence the Employers praised the enthusiasm and drive of 50,000 people each year who suffer however, die in considerably smaller numbers and survival and death of these two groups of sensory chloroform allowed for the safe and effective The Fair attracted widespread media interest, with attending students. Several held job interviews peripheral nerve injury following do not appear to respond to NAC. nerve cells, and their response to NAC. Using a new suspension of consciousness of patients Chinese media representatives including the during their visit, and have already made offers to workplace, road and domestic accidents. technique, the cells are stained with fluorescent undergoing surgery. Shanghai and Shandong Education TV stations, the students. Professor Terenghi said: “Despite considerable tracer which can then be identified under a Cheng Du Business Newspaper and Chongqing Professor Giorgio Terenghi and his team at the advances in microsurgical nerve repair, the outcome microscope and isolated using a laser But it was another Jon Snow – the Channel 4 Morning Newspaper flying in to attend. The BBC Horace Ho, Senior Vice-President of Human Blond McIndoe Laboratories have shown that for these predominantly young and working microdissection technique available at the newsman – and BMJ editor Fiona Godlee who World Service also attended. Resources at Johnson Electric, said: "As a global following nerve injury, a large proportion of involved patients is often very poor. This is an exciting University which allows individual cells of interest would announce the winner of the Medical company, we seek graduates who have the nerve cells undergo programmed death resulting in development because the differing response of Organised jointly by the University’s MLP, Careers & to be cut out and captured in a contact-free Milestones poll, designed to mark the medical leadership potential and ambition to be the best poor recovery of sensation. Now, the team has these two types of nerve cells after a similar nerve Employability Division and the Northern Consortium manner. magazine’s relaunch. that they can be. Our visit to the Manchester established differences between two distinct types injury provides a model to study the mechanism of (NCUK), the Fair hosted over 30 exhibitors from Chinese Graduate Fair was a success and we are of sensory nerve cells. Sensory nerve cells supplying nerve cell death and the action of NAC.” A show of hands amongst those listening to the China and the UK, seeking Chinese talent for pleased to have already made a number of graduate internships and permanent positions. finalists’ presentations had put Professor job offers to students." Worboys and vaccines in the driving seat but the The Division’s Director, Jane Ratchford, said: Maria Forrest, Human Resources Manager at KPMG online votes told a different story. “Employability is a key factor influencing overseas Hong Kong, said: “It was great to be part of the students’ choice of institution, and surveys indicate Chinese Graduate Fair at Manchester and meet such The medical profession had gone with Dr Snow’s that most are dissatisfied by their experience. enthusiastic students. I would definitely take part in ‘symbol of humanitarianism’ and voted for “This Fair is part of a package of new initiatives – another event like this one." Temporary work bad for men’s health anaesthesia, while the public had opted for including placements, mentoring and webcasts – An afternoon conference followed the Fair, at which antibiotics as their medicine of choice. being piloted this year, which aim to place this representatives from Chinese recruiters, UK A study of the health of workers found that men “Fixed-term contract workers can lose their jobs University at the cutting edge of careers provision for universities and the media discussed how in temporary jobs are more likely to suffer health more frequently as their contracts run out within But due to the proportional representation international students. We hope to create a world- international students could increase their problems than men in secure employment. short periods. This job loss often results in voting system, neither anaesthesia nor unemployment which usually causes a class offer that schools and faculties can use to employability whilst studying in the UK. Dr Vanessa Gash from The University of antibiotics took the glory, sufficient numbers in deterioration of general health indicators and support their ambitions for international student Manchester’s School of Social Sciences spent two both camps voted for sanitation. recruitment.” Chinese students from The University of Manchester health status. also participated in an informal discussion with years examining health statistics of Spanish and Almost 2,000 students attended the Fair, mostly media and employers regarding their experiences of German workers. “They are also disproportionately affected by job insecurity which is also thought to affect health from Manchester; although some travelled from UK study. The results, she says, are relevant to any country status. There may also be stresses linked to the Bristol and Kent. where there are temporary workers - including A closing dinner for the Chinese delegation was comparatively poor job quality of some fixed- Manchester graduate Wei Song, who gained an MSc the UK. hosted by The MLP, Careers & Employability Division, term jobs which tend to be relatively low paid.” in Human Resource Management and Industrial with guest speakers Mr Gong, Chinese Consul- She said: “Getting a job is good for your health, Relations last year, said: “I’ll never regret attending General, and Professor Bob Munn, the University’s but according to our research it’s less good for the Chinese Graduate Fair. I am now employed by Vice-President for Teaching and Learning. your health if you have a fixed-term contract - Watsons China, a famous multinational chain store. especially if you’re a man. 6 www.bmj.com 7 Research In the news Dentists could detect Bollywood expert keeps an eye on Big Brother osteoporosis, automatically Dr. Rajinder Dudrah, Senior Lecturer in Film and Media Studies from the University of Manchester and author of Bollywood: Sociology Goes to the Movies , was inundated with requests for media interviews when the row erupted surrounding allegations of racism towards the Bollywood star Shilpa Shetty on Channel 4’s ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ last month.
Dr. Dudrah, featured regularly on BBC Radio and WMIC gets green light A normal jaw cortex A thinned jaw cortex, suggesting osteoporosis made a live appearance on BBC's Asia Today television show that was broadcast to over 200 Researchers in the University’s School of X-rays are used widely in the NHS, so the team has taking routine x-rays, yet the success rate is as good countries worldwide. The Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre The trace levels of radioactivity are closely Dentistry have created a unique way of drawn on ‘active shape modeling’ technology as having a specialist consultant on hand.” (WMIC) has been awarded a license to monitored for the safety of the patient, and developed by the Division of Imaging Sciences to For Dr. Dudrah the debate has allowed him to identifying osteoporosis sufferers from The team hopes an x-ray equipment company will diminish after a short time. automatically detect jaw cortex widths of less than put much of his research into practice. produce its own radioactive tracers, now step in and integrate the software with its ordinary dental x-rays. 3mm - a key indicator of osteoporosis - during the enabling it to proceed with unique The license means the Centre can now develop, products. As colleague Hugh continued: “As well as process and alert the dentist. research into cancer, neurological and manufacture and use more complex radiotracers, Professor Keith Horner and Dr Hugh Devlin co- being virtually no extra work for the dentist, the which will allow researchers to measure a wide psychiatric treatments. ordinated a three year, EU-funded collaboration to Keith explained: “We tested 652 women for diagnosis does not depend on patients being aware range of complex molecular events such as cancer develop the largely automated approach to osteoporosis using the current ‘gold standard’ and that they are at risk of the disease - yet around two The license - one of only a handful issued in the UK tumour growth, cell death, psychoses and chronic detecting the disease, which affects almost 22% in highly expensive DXA test, which identified 140 in five sufferers undertaking routine dental x-rays - allows the Centre to manufacture PET (Positron pain, as well as the effect of drugs designed to treat their sixties and 38.5% in their seventies. sufferers. Our automated X-ray test immediately could be identified if the approach were adopted Emission Tomography) tracers in its high-tech these conditions. Despite pressure from the EU to improve the flagged-up over half of these, who may not within the NHS.” sterile facilities and administer them to human Director Professor Karl Herholz said: “The award of identification of people at risk, wide-scale screening otherwise have been tested. In a real-life situation participants in clinical trials. this license is a key strategic milestone for the for the disease is not currently viable. The team they would immediately be referred for conclusive DXA testing. PET scanning produces high-resolution images of Centre, as we can now progress with the molecular has therefore developed a software-based internal organs and biological processes by injecting imaging projects it is uniquely equipped for. This approach to detecting osteoporosis during routine “This cheap, simple and largely-automated trace amounts of a radioactive compound, or approach is relatively under-explored, and we are dental x-rays, by automatically measuring the approach could be carried out by every dentist ‘radiotracer’, into the part of the body to be very excited about its potential to inspire thickness of part of the patient’s lower jaw. scanned. Emissions from this tracer are then breakthroughs and improve patient treatments.” recorded by detectors within the scanner, and the See a Profile of Professor Herholz on pages 12-13 resulting data processed by sophisticated software to create the images. Discovering the pharmacy of the pharaohs
Scientists at The University of Manchester have “By comparing the prescriptions in the medical Cartilage discovery teamed up with colleagues in Egypt in a bid to papyri to the medicinal plant use of the Dr. Rajinder Dudrah discover what medicines were used by the indigenous Bedouin people we hope to offers arthritis hope ancient Egyptians. determine the origins of Pharaonic medicine.” "I was asked about the format of the The KNH Centre for Biomedical Egyptology in The Medicinal Plant Conservation Project, collagen but their precise pain as the two ends of the programme, how it works, and why reality shows Scientists have revealed the Faculty of Life Sciences and the Egyptian headed by Professor Mohamed Al-Demerdash, rely on conflict among the contestants and why the intricate structure of structure has remained a mystery bones rub against each other.” for more than 40 years, so Medicinal Plant Conservation Project in St is helping to preserve the biodiversity of the moral judgements are being made by the cartilage in what they hindering any progress towards The team’s findings – published Katherine’s, Sinai (pictured), have formed a region through close cooperation with the viewers in order to vote people off. “The hope will provide clues to the development of potential in the journal Proceedings of the partnership to research Egyptian pharmacy in local Bedouin. question of whether the contestants were therapies. National Academy of Sciences – the times of the pharaohs. how the crippling joint also explain why mutations in Fellow researcher Dr Jenefer Cockitt added: playing up to the camera or revealing aspects of disease osteoarthritis Now, the team has used cartilage collagen genes cause The ‘Pharmacy in Ancient Egypt’ collaboration, “Many of the plants are endemic to the Sinai their real selves was also another one, and might one day be treated. sophisticated electron osteoarthritis. which is funded by a grant from the and extremely valuable to the Bedouin, through the lens of Drama and Screen Studies I microscope techniques to “This research, while just a Leverhulme Trust, will compare modern plant whether as fodder, cash crops, building have been suggesting ways in which we need to The disease, which affects more uncover the molecular structure beginning, at least establishes species common to the Sinai region with the materials or as pharmaceuticals. be mindful of the performance of the than five million people in the of the thinner of the two types of UK, is caused by the wear and some basic scientific facts that remains of ancient plants found in tombs. participants and also of the ways in which the these collagen fibres or `fibrils’. “St Katherine’s will be able to supply us with tear of the smooth, hard cartilage could prove useful in future Researcher Ryan Metcalf said: “We know that seeds and information that covers the entire programme is cashing in on the controversy, tissue that covers the ends of Professor Karl Kadler of the studies on osteoarthritis and thereby rescuing its dwindling audience figures.” bones allowing them to glide Faculty of Life Sciences, who led related conditions.” the ancient Egyptians had extensive trade Sinai peninsula, which will be an invaluable over one another at the joint. the research, said: “Osteoarthritis routes and it is entirely possible that both resource for our work.” occurs when these fibrils are medicinal plants and the knowledge to use Scientists have long known that disrupted or lost. Eventually, the them effectively were traded between regions cartilage gets its strength from cartilage breaks down altogether and countries. interlocking millimetre-long and sufferers experience severe
8 www.ls.manchester.ac.uk/egyptology 9 Research Teaching and Learning Education reform: a stark lesson
One the UK's most comprehensive • The policy of choice forces the least popular investigations into fairness in schools to fill their spare capacity with education has uncovered disturbing excluded children and sometimes asylum seekers, placing these schools under extra failures in the way the system treats pressures. children from poorer backgrounds. Professor Ainscow said:"In 1997, New Labour The team from The University of Manchester's had the confidence to set about a programme Centre for Equity in Education, led by of radical reform and centrally-driven Professors Mel Ainscow and Alan Dyson, initiatives to deliver high standards and equity. examined how national strategies for Our contention is that, as far as equity is education reform impact on children and concerned, the programme has failed to young people from disadvantaged deliver. Our study differs from most research in backgrounds. that it drills down into specific localities and Among the findings of their report are: exposes what is really happening on the Dragons’ Den comes to Manchester! ground.” • Inequalities of funding can cause poor The report recommends a series of reforms Student interns from the Centre for Student Sabbatical Officer at the Centre, led the up with a unique solution to their assigned problem, white children struggling with literacy to session along with student interns Jamie Wood, taking into account both perspectives, and then based on good practice discovered in the areas Excellence in Enquiry-Based Learning receive poorer support than children with Louise Goldring, Mary Sattenstall and Kate Maull presented their solution to the ‘Dragons’ Den’ (CEEBL studied by the team. These broadly promote: (CEEBL) recently designed and led a English as a second language. (pictured). He said:“We wanted to do something student interns) however they preferred. Marks were the reorientation of targets in line with the Dragon’s Den-style workshop at a really different that would first grab their attention, awarded for the most creative solutions! • It is increasingly difficult for poorer families values of equity; collaboration and networking; national conference in Manchester. and secondly illustrate the real-world problems that to secure places in high achieving schools. The final score was a tie between two teams who area governance and area-based reform. both students and lecturers face with PDP. The conference was organized by the Centre for both came up with some very interesting solutions, Recording Achievement (CRA) a national network “Rather than making the session purely student- such as a student PDP ‘buddy’ system. organisation and a registered educational charity focussed, the interns asked all of the delegates to Greg added: “As a result of this session, we have which aims to promote the awareness of recording work in several teams, some taking on the role of been approached by other organisations that are achievement and action planning processes as an the student and others working from the keen to involve us in their future events. This is important element in improving learning and perspective of the lecturer. They then, without excellent news for the Centre and the University, and progression. warning, asked the teams to link-up in order to provides us with further opportunities to arrive at a compromise.” Invited to deliver a student-led session at the event, disseminate our ‘partners in learning’ approach to a Problem drug use declining the CEEBL intern team chose to organise a ‘Dragons’ Each task related to some challenging aspect of PDP, much wider audience”. Den of Personal Development Planning’. Greg Tinker, such as how to motivate students. Each team came Research led by the University’s Prevalence estimates for Wigan National Drug Evidence Centre in progressively declined with age, indicating the School of Medicine has found a younger PDU population than the other areas and that young people must have that drug misuse seems to have recently been recruited at a faster rate than passed its peak in some previous previously. problem areas. By contrast, prevalence estimates for the Postgrad Tim Millar investigated the reality of the City of Manchester indicated an older PDU situation in perceived drug trouble-spots by population, prompting the team to think estimating trends in the number of people incidence might be in decline. In Stockport, presentations starting to use heroin. These indicated the prevalence estimates showed less geographical differences and suggested difference between age-groups, suggesting Professor Bob Munn, Vice President for incidence had remained stable. that problem drug use (PDU) is declining in Teaching and Learning, made awards of some areas considered hot spots in the Tim said: “Our theory that the areas would 1980s. the Postgraduate Certificate in Learning exhibit different patterns of recent and Teaching in Higher Education to incidence trends - with some places having The study looked at almost 15,000 local around 20 members of staff at the heroin users using a new approach which ‘passed their peak’ whilst rates of use takes account of the time-lag between continue to rise in others - was borne out University, as well as to staff from a people starting to use heroin and seeking using this new approach, which has proven number of other institutions. help. It focused on the City of Manchester, capable of providing valuable indications The awards were made during a reception in the Stockport and Wigan, which showed the which may help us to forecast future University’s Christie Bistro with Professor Munn clearest patterns in the ‘prevalence’ developments. Of course, Manchester and commending the award recipients for their estimates (the number of cases in a other 1980s hot spots continue to commitment to learning and teaching. Participants population at a given time) produced using experience high levels of problem drug use, on the programme in previous years were also invited the traditional approach. but it appears that the situation could have stopped getting worse and may be starting to the reception, with those involved including three to get better.” recipients of a National Teaching Fellowship.
Tim Millar 10 May Azzawi receives her certificate from Professor Bob Munn 11 Feature CV
Name Professor Karl Herholz Education 1989 Habilitation and Venia legendi in Neurology, University of Cologne, Germany 1988 Specialist board examination in Neurology, Medical council, Dusseldorf, Germany 1981 Doctor of Medicine (Dr. med.), University of Erlangen 1980 Medical Exam and License, University of Erlangen, Germany Present Appointment From April 2006 Director of the Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre, The University of Manchester From April 2005 Professor of Clinical Neuroscience, Honorary Consultant in Neurology, Hope Hospital, Salford Brief Career History 1994- 2005 Professor of Neurology, University of Cologne, Germany 1990 – 2005 Oberartz in Neurology, University Hospital, Cologne 1986 – 1994 Clinical Fellow, University of Cologne 1985 – 1986 Herholz’s horizons Scientific Fellow, National Institute of Health, U.S.A. When he was a young hospital doctor, co-edited with Daniela Perani from Milan and Chris impetus to understand nature, what’s going on,” he mapping the brain and wrote a lot of software for The timing of his move to Manchester could not 1982 – 2005 image analysis. He was very involved in developing have been better – as the WMIC was opening up, Scientific Fellow, Karl Herholz had the good fortune to hear Morris from Newcastle, was published earlier this says. “I probably read too many books, particularly by year, and NeuroPET: PET in Neuroscience and Clinical the physicist-philosopher Carl-Friedrich von the techniques and particularly interested in Dieter-Heiss retired from the Cologne Institute and Max Planck Institute, a lecture that changed his life – and Neurology appeared in 2004. The latter, which Weizsacker.” He went to the nearby University of cerebrovascular disease – how blood flow in the Max Planck Society withdrew the funding for clinical Cologne brings together the collected experience of more Erlangen to study Physics. brain is being controlled. research. “The opportunity to come here was both inspired him to start out on what was to 1980 – 1985 than 20 years in Cologne prior to his move here, was exciting and attractive,” he says. be a distinguished career in Gradually, however, he realised that “the most He got his Professorship in Neurology and eventually House Officer, co-authored with Wolf-Dieter Heiss, his chief in important and relevant area was human function.” became Head of the Clinical Science Group at the He still holds a Visiting Professorship in Cologne, Municipal Hospitals, neuroscience. Now, 25 years later, his Cologne, and Peter Herscovitch from Washington. enthusiasm is undimmed. “The brain is “It took me some time to get into the field - it Institute’s PET service. where his wife, Ingrid, whom he met when a Furth and Cologne, But had it not been for that lecture at a conference seemed too complicated,” he says. So, after a couple student, has her private psychoanalysis practice. “She Germany Stroke was the main topic of the Cologne Institute. the most interesting object in the entire in Berne in 1981, he might never have had the of years, he started Medicine, graduating six years brought me into medicine in the first place,” he says. In tackling the incidence of stroke, a service to courage to start. The lecturer was Michael Phelps later, in 1980, aged 28, and then routinely going on “It was looking over her shoulder that convinced universe,” he says. patients was built up until 15% of those affected from UCLA, one of the people who started PET, to his hospital job. me.” They have three daughters, who seem to be As Professor of Neuroscience and Director of the with stroke were treated in hospital within three around the same time as our own Professor Terry following in their footsteps: Sibylle, 23, is a Wolfson Molecular Imaging Centre (WMIC), he After the Phelps experience, he went back to the hours after symptom onset – and the first three Jones, who with Professor Pat Price played major Psychology graduate now doing research, Susanne, oversees a clinical, science-led, experimental facility hospital, but in 1982 came his big break. He got an hours after a stroke are crucial for saving brain roles in the conception, design and establishment of 21, is studying medicine, and 16-year-old Regina is on the Christie Hospital site. The Centre is destined appointment as a Research Fellow at the Max function. The usual figure without such special the WMIC, and are now his colleagues here. about to continue her education at St Bede’s here. to become a world leader in the use of Positron Planck Institute for Neurological Research in efforts is about 2%. Emission Tomography (PET)-based molecular “Phelps showed us images of brain function we had Cologne, under the direction of Wolf-Dieter Heiss. Karl Herholz is a caring, kindly and courteous man, Karl’s clear motivation throughout, alongside all the imaging to advance the treatment of human never seen before – and it was truly inspiring,” says That really opened things up for him – and he focused on his family, his work and his patients. His research and increasingly sophisticated technology, cancers and brain disorders. Karl, who already had the interest waiting to be stayed until 2005 and the move to Manchester. position as chief of the WMIC as it develops, with his is a desire to improve what can be done to help ignited. The subject of his doctoral thesis, which he background and international recognition, could not The understanding, prevention and treatment of “The Institute had one of the few PET scanners in patients. “That has to be the driving force,” he says. was working on whilst doing his hospital house job be more fitting- another “perfect match”. dementias and stroke are his specialist area, aligned Germany and I received proper neurological training His interest in dementia, especially Alzheimer’s, and in general medicine, was nuclear medicine. with his technological skills, being a physicist as well – the job was a perfect match for me,” he says. It brain tumours leads him to seek ways of identifying as a medic. His two most recent books clearly reflect Even as a schoolboy in Nurnberg he was keen on brought together his research, hospital work, clinical people in the early stages, so as to protect and that. The Dementias: Early Diagnosis and Evaluation , trying to understand how things work. “I had an and technological interests. He started to focus on preserve cognitive function. 12 13 Reaching Out Game on! Increasing access to free dental care The School of Computer Science recently hosted an event to raise young people’s awareness of Computer Science and motivate them to take an interest in the subject. More than 200 Year 11 and 12 secondary school students attended a fascinating lecture by the Chief Technical Officer of EA Games NW Development Studio on “The Science Behind Computer Games”, followed by a games ladder competition using a large array of games consoles supplied by EA. The lucky winners received free EA games of their choice. All the schools involved were impressed by the professional way in which the event was run and, more importantly, enjoyed the way it combined a serious message with a lot of fun.
L-R: Anthony Blinkhorn, Barry Cockcroft (Chief Dental Officer for England), Dr Andrea Elkind (Administrative Director of Dental Education in Primary Care) and Dr Cheryl Rivkin (Clinical Lead, Manchester PCT Dental Service) with one of the dental students (seated).
Students from the School of Dentistry at practitioners to gain experience of paediatric provision by providing additional care to The University of Manchester are helping dentistry, orthodontics and restorative dental complement existing services. treatment. transform the provision of dental care in Professor Anthony Blinkhorn OBE, Outreach Director less well-off areas of South Manchester. Housed within the £4.6 million multi-functional and one of the original team which developed the Forum Health centre in Wythenshawe, the centre scheme, said: "Outreach teaching schemes play an A collaborative project between the University and will offer seven dental surgeries, an X-ray room and important role in providing convenient and Marvellous maths Manchester Primary Care Trust is providing state-of- its own reception and waiting area. accessible NHS dental services to the community. the-art surgeries, so that dental students can offer They also give students valuable experience of Its service will cater specifically for vulnerable care to people living in Woodhouse Park in working within the local area, which often patients, particularly those with challenging The University is holding a series Wythenshawe. encourages them to choose to practice locally once medical conditions, learning difficulties, mental and they have qualified. of special mathematics days for The students will work alongside qualified dentists physical disabilities, special dental conditions, social school pupils, aimed at firing up to provide a comprehensive range of treatments and behavioural problems and dental phobias. "Like many places, there is a huge demand for free of charge to residents who are not under the dental provision in South Manchester. We are their enthusiasm for the subject Outreach schemes were first developed by the care of an NHS dentist, on an appointment basis. delighted that our students can help widen access University in the 1970s, and continue to make a and helping them achieve the by providing much-needed care and treatment to The outreach scheme will also help educate the valuable contribution to community dental best possible grades . budding dentists, who will work alongside qualified the local community." Around 180 pupils from 12 schools across Greater Manchester are attending a series of one-day sessions, in which they get the chance to take part in fun-filled maths activities. During the sessions, pupils are split up from their Voting for genetics for health usual peers and challenged to solve a varied array of puzzles. A special maths trail involves an Nowgen, the Centre for around questions such as ‘Will disorder which leads to element of physical activity. Genetics in Healthcare drug companies only produce learning disability and a range on Grafton Street, has drugs for the ‘good responders’ of other physical effects. The Maths Squad sessions have been developed in the future?’ and ‘Should a Researchers at The University by Barbara Grundy and her colleagues, working made great strides in patient be refused a drug on of Manchester (Dr Jill Clayton- with Dr Farzana Aslam as the project co-ordinator, achieving its mission of the basis of a Smith and Dr May Tassabehji) from the Faculty of Engineering and Physical engaging the public and pharmacogenetic test?’ The are working with colleagues Sciences Widening Participation team. patients in developing audience were then asked to from Liverpool, as well as Barbara said: “There has been great demand for the genetics agenda register their opinions using members of the Ohdo places and the sessions have been a big success. an electronic voting system, Syndrome Family Network to We want to help pupils achieve the best possible The latest Maths Squad session took place in through three high and were able to see how their try and pinpoint the cause of “As well as introducing the pupils to The grades in their SATS and GCSE examinations, and December, with further ones planned for 2007. profile events own opinion compared to the this puzzling condition. University of Manchester, we are seeking to perhaps even encourage them to study the other votes cast. The project is being funded by Aimhigher Greater School students from Parrs motivate them and create enthusiasm about subject at A-Level and beyond. Anyone in the University Manchester, with Manchester Metropolitan Wood Sixth Form and Xaverian studying mathematics. The sessions also help Nowgen have also hosted the wanting to join in or propose “Our student undergraduate and postgraduate University also providing support. College Manchester joined them develop teamwork skills. very first meeting for families ideas for future events is ambassadors also find this work stimulating and University staff and members who have a child with Ohdo welcome to contact the team “It is widely acknowledged that the UK is rewarding, and they all recognise the wide range of the public in two debates: syndrome. Families came from or Dr Helen Middleton-Price experiencing a shortage of maths graduates. of really important skills they are able to develop.” ‘Designer Medicine’ and as far as North America and and Prof Dian Donnai the ‘Barcoded at Birth’. Both no-one there had ever met Director and Executive Director evenings saw lively discussion another child with this rare of the Nowgen project. 14 The public vote 15 What’s On
The Whitworth Chaplaincies Contact Theatre Music and Drama The Manchester Gig Guide Art Gallery St Peter’s House Chaplaincy Tues 6 – Sat 10 Feb at Manchester Museum Manchester Academy SUNDAY WORSHIP Pilot Theatre partnership with Thurs 8 Feb, 1.10pm MANCHESTER ACADEMY 1, 2 & 3 DISPLAYS/COLLECTIONS 11am Holy Communion York Theatre Royal presents: SPECIAL EXHIBITIONS The Coupland Consort 12.15am Bible Study Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads Mon 5 Feb Fri 16 Feb Indigo: A Blue to Dye For Wild Britain extended until 27 Aug 2007 The Decemberists + Forward Russia! + 12.45 Lunch (1st Sunday) By Roy Williams. Directed by Marcus Romer. Thurs 15 Feb , 1.10pm Wildlife photography exhibition by Ben Hall. from 20 Jan to 15 April 2007 Lavender Diamond Kubichek + Men Women 6.30pm Evening Worship (term-time only) The play tells of friendship, bullying, belonging Quatuor Danel Academy Unsigned 144 & Children Alchemy Artists from 24 Feb to 29 April The Object of Encounter: and isolation – all through the events of one Bye Bye Johnny + The Hell is for Heroes FOYER 10am - 5pm Thurs 15 Feb, 1.10pm Exhibition of past work by the artists selected for Vagabonds + The Vman Unsigned Resonance and Wonder to March 2007 Saturday afternoon in the pub. Alchemy Fellowships. An area where students and staff can relax and Quatuor Danel with David Fanning Sound on the Station + Fat Sat 17 Feb Comfort Featuring Walls: celebrating three centuries meet friends. A tea/coffee machine is available. Fri 16 and Sat 17 Feb Hop, Stock & Bent to 18 Feb The Holloways Reminiscence of the Ghetto & Thurs 15 Feb, 2.15pm A photo-biography of five plants Tues 6 Feb Matt Willis of wallpaper decoration to 30 Sept 2007 Precinct Centre 0161 275 2894 Other Things That Raized Me Quatuor Danel Seminar Academy Unsigned 145 Sun 18 Feb The Textile Gallery email [email protected] EVENTS The Pynk Labels + The The Long Blonds Written and performed by Angela Kariotis. Fri 16 Feb, 7.30pm Some of the highlights for January include: Geoff’s The new displays are arranged thematically Patrick Wolf RC Chaplaincy , Avila House Directed by Paul Bonin-Rodriguez. Quatuor Danel with Peter Dixon Mon 12 to Fri 16 Feb – 11am-4pm Wed 7 Feb Mon 19 Feb around subjects such as Rites of Passage, Mass Times (term-time only) Plan B + Example For information on other events please Wild about Wildlife FREE All ages Just Jack Inspiration for Design and Recycling, with each SUNDAY: 7pm (in the Holy Name Church) next Thurs 22 Feb, 1.10pm Senses Fail + The Sleeping visit our website. The Suicide Pact Tour 07 highlighting the wide geographical and door to Chaplaincy Eleanor Meynell Mon 12 Feb 1.30pm-3pm Thurs 8 Feb With Sonic Boom Six + historical range of the collection. Mon, Wed, Fri: 6pm in the Chaplaincy Chapel Oxford Road, Manchester Wildlife Adventure (Book) FREE 5+ Karima Rancis King Blues + Failsafe + Fri 23 Feb, 12pm & 3pm +44 Mouthwash Tues, Thurs: 12.15 pm in the Chaplaincy Chapel Tickets/Info: 0161 274 0600 Tue 13 & Thurs 15 Feb 1pm-3pm TOURS AND EVENTS KAIROS: Sound of Art/Art of Sound Fri 9 Feb Tues 20 Feb Every Saturday at 2pm there is either an www.contact-theatre.org The Gallery Bench (Book) FREE 5+ Oxford Road (opposite the Students’ Union) Fri 23 Feb, 7.30pm Gym Heroes Richmond Fontaine Exhibition Tour or an Eye-Opener Tour. Wed 14 Feb 1pm-4pm Vman Events Unsigned: 0161 273 1456 The University of Manchester Baroque Orchestra Wed 21 Feb Happy Hedgehog Day! FREE All ages Cardinal Saviour Indigo Girls Opening hours www.rc-chaplaincy-um.org.uk with Ad Solem + Carjack Mallone + Red Fri 16 Feb 1.30-3.30pm Thu 22 Mon to Sat 10am - 5pm, Sun 2pm - 5 pm Brilliant Bird Boxes! (Book) FREE 8+ Brick The Jewish Student Centre and Synagogue Sat 24 Feb, 12pm & 3pm Guillemots Seth Lakeman FREE Admission Hillel House, Greenheys Lane. Jodrell Bank Get up close and draw Museum objects. FREE All Reuben KAIROS: Sound of Art/Art of Sound ages Sat 10 Feb Fri 23 Feb Collection Exhibitions Archive Now Online 0161 226 1139 The facilities at Jodrell Bank are going through a Sat 17 & Sun 18 Feb The Haunted Sat 24 Feb, 7.30pm Little Man Tate The Whitworth’s online ‘Collections Catalogue’ [email protected] period of redevelopment. The Visitors Centre Victorian Gentleman FREE Clinic The University of Manchester Symphony Orchestra The Get Happy Tour The Black Keys now allows you to browse and search selected www.rabbiyy.com currently has a café, an exhibition space and a Collect an “I’ve spied Mr Pye” sticker from Graeme Pye Esquire, somewhere in the Museum today. Bowling for Soup + Son of Sat 24 Feb exhibitions held at the Gallery over the past 10 3D theatre open, and visitors can still explore the Thurs 1 March, 2.15pm Dork + Wheatus + Army of Bleeding Through years. Follow the link from homepage at: various trails and the natural habitats of the Quatuor Danel Fri 23 Feb 11am-12noon Freshman Cherry Ghost & www.whitworth.manchester.ac.uk Arboretum's 35 acres with its 2000 species of The Magic Carpet Sun 11 Feb Polytechnic trees and shrubs and National Collections. Thurs 1 March, 1.10pm Dino-themed session for the under 5’s £1 Lior Sun 25 Feb Oxford Road, International Society Danny Driver Sat 17 Feb11am-4pm Mon 12 Feb The Gossip 0161 275 7450 Jodrell Bank Observatory Big Saturday Amy Whitehouse Sat 10 Feb The Bouncing Souls + The [email protected] Macclesfield, Cheshire 01477 571339 Fri 2 March, 7.30pm Dinosaur Day Draft Tue 27 Feb Oxford with Guided Tour www.jb.manchester.ac.uk Quatuor Danel Prebooked Family Events (0161 275 2648) Tues 13 Feb Mika + Kitty + Lewis Capdown The Deadbeats Sun 11 Feb Fri 2 March, 7.30pm Drop-in Family Events (£1 per child, unless Yorkshire Dales visiting White Scar Cave and Wed 14 Feb Wed 28 Feb Quatuor Danel otherwise stated. For group bookings please call Brakes Skipton Castle 0161 275 2648. Children must be accompanied by Academy Unsigned 146 Courses for the Public For further information contact: an adult). The difference + the Thu 1 March Moneyshot + Frontrunner Alexisonfire Sat 17 Feb John Rylands The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama The Centre for Continuing Education (CCE) runs a Opening hours +Stephen Evans Richard Muller York and the Jorvik Viking Festival ’ Bridgeford Street large and varied programme of courses designed University Library Open: Tues-Sat 10 - 5pm Thu 15 Feb Fri 2 March Manchester M13 9PL And you will Know us Whiskeycats for adults studying part-time whether for Sun 18 Feb Sun-Mon (and Bank Holidays) 11- 4 pm Fountain’s Abbey and Harrogate 0161-275 8951/8950 By The Trail of Dead The Rapture pleasure or personal/professional development. (Deansgate) FREE Admission Half Man Half Biscuit + Most are open to beginners and no prior [email protected] Sat 3 March Sat 24 Feb The John Rylands Library, Deansgate is coming to The Calvin Party The Answer + Airborne knowledge is assumed unless stated. www.manchester.ac.uk/martinharriscentre Oxford Road, Manchester Regina Spektor Stratford-upon-Avon the end of a three year, £16.5 million 0161 275 2634 Eagles of Death Metal Concessions are available to staff and graduates Matt Berry aka Dixon transformation. The Library is due to re-open to www.manchester.ac.uk/museum Bainbridge from The Sun 4 March of The University of Manchester. Sat 3 March the public in spring 2007. The temporary Special Mighty Boosh, Garth Saxon Brochures/application forms available. Lake District Visiting Windermere Collections Reading Room which has been Mereghi’s Darkplace & Snuff Box with band CCE, 1st Floor, Humanities Devas Street Sun 4 March operating from the Main Library is now closed to Tabley House Jonas 3 0161 275 3275 Tatton Park readers. Special Collections reader services will Small conference and meeting rooms available www.manchester.ac.uk/continuingeducation re-open on Tuesday 10 April 2007 in the John Burlington Society Tickets from: Opening hours year-round. Licensed for weddings and baby- Rylands Library, Deansgate. During the closure The Society of Mature Students and Students' Union, Oxford Road Mon-Fri 9.30am – 7.00pm (during term time) naming ceremonies. period we shall do our best to meet the needs of Postgraduates in the Universities of Greater Piccadilly Box Office @ easy Internet Cafe (c/c) Mon-Fri 9.30am – 5pm (during vacation) readers who require urgent access to specific Tabley House Manchester. 0871 2200260 items and would appreciate advance notice of Knutsford, Cheshire, WA16 0HB 01565 750151 Royal Court (Liverpool) 0151 709 4321 (c/c) 327 Oxford Road (next to Krobar) Burlington Rooms, Schunck Building, 0161 275 4959 such requests whenever possible. If you have any [email protected] Burlington Street (next to JRUL) Students’ Union [email protected] queries about Special Collections reader services, www.tableyhouse.co.uk 0161 275 2392 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PL www.internationalsociety.org.uk please telephone 0161 275 3764 or visit our website at www.manchester.ac.uk/library www.burlington.man.ac.uk 0161 275 2930 www.manchesteracademy.net 16 17 Feature Pinning it on the poison
The murderous antics of one of the 19th century’s most infamous killers are the subject of a new book entitled ‘Poison, detection, and the Victorian imagination’ by Dr Ian Burney of the Centre for the History of Science, Technology and Medicine at The University of Manchester.
Dr William Palmer’s arrest, trial, sixth child to his housemaid, but conviction and subsequent this too died just months after execution, attracted massive being born. media attention, not least because Still heavily in debt, Palmer next of Victorian England’s growing fear insured his brother, Walter, but of a new form of homicide – when he too was found dead not criminal poisoning ‘by science’. long afterwards the insurance To counter this threat, Victorian company refused to pay out. society looked to the emergent However, it was not until the death field of toxicology yet poison of one of his horse-racing friends, detection in practice was no easy John Cook, that the net finally matter and its findings were closed in on Palmer. Knowing that subjected to searching questions Cook had won a large amount of by an often sceptical, public. At no money, Palmer invited him for time did these new scientific dinner to celebrate. It would be the methods come under closer last meal he would ever eat. scrutiny than during the trial of William Palmer. Palmer was found guilty of Cook’s murder but the conviction was Palmer was a doctor who first based entirely on circumstantial came to notoriety while working at evidence, primarily the similarity Stafford infirmary when he was between Cook’s death and that of accused of poisoning an known strychnine victims, even acquaintance - although nothing though no trace of the poison had was ever proven. been found in Cook’s body. Palmer married in 1847 and he and Palmer was hanged at Stafford his wife had a child the following prison in 1856, and took his plea of year. But all four of their innocence to the grave, leaving subsequent children would die in doubts over poison detection for infancy. Several other people others to ponder long after he had connected to Palmer also died in gone. his presence, including his step- mother and at least two other ‘Poison, detection and the Victorian associates, both of whom he owed imagination’ is available from money. Manchester University Press, Full colour and black and white priced £35. In 1854, after Palmer had taken out a life insurance policy on her, Ann digital printing and copying also died, reportedly of cholera. Nine months later, Palmer had a Hardback and Softback Binding
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Website Design, Hosting and Name Registration The University of Manchester approved Travel Agent Barnes Wallis Building, Competitive hosting prices including a full range of the latest web server technology. PHP, mySQL, PERL, Tel 0161 274 3060 The University of Manchester, Frontpage all included with so much more! Full website We offer a complete business Sackville St, Manchester name registration available at highly affordable prices. and leisure travel service. Full website design service for small and medium sized See our University Travel guide at tel (0161) 306 3269 business, or just for individuals that want to add spice www.deltatravel.co.uk/man_uni.html to any web presentation! email [email protected] Delta Travel, University Precinct, Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9RN www.u-print.com 18 www.2dfx.co.uk Email [email protected] tel 0161 274 3060; fax 0161 274 3555; email [email protected] 19 Museum Piece Ewer Lovely! Archaeologists at The Manchester Mike Smith of Sale brought the There has been some discussion Museum have identified an vessel to The Manchester Museum about the origins of such vessels, a unusual pot, which has been in the to be identified, thinking it was matter which can only be resolved possession of a local Manchester Roman because it was found near by metallurgical analysis. Bryan family for about a century, as Hadrian’s Wall. Unfortunately much would like to hear from anyone in belonging to a class of Medieval the University who might be able evidence of the casting and copper alloy vessels known as to assist the museum in analyzing finishing off process has been lost tripod ewers, probably dating from the composition of the alloy used but Bryan Sitch, Head of the 13th or 14th centuries. Typically to make the ewer. Email these ewers, which were used for Humanities and Curator of [email protected]. pouring liquids and although a Archaeology at the Museum is number of such vessels have come philosophical. “We have to to light, having been cast into bogs remember that the ewer has or accidentally lost in rural survived because it was loved by locations during the Middle Ages, the family and if it hadn’t in urban locations often it is only decorated the family hearth for all small fragments that survive, the those years perhaps it wouldn’t vessels having long since been have survived at all. We’re very dismembered for scrap. lucky to be able to handle such a complete example”.
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Next issue is 5 March 2007 News Contact Events Contact Adverts Contact News and story ideas Events and listings information Ads and distribution queries Internal Communications Office Philippa Adshead Janice Brown tel 0161 275 2112 tel 0161 275 2922 tel 0161 275 2113 email [email protected] email [email protected] email [email protected] online www.manchester.ac.uk/staffnet/news Deadline Noon 15 February Deadline Noon 15 February Deadline Noon 15 February J1476 01.07