Issue 302 ▸ 27 april 2017 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community
Fire of imagination As excitement builds for Imperial Festival, meet the researchers who will make it one to remember → page 2, centre pages, backpage
MIND SET IDEAS FACTORY STAFF SUPPORT New Dementia The Althea and New scheme Research VCC innovation to support Institute at competitions staff with Imperial PAGE 12 dyslexia PAGE 3 PAGE 4 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302
Set a date with discovery at Imperial Festival
Imperial’s free annual festival is back, giving the public an EDITOR’S CORNER opportunity to go behind-the- scenes and explore the latest research. It will run on March on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May at the College’s South Kensington Campus. Last Saturday, a group of Imperial staff The Festival has something for all and students joined ages to enjoy, from live interactive thousands of others on experiments, new technology a ‘March for Science’ demonstrations, in-depth talks, starting from the Science lab tours, musical and dance- Museum, finishing at based performances, and creative Parliament Square – workshops within zones themed where they hoped to around Robots, Superbugs, Health send a message to policy & Body, the Future, and Energy makers and the general and Environment (see pages 8-9). public that science is In addition to the hands-on weekend from exciting artisanal research exhibits, as well as to take crucial to the future of our experiences in the research vendors. in the sights, sounds and tastes society and economy. zones, there is plenty more to Sarah Umar, Festival Manager, on display. Among the marchers, was enjoy, including music and dance said: “We’re excited to welcome “The 2017 Festival is set to postdoc Dr Claire Morgan, performances, a contemplative everyone on campus next month to wow thousands once more, with a who told me beforehand: space to reflect on science and experience Imperial Festival. Last host of brand new experiences for “Marching on Saturday its role in the modern world. year, more than 15,000 visitors visitors of all ages to enjoy.” is important to me as I There is also plenty of delicious came to learn more about the world Imperial Festival runs 12-6pm on Saturday 6, live and breathe science fresh food on offer throughout the around them through our hands-on 12-5pm on Sunday 7 May. and the trend towards discrediting ‘experts’ is alarming. I just want to do my little bit to remind people that science has Developing synthetic biology in East Africa brought them medicine, iphones, spaceships, Synthetic biology experts from day workshop, which took place in new working relationships, develop TVs and beer!” There will Imperial headed to East Africa to Nairobi last month. training and nurture collaborative be another opportunity help identify where the field could Organised through the Kenyan partnerships. to perform this public have a life-changing impact. National Commission for Science, “East Africa has an opportunity engagement function Technology and Innovation to move towards a far bigger at Imperial Festival on The field, which draws together (NACOSTI) and Imperial, the bioeconomy, where it can put in May 6–7. In this issue elements of biology and aim was to identify areas where place processes such as industrial we spoke with a few of engineering, harnesses living emerging technologies could have biotechnology and not just focus the exhibiting scientists cells and their processes to create an impact in everything from food on agriculture,” explained (centre pages), including new tools for all aspects of life, security to industry, health and Professor Freemont. “I think this our cover star Dr Guillermo from rapid medical sensors to the environment. workshop has allowed them to Rein, who told me he generating biofuels and feeding The organisers, led by Professor identify and audit their current feels an obligation to do the growing global population. Paul Freemont, co-founder and capabilities in the region. They outreach as a taxpayer- Representatives from Kenya, co-director of the Centre for can use this meeting to identify funded researcher. “More Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia Synthetic Biology and Innovation gaps and then try and develop to the point, I actually love met with UK researchers at a three- at Imperial, have helped to forge the technologies, training and it and I think I’ve become infrastructure.” somewhat addicted!” One of the most promising emerging areas is rapid, low-cost ANDREW CZYZEWSKI, EDITOR diagnostics tools for healthcare Reporter is published monthly and the environment – such as during term time in print monitoring land and water for and online. Contact Andrew pollutants. Czyzewski: [email protected] —RYAN O’HARE, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Delegates at the synthetic biology workshop in Nairobi 3 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302 >> newsupdate
Uncertain times call for ‘patience and reflection’
Professor Alice Gast spoke about colleagues who are EU citizens will the importance of patience amid be able to remain in Britain. While turbulent political change in to some, this is a negotiating her third annual address to the point with Europe, I strongly Imperial community. believe this: government should take a proactive, and Professor Paul Matthews Speaking to an “The world unilateral, position to audience of staff, looks very welcome Europeans who students, alumni and different now live here today, to stay. friends, Professor Gast than it did in “Whenever there is a Imperial wins bid to host new UK said: “The past year of 2015.” crisis, an abrupt change Dementia Research Institute centre unexpected political or a problem, our natural events, and the instability created human desire is to do something. A new multidisciplinary UK under development in West by uncertainty has made many of While we all should be trying to Dementia Research Institute London. us impatient. do the right thing, to help out and (UK DRI) centre is to open at The UK DRI is being “There are some things we to make our values clear, it seems Imperial later this year. established by a joint £250 million must be proactive about. We need to me that we also need to try our investment into dementia research to know right now that Imperial’s best to be patient.” The College will join the University from the Medical Research Council Professor Gast also spoke of of Cambridge, Cardiff University, (MRC) and its charity partners, the progress and development the University of Edinburgh, and the Alzheimer’s Society and of the College’s strategy since its King’s College London in hosting Alzheimer’s Research UK. launch in 2015: “The world looks the centres which will form the Professor Matthews said: very different now than it did in new institute, whose headquarters “Our multidisciplinary approach 2015. Our strategy has evolved is based at University College will harness Imperial’s technology because of this, and that is good. London. £55m is being invested and data expertise to address the But we have a lot yet to do and it in foundation programmes and challenges posed by dementia. is hard to be patient about it.” resources across the centres In doing so, we are attracting During the address, she in this first phase of the institute’s experts from different fields who explored the theme of patience in development. have exciting new ideas and have five priority areas for the College: The UK DRI at Imperial, not previously been involved in research, teaching, the translation which will be led by Professor dementia research. of discovery, forging enduring Paul Matthews of the Division “Being part of the UK DRI partnerships and philanthropy. of Brain Sciences, will initially highlights Imperial’s commitment —DEBORAH EVANSON, COMMUNICATIONS AND be based at the Hammersmith – since its foundation– to deliver PUBLIC AFFAIRS campus before moving in 2019 solutions for major problems in to the College’s new White City our society by harnessing the Campus, which is currently best, most modern science.”
has hugely talented staff given by the National Cyber New Dean and fantastic students, Security Centre (NCSC), the Tumour tracker Professor Nigel Brandon and I am looking forward UK’s authority on cyber A system that automatically has been appointed to us all working together security, in conjunction classifies cancer biopsies, Dean of Imperial’s to realise the opportunities with the Engineering and developed by an Imperial Faculty of Engineering. ahead in both teaching and Physical Sciences Research physicist, has won a Royal in brief Due to take up the role research”. Ahead of taking Council. In 2012, Imperial Society prize to help it get of Dean in October 2017, up appointment Professor was first recognised as to market. The award of he will be responsible Brandon will be Dean- an academic centre of £246,552 is for scientists for providing strategic Elect from 1 August 2017. excellence in this field. It to develop a proven novel leadership, planning He succeeds Professor Jeff was one of the first in the concept or prototype into a and coordination for the Magee, who has held the country to be given this near-market ready product. Faculty of Engineering, role of Dean since 2011. prestigious status. Digistain, developed by and for driving continuing For the past five years Professor Chris Phillips excellence in research Cyber centre Dr Emil Lupu has been (Physics) is a new way to and education. Professor Imperial has been leading Imperial’s more accurately and reliably Brandon said: “It is a recognised again as Academic Centre detect the severity of cancer tremendous privilege to be an academic centre of of Excellence. from tumour biopsies. asked to lead the Faculty excellence in cyber security of Engineering. Imperial research. This recognition is 4 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302
National recognition Imperial’s Graduate School has won a Student Experience prize at the Guardian University Awards 2017 for its ‘Researching Well Together’ project.
The team saw off strong competition to take the award, which recognizes work to enhance the wellbeing of the College’s 3,000 doctoral students. ‘Fantastic network’ Over the past two years, the Graduate the Graduate School the whole team is School has developed, in partnership with committed to supporting our postgraduate strengthens Imperial’s staff and students, a package of support community, so to have that recognised Indian connections designed to enhance the wellbeing of nationally is a real honour. research students. This is in line with the “There is growing evidence within Imperial’s rapidly growing ties with College’s Strategy aim to prioritise the higher education that shows a decline in India were celebrated at a series of mental wellbeing of the student body, the wellbeing of doctoral students. This events in Kolkata (Calcutta) and recognising this as both a moral imperative initiative takes proactive steps to combat Bengaluru (Bangalore) last week. and a pre-requisite of academic success. this trend and offer our postgraduates Professor Sue Gibson, Director of the support they need to succeed.” More than 300 alumni, friends, the Graduate School, said: “Here at —JON NARCROSS, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS collaborators, parents and future students met President Alice Gast and colleagues in the two cities, as media highlighted the College’s extraordinary links with India. In the past five years, Imperial researchers have published more than New scheme to support 1,200 joint papers with collaborators in India. Partner institutions include the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, staff with dyslexia the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) and the University of Delhi. Indian student “Through this numbers at Imperial rose above 300 role I’m hoping to help this year. reduce stigma towards During the visit, President Gast’s neurodivergence and encourage people third to India with Imperial, special with processing differences to come events brought together alumni and forward so they can be supported to friends in Kolkata and Bengaluru. Professor reach their full potential.” Gast also addressed the Confederation Steve Cousins (Business School) of Indian Industry (CII) in both cities and Client Relationships Manager (above), met leaders from universities and research Imperial’s new Accredited Dyslexia added: “A few years ago I had a screening institutes, including the Indian Institute Champions will help to build a dyslexia- and was diagnosed as dyslexic quite late in of Science (IISC), Indian Institute for the friendly culture. life. But there were lots of things I still didn’t Cultivation of Science (IACS), IIT Guwahati know about before starting the training. and IIT Kharagpur. The champions can provide confidential “The programme gave me more clarity Rajive Kaul (Metallurgy 1971), advice on a range of issues related to and understanding. Everyone is different, President of the Imperial College Alumni dyslexia, from queries on how to pursue a and dyslexia affects people in different Association in India, welcomed more Workplace Needs Assessment to advice for ways. So you could have someone with than 150 alumni and friends event at his managers on supporting a member of their dyslexia who has big difficulties residence in Kolkata. team. They are all existing members of staff with organisation and time Mr Kaul introduced Bruce Bucknell, who have received specialist training. management. Because the UK’s Deputy High Commissioner in the The scheme aims to build a dyslexia- there isn’t much city, who said: “Imperial is one of the most friendly culture at Imperial, so that all staff awareness that these successful universities for research, it is are able to reach their potential. To contact can be symptoms of the UK’s most international – it is almost one of the champions, staff should email dyslexia, they may without peers.” He praised the College’s the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Centre not have sought “fantastic network around the world – I’m at [email protected]. support. I want to struck by the strength and depth of Indian Emily Pearson (Medicine) Honorary change that.” connections at Imperial… and the warmth Research Officer (right), said: “I am —ELIZABETH NIXON, of the relationship between alumni and Dyslexic, so I understand how difficult it COMMUNICATIONS AND the institution.” can be to come forward and to talk about it, PUBLIC AFFAIRS especially in the workplace. —ANDREW SCHEUBER, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS 5 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302 >> newsupdate
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Could shared medical economists have said as Britain and the appointments help the NHS? remaining EU-27 member states prepare to start divorce talks. However, Professor David Miles THE GUARDIAN ▸ 18.04.2017 (Business School) told the FT that the Treasury was ‘silly’ to talk about robust estimates when Writing in the Guardian, Professor Ara Darzi, “the impact on labour productivity is massively Director of the Institute of Global Health uncertain — even if you knew exactly what Brexit Innovation, explores the relative merits of shared would do to foreign direct investment and trade.” medical appointments: “In medicine, the private one-to-one consultation is sacrosanct. Yet Elon Musk’s mission shared medical appointments have been used successfully for years at the Cleveland Clinic in to the inside of your brain SUNDAY TIMES ▸ 02.04.2017 the US. Here, then, is an innovation that could and held electronically,” explained Dr Catherine help the NHS, caught between rising demand Mulligan (Business School), co-director of the The billionaire Elon Musk has an extraordinary and squeezed budgets, which is leading to Imperial Centre for Cryptocurrency Research and longer waiting lists and growing discontent.” record for pushing the boundaries of innovation, Engineering. “Rather than rely on intermediaries the Sunday Times reports. He has spearheaded – i.e. banks – as we have until now, bitcoin uses the technology for electric and self-driving What is Bitcoin a decentralised peer-to-peer network that has no cars. The 45-year-old’s company SpaceX has and should I invest? central authority.” Mulligan continued. “Instead, pioneered private space exploration with every transaction is recorded by every node on INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES ▸ 10.04.2017 reusable rockets that look like something out of the network, allowing anyone to verify that a Thunderbirds. Now the co-founder of PayPal has If you’re in any way interested in financial transaction is valid.” announced a project called Neuralink, to connect technology you will have heard of bitcoin, human brains with computers to download and arguably the world’s most popular form of Will Brexit damage UK upload thoughts. This is not as far-fetched as cryptocurrency, the International Business Times standards of living? it sounds. Dr Adam Hampshire, of the Division reports. Many believe this digital money – and FINANCIAL TIMES ▸ 16.04.2017 of Brain Sciences at Imperial, says: “This aim the blockchain foundation it’s built upon – will seems plausible, inevitable in the long term. On drag traditional banking into an exciting new The consequences of Brexit for UK standards a fundamental level one could conceive of this era. “Bitcoin is a form of digital currency, created of living are negative and highly uncertain, as being an inevitable step in our evolution.” awards and work for three MEDICINE COLLEGE honours months in one of a selected Blood work Cyber victory group of highly An esteemed Students from Imperial beat 12 impactful haematologist at Imperial other teams from universities organisations has been recognised designated as Academic Centres relevant to UK for a career of ‘exceptional of Excellence in Cyber Security policy. The GoS works to commitment and leadership’ Research, to take the top spot at ensure that government policies in the field. Professor Barbara the Inter-ACE cyber challenge. and decisions are informed by Bain (Medicine), who is course The victorious team QWERTY the best scientific evidence and director for haematology – the from Imperial were awarded strategic long-term thinking. The branch of medicine concerned £6,500. Held at the University placement offers the opportunity with studying and treating the of Cambridge 18 March 2017, to work for the Government Chief blood – was presented with a the competition involved teams Scientific Adviser, whose role lifetime achievement award by the earning points for hacking ENGINEERING is to advise the Prime Minister British Society for Haematology into each other’s machines Policy platform and Cabinet. Naima said: “I am (BSH) at its annual meeting. while defending their own. The Chemical engineer and PhD honoured to have been awarded Alongside developing courses competition was backed by the student Naima Ali has been this internship. It will help and training clinicians, Professor National Cyber Security Centre awarded a highly competitive me understand how scientific Bain developed bloodmed.com, (NCSC), Cabinet Office, Leidos internship with the Government research influences government an educational tool and training and NCC Group. Office for Science (GoS). The policies and how far scientific platform used by almost all UK scheme provides an opportunity research is used to adjust current trainees and now incorporated for RCUK-funded PhD students to and future policy.” into the BSH website. 6 >> scienceroundup www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302
Breakaway Britain
Researchers have found evidence of how ancient Britain separated from Europe by analysing geophysical data combined with seafloor data.
Nearly 450,000 years ago, when Earth was in the grip of an ice age, ice stretched right across the North Sea, from Britain to Scandinavia. The low sea levels meant that the entire English Channel was dry land, a frozen tundra landscape, crisscrossed by small rivers. The team show that the chalk ridge in the Dover Strait between Dover and Calais acted like a huge dam and behind it was a proglacial lake. This lake overflowed in giant waterfalls, eroding the rock escarpment, weakening it and eventually causing it to fail and release huge Artist’s impression of the Dover Strait around 450,000 years ago volumes of water onto the valley floor below. The team believe that the huge holes that they analysed on the seafloor are plunge sure why the proglacial lake spilt over. Perhaps (Earth Science and Engineering) added: pools, created when water cascading over an part of the ice sheet broke off, collapsing into “The breaching of this land bridge between escarpment hit the ground and eroded rock. the lake, causing a surge that carved a path for Dover and Calais was undeniably one of the The researchers have also found evidence the water to cascade off the chalk ridge. In terms most important events in British history, helping that a second event fully opened the Dover of the catastrophic failure of the ridge, maybe to shape our island nation’s identity even today. Strait. Later on, perhaps hundreds of thousands an earth tremor, which is still characteristic When the ice age ended and sea levels rose, of years later, a new valley system, the Lobourg of this region today, further weakened the flooding the valley floor for good, Britain lost its Channel, was carved by megaflood processes ridge. This may have caused the chalk ridge to physical connection to the mainland. Without that crossed the Dover Strait. collapse, releasing the megaflood that we have this dramatic breaching, Britain would still be Co-author Dr Jenny Collier, (Earth Science found evidence for in our studies.” a part of Europe.” and Engineering), said: “We still don’t know for Fellow co-author Professor Sanjeev Gupta —COLIN SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Buzzing the brain with electricity boost working memory
Scientists have uncovered a method for These regions are known to be involved in improving short-term working memory, working memory, used when people try to by stimulating the brain with electricity to remember names at a party, telephone numbers synchronise brain waves. or a short grocery list. Ten volunteers were asked to carry out a The hope is that the approach could one day set of memory tasks of increasing difficulty be used to bypass damaged areas of the brain while receiving theta frequency stimulation and relay signals in people with traumatic brain to the two brain regions at slightly different injury, stroke or epilepsy. times (unsynchronised), at the same time The brain is in a constant state of chatter, (synchronous), or only a quick burst (sham) to with this activity seen as brainwaves oscillating give the impression of receiving full treatment. at different frequencies and different regions Results showed that when the brain regions keeping a steady ‘beat’. were stimulated in sync, reaction “What we observed is that times on the memory tasks improved, people performed better when “We are very especially on the harder of the tasks the two waves had the same excited about requiring volunteers to hold two strings rhythm and at the same time,” the potential of numbers in their minds. said research lead Dr Ines Ribeiro of brain Senior author Professor David Sharp Violante (Medicine). stimulation to (Medicine) added: “We are very excited current treatments, which may not always work In the trial the team used a treat patients.” about the potential of brain stimulation for them. technique called transcranial to treat patients. I work with patients “Our next step is to try the approach out in alternating current stimulation who often have major problems with our patients and we will see whether combining (TACS) to target two brain regions – the middle working memory after their head injuries, so it it with cognitive training can restore lost skills.” frontal gyrus and the inferior parietal lobule. would be great to have a way to enhance our —RYAN O’HARE, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS 7 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302 >> scienceroundup
Beating the booze Scanning the brains of alcoholics taking medication to beat their addiction has revealed new insights into how the treatments work.
Led by Professor Anne Lingford-Hughes (Medicine), a consultant psychiatrist and addiction expert, the group set out to explore the effects of nalmefene – a compound which modulates opioid receptors in the brain – in alcoholics. Nalmefene has been successfully shown to treat alcoholism and also pathological gambling. It appears to work by effectively dulling the desire Artist’s impression of a star evaporating a neighbouring star’s protoplanetary disc for alcohol, or the need for a ‘win’, but exactly how it affected the brain is unclear. The Imperial team “People on recruited 22 alcoholics who Star wars these drugs may were not currently seeking start drinking, Fledgling stars can prevent their treatment to see the effect of but they just neighbouring stars from birthing nalmefene. The volunteers don’t want any planets by evaporating material they were asked to perform tasks more – they hold in the surrounding dust in an MRI scanner and were don’t crave it.” and gas discs. administered the single dose of the drug, (18 mg) as well as The new works sheds light on the an intravenous infusion to bring their blood-alcohol complex dynamics of how exoplanets levels up to the English drink drive limit (80 mg per and solar systems other than our own 100 mL of blood). home system form. Scans revealed that when patients took Newly formed stars are surrounded nalmefene with alcohol, activity in two areas of the by a disc of dense gas and dust. This brain, the dorsal and ventral striatum, decreased. is called the protoplanetary disc and Neuroscientists believe that these regions are key in material sticks together within it to Disappearing act habit-formation and so the drug seems to act to blunt form planets. The IM Lup system has an unexplained their response. Stars of different shapes and ‘halo’ of material around it, which The researchers believe nalmefene effectively reaches out to about 400 astronomical sizes are all born in huge star-forming units (AU), where one astronomical reduces the anticipation of alcohol by interfering with regions. Scientists know that when a unit is the equivalent distance from the the brain’s dopamine-based reward systems. protoplanetary disc around a relatively Sun to the Earth. For comparison, the “The findings indicate that the mechanism small star is very close to a massive distance out to Pluto is about 40AU. proposed to explain how the drug works is correct,” This means the star cannot hold on star, the larger star can evaporate to the disc’s outer parts so strongly, said Professor Lingford-Hughes. “Certainly this fits parts of the protoplanetary disc. as its gravity would be much weaker with my clinical experience, where people describe However, it was thought this was that far out, leaving the fringes at the how being on these opiate blocking drugs means that mercy of evaporation. Dr Haworth and only the case where very large stars they may start drinking, but then they just don’t want team modelled the flow and chemistry shone on the protoplanetary disc. of the system to determine if the halo any more – they don’t crave it, they don’t desire it, it Now, researchers led by Imperial was the result of a nearby weak star doesn’t taste nice or give them a good feeling.” have discovered that a protoplanetary heating up the system and evaporating The team believes the findings could help to away material (see main article). They disc shone on by only a relatively estimate that the disc will lose about improve existing drug treatments for alcoholism weak star is also losing material. The 3,300 Earth’s worth of material over by targeting them to those who are most likely to protoplanetary disc studied, called IM its 10-million-year lifetime. Dr Haworth benefit, and even lead to the development of more Lup, belongs to a star similar to our said: “Our calculations show that if the effective treatments. disc started at 700AU in size, it would Sun (see box). halve in size in the first million years —RYAN O’HARE, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Lead author Dr Thomas Haworth of its life. Since IM Lup is less than a (Physics) said: “Because the light million years old, we’ve caught it in the shining on this disc is so much act of rapid shrinking.” weaker than that shining on known evaporating discs, it was expected discovered. This phenomenon could that there would be no evaporation. significantly affect the planets that We have shown that actually these can form around different stars. stars can evaporate a significant For example, light from nearby stars amount of material. could limit the maximum size a solar “This result has consequences if system can be.” we want to understand the diversity —HAYLEY DUNNING, COMMUNICATIONS AND of exoplanet systems that are being PUBLIC AFFAIRS 8 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302
ALL SET FOR FIERY FIFTH FESTIVAL
Imperial Festival is the one weekend a year when we throw open our doors and give the public an opportunity to go behind-the-scenes and explore ground-breaking research and exciting collaborations Food for thought with our Albertopolis neighbours. Healthy eating is often on many people’s minds. Earlier this year, Imperial academics announced findings Want to journey to the edge of our galaxy, that a fruit and vegetable intake above five-a-day (and ideally 10) shows major benefit in reducing the risk of heart attack, stroke, age 50 years in a matter of seconds, land a virtual cancer and early death. With this in mind, scientists from across reality plane, battle the superbugs that live on the College will gather to delve into the science behind food at the Festival with an entirely new area called the Food Zone. your toilet, or get behind the wheel of a sun With a range of interactive stands it will showcase the latest research and technologies across the food production chain, powered racing car? All this and more will from “farm to fork”. be on offer on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May, One innovative product on show in the Food Zone is a powder derived from fibre found in onion and garlic. The powder alongside delicious food and a variety of produces a natural appetite suppressing agent, which can help prevent overeating, and therefore improve bodyweight music and dance performances. management, while still providing the benefits of a high- fibre diet. With no detectable flavouring, the powder Here we take a sneak peek can be added to any food, such as soups, smoothies, or cereals as part of a healthy balanced diet. behind the scenes with Dr Edward Chambers (Medicine) one of the some of the staff who plan researchers behind the dietary fibre powder, said: “It is vitally important that we are fully engaged to make it a Festival to with the general public so that they can share the knowledge and benefits of our exciting research remember. findings. These events also provide an opportunity for members of the public to express their ideas to help shape future research programmes.” 9 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302 >> featurefocus
Spark of imagination Fast thinking
“There is an ingrained human fascination with Imperial Festival has always to control the flames, almost certainly etched in our genetic been about showing rather speed of the car code and reinforced by thousands of years living in than telling − but this year, interactive by either thinking caves and being dependent on fire,” Dr Guillermo learning will be taken to the next intensely about going Rein muses when we meet in the Imperial combustion level, with an exhibit allowing visitors faster in the case of the lab – also called the Imperial Hazelab. to drive a Scalextric set using their EEG, or moving their arm up or down Guillermo is Reader in Thermal Energy (soon to thoughts alone. slightly with the myoelectric band. be Professor of Fire Science) in the Department of It’s the result of an engineering The pupils of John Chilton School Mechanical Engineering and his research is focussed design project by second year will have the first try of the games at on heat transfer, combustion and fire. The chief Bioengineering students, led by Dr the School’s Day of Imperial Festival purpose of his work is to reduce the worldwide Ian Radcliffe. The students set about on Friday 5 May – followed by the burden of accidental fires and protect people, building a games control interface for general public on Saturday and their property, and the environment. pupils at John Chilton Special Needs Sunday. Yet, fire is an extremely complex phenomenon School in Northholt, some of whom “It’s the first time we’ve done and there is still much to learn about how it ignites, don’t have the required arm function something designed with Imperial how it spreads, how it produces smoke and how it or capability to control things like a Festival in mind as an end goal − can be suppressed. Guillermo and his team attempt computer mouse or a joystick. as opposed to just gathering some to answer these and other questions with a number The students first selected off- of our projects together and hoping of computer models and experiments in the Hazelab. the-shelf components, including an people want to see them,” Ian One of the experimental demonstrations they use, electroencephalogram (EEG) headset says. “It’s always quite a learning dubbed Sirocco (after the hot Mediterranean wind), and a myoelectic band which fits over experience to do the Festival, is a piece of kit that creates a tall and whirling flame the forearm and can respond to small because you get such a range of or fire tornado. It consists of a dish holding a small gestures. They adapted the devices people there. But the feedback you pool of liquid fuel enclosed by an open-top chamber and connected them to popular slot get leads to new ideas and uses you with asymmetric slots on the sides, which allow air racing sets, including Scalextric. The never would have considered being into the fire. Once ignited the whirl flame develops result is a system that allows users in the classroom.” and burns much faster and fiercely than a normal flame without the enclosure. Whirl flames can occur in nature, particularly in forest fires or large urban fires, due to asymmetric currents of air created by other trees, hills and surrounding buildings. They can whip up powerful winds that pick up and hurl burning debris, so it’s important to understand them. Sirocco will form the centrepiece of the Hazelab booth at the Imperial Festival, but there will also be other exhibits. Guillermo has long been intrigued by the role fire has played in historical events. Recently, he has turned his attention to the Great Fire of London, which although well documented historically, is little understood in term of fire dynamics. “The first thing we realised is that the fire was so large and came out of the buildings so easily, that it behaved more like a forest fire than a typical residential fire. In the reports, the firemen talk about ‘firedrops’ – which are actually intense ember showers driven by the wind and what we now know to be a major mechanism of spreading in forest fires.” To replicate the phenomenon the team constructed a new device, which they call the Imperial Dragon, which sprays ember showers in a controlled manner. They used the Dragon to perform an experiment on roofs typical of 1650. The results were quite surprising, and the charred remnants will be on SAT SUN show at the Imperial Festival alongside a video of the 6 MAY 7 MAY Dragon in action. 12.00–18.00 12.00–17.00
See the full programme www.imperial.ac.uk/festival 10 >> featurefocus www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302
Global Exchange
A student delegation from Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine visited Imperial as part of the partnership between the two institutions.
Eighteen students from LKCMedicine visited Imperial from 5–11 March as part of the second LKCMedicine-Imperial College School of Medicine Exchange Programme. The students visited the College as part of an exchange programme designed to enhance links between the two medical schools. As part of the exchange a similar delegation of Imperial’s own students will visit LKCMedicine in Singapore later this year. The visit offered an immersive experience to allow the students to explore what it is like to be a medical student in London. Over the week the group took part in a range of JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY academic activities including Year 1 anatomy dissection and practicals, Year 2 lectures and clinical teachings and Year 5 Elizabeth Wang general practice (GP) placements. “It was great being able to meet our Imperial counterparts and forge friendships with them. One The students also got to experience the social and cultural side of “The Programme London, visiting some of the city’s best known attractions such as the thing I enjoyed the most about the exchange was was developed being able to go on an attachment with the GP London Eye, Shakespeare’s Globe and St Paul’s Cathedral during their visit. to enhance Surgery Clinic as well as the Clinical Simulation at LKCMedicine is a collaboration between Nanyang Technological the student Charing Cross Hospital. They gave me insights on the NHS system and I was exposed to a variety of cases University (NTU) and Imperial. With its innovative curriculum developed experience and in partnership with Imperial, LKCMedicine pioneers the use of e-learning that are not commonly seen in the GP clinics we have maintain a close in Singapore. It was also fun doing examinations on tools so students can make the most of their contact time with academics relationship a real patient with pathology as we have always done and patients. between our examinations on patients with normal physiology. Martin Lupton, Associate Dean and Head of the Undergraduate School Moreover, the clinicians were very enthusiastic about two schools” teaching us and readily answered all questions we of Medicine at Imperial, said: “We are extremely proud of our collaborative had. I am looking forward to having our Imperial role in developing LKCMedicine with NTU in Singapore; and feel that it is counterparts over in Singapore and hope that they important to continuously strengthen the connections between our Schools. will have as much fun as we had!” “The Imperial-LKCMedicine Exchange Programme was developed to enhance the student experience and maintain a close relationship between our two schools. The students experienced Adriel Kek an immersion into medical student life at Imperial – participating in curriculum and social activities “Imperial provided excellent hosts for our short with Imperial Faculty of Medicine students, and experiencing the rich culture of London.” stay in London. Both students and faculty were Following the visit a number of LKCMedicine students shared their experience of studying extremely welcoming and went out of their way in Singapore and their reflections on Medicine at Imperial. to ensure that our stay was a comfortable and enjoyable one. For instance, Professor Davies and —JON NARCROSS, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Nicole from the London Office of LKCMedicine took the time out of their busy schedules to guide us around the South Bank, with highlights including stops at the Hunterian Museum as well as the oldest operating theatre in London. Overall, we enjoyed our stay here very much and would certainly like to come back again.”
Kannan Ramanthan “The LKC-ICL exchange was a unique experience for me mainly due to dissections. It was really an intriguing experience as I have never been inside a dissection room, let alone carried out a dissection. I had the opportunity to observe my counterparts during their lessons, learn from them and had the privilege of carrying out the dissection as well. The idea of using a human body to learn while maintaining respect for the donor is inspiring and I really hope to carry out more dissections in the future. I am truly grateful for Imperial’s hospitality and efforts in making the exchange a fruitful one for me.”
11 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302 insidestory
Miniature landscape of solar cells bags top photo prize inside An Imperial physicist won second prize in the Innovation category of EPSRC’s science photography competition for his image of a solar cell close up.
story Dr Diego Alonso-Alvarez took the photo using his iPhone 4s looking down an optical microscope. It shows the surface of a silicon solar cell – the units that make up solar panels – at only the width of a human hair. He titled the picture ‘Pyramids in a Desert’ due to its resemblance to Egyptian pyramids and sand dunes seen from directly above. mini profile Dr Alonso-Alvarez said: “When doing science, we are so focused on the actual research that we forget that, very often, what we experience and see is Dr James Wilton-Ely is Senior amazing and only for our eyes. Lecturer in the Department “Entering this competition was a way of sharing those unique images and of Chemistry. An Imperial moments with other people, showing the most beautiful part of our daily life.” alumnus (Chemistry BSc The competition seeks to showcase the work funded by the Engineering and PhD), he returned to the and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC). College in 2009 after stints at Dr Alonso-Alvarez studies the nanoscopic design of silicon solar cells in Oxford, UCL and TUM (Munich) order to make them more effective at generating both electricity and heat. He took the image while checking different surface treatments and What do you think etching recipes to control the size and shape of the silicon textures on the sets Imperial apart? cell’s surface. I enjoy the place, the ethos Collaborators on the project from the University of Glasgow also won a and I think the emphasis on develop a diagnostic system prize in the competition for their image of a solar cell from a different angle. lab work makes it stand out that can monitor these changes The teams hope to combine their findings in the near future. compared to most chemistry when diseases are present. Congratulating the winners and entrants, Professor Tom Rodden, courses in the country. Coming EPSRC’s Deputy Chief Executive, said: “The quality of entries into our back, I’ve seen just how What first enlivened your competition demonstrates that EPSRC-funded researchers are keen to show versatile Imperial is – the interest in chemistry? the world how beautiful and interesting science and engineering can be. commitment to collaboration I was fortunate to have a very I’d like to thank everyone who entered; judging was really difficult. with colleagues from other good and inspiring chemistry “These stunning images are a great way to engage the public with the disciplines, such as medicine teacher, Dr Moody, who had research they fund, and inspire everyone to take an interest in science and engineering. It all adds a PhD and had spent years and engineering.” up to a dynamism I’ve not in industry. This experience seen to the same degree outside education really came anywhere else. through in lessons and it was exciting to hear of the impact What is the focus of chemistry makes in the world. your work today? This experience also made me A lot of it falls under the passionate about teaching. umbrella of chemistry applied One of the reasons I enjoy to medicine. One of the being here at Imperial is that main things I’m involved having learned from so many with is developing new tools great teachers and lecturers, for imaging in the body I now have the chance to pass and combining these with that on to the next generation. targeting aspects to deliver I’m also very involved in a therapeutic effect. For outreach. I have two kids and example, injecting a cancer I know how important it is to patient with nanoparticles inspire them with science. that travel straight to a tumour I give talks in schools and site so that treatment can sixth form students come to be more precisely targeted my lab to shadow researchers. to avoid damaging healthy I have presented at the Imperial tissue. We are also looking at Festival previously and will detecting carbon monoxide be involved again this year, generated naturally in the body, as part of the SPIN-Lab team, something associated with how demonstrating magnetism and cells communicate and regulate how we measure magnetic themselves. We would like to properties. The surface of a silicon solar cell (above) resemble pyramids in a desert (below) 12 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302
By Women. For Women: Althea 2017
A leak proof, biodegradable and organic and duration of their period and predict their menstrual pad design has won the top prize needs. The required pads are then delivered to in Imperial’s pioneering entrepreneurial their door. programme for women. “From a medical point of view I’ve always wanted to increase health awareness in Olivia Ahn, a final year medical student, took women. So many women use pads and by using home £10,000 of funding at the finale of WithLula we want to get these women thinking the Althea-Imperial Programme – a unique and talking about their health too. It’s a product collaboration between Imperial and the Althea made by women, for women. Period.” Foundation, a social venture fund. Olivia beat off competition from four other Olivia’s start-up, WithLula, aims to re-think candidates to secure the top prize, after they all the way menstrual pads are designed and pitched their ideas to a panel of industry and provide unique support for women during their business experts. periods through a machine-learning app. A second prize of £6,000 was awarded to Althea winner Olivia Ahn The pads are entirely leak proof, Ana Luisa Neves (Surgery and Cancer) for her biodegradable, organic and would be project Momoby, a revolutionary finger prick test considerably cheaper to the consumer than other Going into Althea really blew the doors open that will bring prenatal care to pregnant women products on the market. Taking inspiration from and changed my mind-set on how you can make living in isolated areas in developing countries. the way flower petals redirect water on their a difference.” The third place prize of £4,000 went to Toni surface, the WithLula pads use a layered structure She’s also developing an associated app, Semmence (Chemistry) of Sensidex, a compact to send liquid into the central highly-absorbent to allow women to track their periods and and easy to use device which allows commercial core and away from the edges of the pad. personalise the pads they need according kitchens to test food for the 14 most common Olivia said: “As a medical student I’d not to their specific requirements. The app uses food allergens. really done anything entrepreneurial before. machine learning to better predict the frequency —JON NARCROSS, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Ultra-sound Idea
Student start-up Microsonix took home the imaging device that can connect to tablets £10,000 prize at the Venture Catalyst Challenge or smartphones. (VCC) final. Designed to be produced on a mass scale, their current model is around the size of a pen. Founded by Bioengineering PhD students Hamid The technology allows this life-saving medical Soleimani and Graham Peyton (pictured below), imaging to be brought to developing nations Microsonix are shrinking the components of where the cost of ultrasound machines can be ultrasound machines down to a single prohibitive, or to remote areas where it isn’t chip. The outcome is a low- possible to transport the large, bulky machines. cost, portable medical Graham said: “We entered with an idea and the VCC really helped us understand the commercial possibilities for the product and how to convert it into a realistic business.” The team believes that their low-cost device can fill a gap in the market in developing countries such as Peyton’s native South Africa, where current ultrasound equipment is prohibitively expensive for many clinics who instead rely on second-hand machines near an innovative biomembrane which collects the end of their lifespan. latent water particles from the air. This year’s competition attracted over 300 Professor Gann said: “Enterprise Week applicants from across the Imperial student and the VCC showcase Imperial’s enterprising community. Microsonix was one of seven talent, initiatives and culture. It is a wonderful teams to make the final. celebration of all that Imperial does to enable The event also saw two teams receive staff, students and the local community to £5000 runner up prizes: Opensense flourish in applying their ideas and gain – a low-cost paper pollution practical, entrepreneurial experience.” sensor designed to be stuck to —JON NARCROSS, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS smartphones, and ThinAir – 13 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302 insidestory
Marathon duo run for global health
Two Imperial colleagues ran the “Training in the field can be a London Marathon last Sunday challenge. Most of the time I’m
to support a life-saving Imperial based in Malawi and Uganda. Matthew Watkins, second from left, with Tiro Racing team initiative. The altitude and the heat can make it exhausting. Liz Hollenberg and Jane “Trying to find somewhere to Whitton, (pictured below), both run can also be difficult. Because Racecar engineer Programme Managers in the it’s so dry, every time a vehicle College’s Schistosomiasis Control drives past I get showered with makes world final Initiative (SCI), have already dust and the gyms don’t tend to surpassed their £30,000 target have air conditioning! In London An Imperial workshop technician apprentice is which will help the initiative treat it’s much easier, we can nip heading to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in September thousands of people afflicted out at lunchtime and train in to take part in the World Finals of the ‘F1 in Schools’ with parasite-borne illnesses. Hyde Park.” engineering competition. Schistosomiasis afflicts Liz added: “Knowing that more than 250 million people the SCI’s work has such a huge Matthew Watkins co-founded the Tiro Racing team with worldwide and can cause severe impact on these communities is fellow apprentices from Rolls Royce, Siemens, GSK pain and life-long disability. a huge motivator. The money and the National Physical Laboratory – all of whom are The SCI, which is based in we’re raising will improve the currently studying at Kingston College. Imperial’s School of Public lives of thousands of people At the recent UK F1 in Schools Final at Silverstone, Health, works to eliminate across Africa. I’m proud to be Tiro Racing came second overall (with ‘best engineered schistosomiasis and intestinal running for this cause.” car’), thereby booking their place to Malaysia. worms by supporting ministries F1 in Schools is the world’s largest multi-disciplinary —DEBORAH EVANSON, COMMUNICATIONS AND of health in affected countries. PUBLIC AFFAIRS STEM competition. Students form teams of 4-6 members Liz and Jane prepared both in to design, manufacture and test a small-scale F1 car Liz and Jane’s marathon fundraising London and in the field. Speaking page is still accepting donations. complying with a stringent set of regulations. The vehicles ahead of the event Jane said: Show your support at: bit.ly/go-together are raced on a straight drag strip, propelled by a gas canister. Alongside this, teams must consider identity, branding, marketing and sponsorship, similar to how a real Formula 1 team would operate. These teams must then compete against each other at a Regional, National and International Level, putting their handiwork through the tough scrutiny of a panel of professional judges. Matthew said: “It hasn’t really sunk in yet that we’re heading to Malyasia, just a few weeks before the real F1 Grand Prix starts. The competition will be incredibly tough, but hopefully we can make some gains for example in the aerodynamics and the wheel bearings and put ourselves in the best possible position.” Paul Brown (Physics) is a Mechanical Instrumentation Workshop Manager in the Department of Physics at Imperial and helps run the College’s workshop technician apprentice scheme. He said: “F1 in Schools is now a major event and we’re hugely impressed with Matthew and Tiro racing team’s incredible achievement – their professionalism and team working is a real credit to them. “All of us at Imperial will be rooting for Matthew and the team when they head out to Malyasia, and we look forward to welcoming him and putting his skills to use when he starts the next phase of his training at the College in July.” 14 insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302
Staff featured in this column have given many years of service to the College. Staff listed celebrate anniversaries during the period 31 January–30 April 2017. The data are supplied by HR and correct at the time of going to press.
20 years • Ying Yuan, Senior Finance and Programme Administrator, School of Professional Development • Sam Tolhurst, Project Coordinator Mechanical Engineering • Dr John Rowland, Research Associate Life Sciences • Roy Ortiz, Senior Credit Controller, Finance Division • Nina Maunders, Accounts Receivable Business Analyst, Finance Division • Charles Leppington, Head of Library Liaison (Medicine and NHS), Library Services • Dr Adrian Leach, Research Fellow Centre for Environmental Policy • James Kissi-Hawkson, Buyer, Finance Division • Emeritus Professor Alain Gringarten, Senior Research Investigator, Earth Science & Engineering • Dr Saif Haque, Reader in Materials Chemistry, Chemistry • Professor Uta Griesenbach, Professor of Molecular Medicine, National Heart & Imperial celebrates long and strong Lung Institute • Dr J Simon Gibbs, Reader in Pulmonary Hypertension, National Heart & Lung relationship with Livery Companies Institute • Dr Rosa Cordero, Research Officer, Medicine The relationship between the heritage of the Faculty. • Dr Maria Charalambides, Reader in Imperial’s Faculty of Engineering The Faculty has a strong The Faculty Mechanics of Materials, Mechanical and the City Livery Companies historical link to the City & Guilds Engineering of Engineering was celebrated at the opening Institute (CGI) and sixteen City • Professor Terence Cook, Professor of was founded Renal Pathology, Medicine of the heritage area. of London livery companies. • Professor Maria Belvisi, Professor of It was these sixteen livery through strong Respiratory Pharmacology, National The heritage area is located in companies that established Heart & Lung Institute partnerships and the City and Guilds Building the City & Guilds Institute, we continue 30 years at Imperial, which has been which was to later found the to value these • Tariq Rasheed, IT Support Analyst, ICT undergoing a £100 million constituent Engineering College • Peter O’Gara, Medical Laboratory refurbishment. When fully of Imperial – the City & Guilds to this day. Scientific Officer, National Heart & Lung completed, the building will College. Institute house both the Departments Professor Jeff Magee, Dean • Professor Kate Hardy, Professor of Reproductive Biology, Surgery & Cancer of Mechanical Engineering of the Faculty of Engineering, area with its display of shields • Louise Green, Undergraduate Office and Aeronautics. said: “These shields underline of the original livery companies.” Manager, Civil and Environmental On 28 March 2017, an event the important role that our Representatives from the Engineering was held in the Heritage Area advocates, supporters and Livery companies spoke during • Thomas Conway, Office Admin & PA to Director of Education Management, to celebrate the continued friends play. The Faculty of the ceremony. The first speaker, Faculty of Medicine Centre relationship between the Engineering was founded Mr Morton Neal, an alumnus City Livery companies and through strong partnerships of Civil Engineering (BEng 40 years the Faculty. At the event, and we continue to value ACGI 1953) and a past Master • Professor William Jones, Mechanical seventeen shields representing these to this day. of the Carpenters’ Company Engineering the City Livery Companies and “Aeronautical Engineering spoke about the historical • John Darlington, Emeritus Professor the City of London Corporation will be moving in during background to the Imperial- of Computing were rededicated. As part of the summer and with the livery relationship. He was also 50 years the refurbishment, the shields refurbishment nearly complete, the main driver behind the • Ashok Jamdagni, Visiting Researcher, have been relocated to a we are very happy to have this development of the shields. Physics specific area dedicated to opportunity to again recognise —COLIN SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS AND recognising and celebrating our heritage by opening this PUBLIC AFFAIRS 15 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302 insidestory
Mr Shane Fleming, EEE Mr Ling Liu, EEE Miss Sally Spurr, Surgery & Cancer Welcome Mr James Freeman, Chemical Dr Amrit Lota, NHLI Miss Ruth Stannard, School of Engineering Professional Development Mr Scott Lovell, Chemistry Moving in Mrs Naomi Friel, Public Health Miss Rebecca Stiffell, Life Sciences Dr Yuan Luo, Computing Dr Angela Gallagher, NHLI Mr Erick Sutherland-Carby, Miss Zara Abba, ICT Mr Craig Lynch, ICT Estates Division Dr Luisa Garcia-Haro, Faculty of Mrs Nasreen Abidi, ICT Medicine Centre Dr Julia Makinde, Medicine Mr Yusuf Tamanna, Finance Mr Pablo Achurra Gonzalez, Miss Audrey Gaulard, Design Mr Saber Mamqaderi, Business School Mr Zinong Tan, Mechanical Engineering Civil and Environmental Engineering on. moving Engineering Mr Kristopher McGlinchey, Physics Dr Sofia Tapanelli, Life Sciences Miss Malko Adan, Surgery & Cancer Mr Alexander Gibberd, Mathematics Dr Nicolas Melot, Computing Ms Chrysanthi Taxiarchi, Life Sciences Miss Saima Ahmed, Bioengineering Professor Vernon Gibson, College Dr Anais Menny, Life Sciences Mr Simon Tegart, Faculty of Miss Kamela Aliaj, Public Health Headquarters Dr David Miller, Design Engineering Medicine Centre Mr Diego Alonso Martinez, Institute of Dr Josef Goding, Bioengineering Miss Kay To, Medicine Clinical Sciences Ms Fay Miller, Computing Dr Darren Grafius, Civil and Mr Evangelos Triantafyllou, Mr Arman Amirzhan, Materials Environmental Engineering Mr Kaushik Mukherjee, Bioengineering
Surgery & Cancer in. moving Mr Salim Arslan, Computing Dr Mashy Green, Aeronautics Dr Neil Murphy, Public Health Miss Eleanor Tubman, Physics Ms Niki Ashra-Thakore, Finance Ms Leah Grey, Medicine Mr Michael Nielsen, Physics Ms Alicia Tulloch, Physics Dr Kiron Athwal, Mechanical Dr Boram Gu, Chemical Engineering Mr Eifion Nightingale, Mr Anthony Vaquero-Stainer, Physics Engineering Design Engineering Dr Ajay Gupta, Chemical Engineering Dr Vessela Vassileva, Surgery & Cancer Mr George Avraam, Life Sciences Miss Anke Nijhuis, Surgery & Cancer Dr Hebba Haddad, Centre for Mr Ruben Vereecken, Computing Miss Melanie Beckley, Environmental Policy Mr Matthew O’Connor, Medicine Chemical Engineering Dr Nabil Hajji, Medicine Dr Ceyda Oksel, Medicine Dr Petr Vikhorev, NHLI Ms Georgia Bergson, ICT Dr Balvinder Handa, NHLI Mr Rodolfo Oliveira, ESE Dr Sinthuja Visahan, Public Health Mr Luke Bevan, Business School Ms Kirsten Harvey, Medicine Miss Lucy Olliff, Centre for Dr Ivan Vujaklija, Bioengineering Mr Keith Boland, Public Health Environmental Policy Dr Fei He, Life Sciences Miss Sigourney Waibel, Public Health Miss Holly Brinkworth, Chemistry Ms Margaret Osinowo, Public Health Ms Maria Herrando Zapater, Dr Jian Wang, Physics Mr Craig Buchanan, Civil and Chemical Engineering Dr Mahmoud Ouda, EEE Dr Leigh Warren, Surgery & Cancer Environmental Engineering Mrs Rachel Herries, HR Mr David Owen, Physics Dr Eilbhe Whelan, Surgery & Cancer Miss Nancy Burley, Business School Mr William Hollyer, Ms Asheeka Padhiar, Research Office Mr Ryan White, Design Engineering Mrs Mylene Cannon, ICT Sport and Leisure Dr Ajit Panesar, Aeronautics Dr Natalie Williams, Medicine Miss Amy Humphreys, Centre for Ms Rita Carvalho, Surgery & Cancer Mr Ed Parks, Finance Environmental Policy Dr Saffron Willis-Owen, NHLI Miss Joanna Cavell, Security Services Dr Neekhil Patel, Medicine Mr Mostafa Jamshidiha, Life Sciences Dr Clare Wilson, Medicine Dr Oya Celiktutan Dikici, EEE Dr George Pelios, Computing Ms Michelle Joyce, Advancement Dr Michael Wiltshire, EEE Miss Jenna Collinson, HR Ms Gisela Pereira Barreto, Faculty of Ms Aruna Kalidoss, Mechanical Dr Lisa Yang, Medicine Medicine Centre Miss Yasmeen Conraad, Engineering Ms Louise Young, NHLI Faculty of Medicine Centre Mr Andrea Petracci, Mathematics Miss Sujin Kang, Public Health Dr Jie Yuan, Mechanical Engineering Dr Nathanial Cooper, Miss Dorrit Pollard-Davey, Faculty of Mr Vikram Karde, Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering Medicine Centre Dr Kirsty Yule, Grantham Institute Dr Shrikant Kawale, Materials Dr Danilo Cuccato, Miss Laura Ratcliff, Materials Dr Fessehaye Zemichael, Chemical Engineering Ms Brogan Keane, Surgery & Cancer Chemical Engineering Dr Quentin Rendu, Mechanical Dr Leah Cuthbertson, NHLI Ms Daphna Kesary, Public Health Engineering Miss Karen Davey, Medicine Ms Jang Kim, Computing Mr Matthew Rickman, Bioengineering Miss Theresa Davey, Materials Ms Suba Kinga, Medicine Mr Tom Rutland, Communications and Ms Adinda de Wit, Physics Public Affairs Mr Toby Kirk, Mathematics Miss Irvine Dossa, Enterprise Mr Samuel Sedon, Business School Mr Nicolas Kylilis, Bioengineering This data is supplied by HR and Dr Jessica Eddy, Medicine Mr Dilshan Senanayake, Finance covers staff joining the College during Ms Deborah Lavin, Medicine the period 7 March – 24 April. This Dr Fadi El Haddad, Mr Thomas Sewell, Public Health Miss Georgia Lazarou, data was correct at the time of going Mechanical Engineering Chemical Engineering Professor Murray Shanahan, Computing to press. For Moving On, visit the Mr David Ellis, Life Sciences Mr Niccolo Le Brun, Mr Guillaume Sherlock, ICT online supplement at Chemical Engineering www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter Dr Pei Eng, Medicine Dr Matthew Sinclair, Computing Ms Laura Leary, Surgery & Cancer Mr Christopher Fanning, Finance Dr Charanjit Singh, Medicine Dr Filiberto Fele, EEE Miss Inbar Levi, Surgery & Cancer Miss Rupa Sisodia, NHLI Please send your images and/ Dr Xiang Li, Public Health Mr Maxime Ferreira Da Costa, EEE Miss Rebecca Smith, Medicine or comments about new starters, Mr Martin Lisboa, Business School leavers and retirees to the Editor Dr Abdelkader Filali, Mr Gareth Smith, ICU Chemical Engineering at [email protected] Dr Chengyuan Liu, EEE Ms Katharine Smith, Surgery & Cancer Miss Paraskevi Filippousi, The Editor reserves the right to edit or Mr Hengyan Liu, EEE Chemical Engineering Mr Isaac Sosanya, Finance amend these as necessary. 15b insidestory www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 27 April 2017 • issue 302
Dr Kevin Garwood, Public Health Dr Elham Nabavi, Surgery & Cancer Mr Fengrui Shi, Computing Farewell Mr Petros Giataganas, Computing Dr Sara Nanchian, EEE Dr Tom Shire, Civil and Environmental Miss Cassie Gilbert, Business School Mrs Daiva Naudziuniene, Computing Engineering (7 years) Dr Aiman Nazki, Chemical Engineering Dr Alexandra Simperler, Chemistry Moving on (5 years) Dr James Gilburt, NHLI Mr Mathew Niania, Materials Mr Justinas Slikas, Life Sciences Professor Karim Abadir, Business Dr Lucy Goff, Materials Mr Paul Nkyi-Acheampong, ICT School (11 years) Dr Magdalena Sliwinska, Medicine Miss Caroline Golden, Bioengineering Ms Mariam Noor, Faculty of Dr Catarina Aires Fernandes, Computing Dr Ana Gonzalez Pelaez, Medicine Centre Dr Cephas Small, Materials Dr James Allinson, NHLI Centre for Environmental Policy Ms Mirabell Nsofor, Research Office Dr Mohammadreza Sohbati, EEE moving on. moving Dr Maya Al-Memar, Surgery & Cancer Mrs Batia Gourin, Medicine (8 years) Miss Marwa Soussi, NHLI Dr Natalie Andrews, Life Sciences Dr Gael Grail, Aeronautics Miss Fadumo Nur, Surgery & Cancer Mr Edward St John, Surgery & Cancer Dr Till Bartke, Institute of Clinical Sciences Miss Philippa Griffin, Medicine Ms Leyla Okhai, HR Mr Eugene Statnikov, Medicine (8 years) Mr Yanni Baveas, Faculty of Engineering Miss Florence Gschwend, Dr Gani Olowojoba, Mechanical Dr Suren Sukiasyan, Physics Dr Rhiannon Beard, Chemistry Chemical Engineering Engineering Miss Kornelija Suveizdyte, NHLI Mr Harminder Bharj, Estates Division Dr Ankur Handa, Computing Dr Kathleen O’Reilly, Public Health Ms Olivia Swann, Life Sciences (7 years) (17 years) Mr Benjamin Hardcastle, Bioengineering Mr Ge Tan, Institute of Clinical Sciences Dr Ayan Bhowmik, Materials Ms Ceara Hart, Business School Dr Barbara Orellana Bobadilla, Civil and Environmental Engineering Miss Helen Thomas, Faculty of in. moving Mr Martin Billman, Medicine Mr Richard Husbands, Estates Division Engineering (5 years) Ms Katie Overton, Faculty of Dr Shabnam Bobdiwala, Surgery & Cancer Miss Soraya Jardim-Suarez, Medicine Centre Miss Philippa Thomas, Surgery & Cancer Estates Division (9 years) Dr Anais Bompard, Public Health Mr Konstantinos Pagkalis, Ms Hafwen Thomas, NHLI Mr Andy Boston, Faculty of Engineering Mr Chris Jarrett, Finance (15 years) Mechanical Engineering Mr Paul Thomson, Computing Dr Markella Boudioni, Public Health Miss Danielle Johnstone, Registry Mr Kevin Palmer, Catering Services Dr Tanya Tolmachova, NHLI (20 years) Dr Georgios Bouliotis, Public Health Mr Juhan Kahk, Materials (24 years) Mr Ronald Tootill, Catering Services Dr Reuben Brambleby, Civil and Ms Theodora Kalessi, Business School Dr Gloria Palou Marin, Institute of (9 years) Environmental Engineering Dr Ilkka Kalliala, Surgery & Cancer Clinical Sciences Dr Helen Tsui, Chemistry (13 years) Mr Mads Brevadt, Surgery & Cancer Dr Dalia Kasperaviciute, Medicine Dr Eleftheria Panteleiou, Medicine Mrs Victoria Tsui, Surgery & Cancer Dr Serena Brusamento, Public Health (5 years) Dr Dilip Patel, NHLI (6 years) Dr Joerg Burgstaller, NHLI Miss Rachel Kerr, Surgery & Cancer Dr Elaine Pegg, Life Sciences Dr Tomasz Tyranowski, Mathematics Dr William Burns, Faculty of Engineering Mrs Eugenia Kidd, Civil and Dr Ana Pestana Gomes, Institute of Dr Pinar Ulug, Surgery & Cancer (7 years) Environmental Engineering Clinical Sciences Dr Christopher Burrows, Dr Anthony Uren, Institute of Clinical Mechanical Engineering Miss Barbara Kobson, Public Health Dr David Phelps, Surgery & Cancer Sciences Mr Paolo Cadinu, Bioengineering Dr Myriam Lambelet, ESE Mr Jonathan Picken, Registry Miss Eszter Vag, Faculty of Medicine Centre (8 years) Mr Mikhail Caga-Anan, NHLI Dr Jacek Lapinski, Chemistry Mr Morgan Pinfold, Estates Division Ms Jessica Law, Public Health Dr Kristjan Poder, Physics Dr Anton Van Pamel, Mechanical Miss Sheena Cardoso, HR Engineering Dr Fanny Lebosse, Surgery & Cancer Dr Stevin Pramana, Materials Mr Paul Carter, ICT (14 years) Dr Erik van Sebille, Grantham Institute Mr Dominic Lee, HR Dr Vivek Prasad, Public Health Ms Louisa Cavaliero, Public Health Miss Mia Vega-Real, Estates Division (12 years) Dr Juliane Liepe, Life Sciences Miss Beth Prescott, Advancement Mr Chaitanya Vuppusetty, NHLI Ms Andreea Cetateanu, Public Health Dr Dixi Liu, EEE Mr Simone Principe, Catering Services Dr Aurimas Vysniauskas, Chemistry Dr Manigandan Chandrasekaran, Dr Ryan Luebke, Chemical Engineering Dr David Pulido-Gomez, Life Sciences Dr Thomas Warelow, Chemistry Medicine Dr Vishal Luther, NHLI Dr Ubaid Qadri, Aeronautics Mr Scot Wheeler, Grantham Institute Ms Karyn Chappell, Surgery & Cancer Dr Matteo Maggioni, EEE Mrs Sarah Ranchev-Hale, Dr Ros Whiteley, HR Dr Susu Chen, Bioengineering Ms Georgina Mann, Public Health Business School Mr Tym Wong, ICT (20 years) Miss Thameenah Choudhury, Professor Neil Mansfield, Dr Francesca Rauzi, NHLI Surgery & Cancer Design Engineering Miss Hannah Reaney, Surgery & Cancer Mr Graham Woodward, Finance (15 years) Mr George Cleaver, EEE Dr Matthew Markiewicz, Chemistry Dr Durga Reddi, Medicine Dr Yang Yang, Chemical Engineering (5 years) Miss Leah Colthurst, Public Health Miss Andrea Mason, Communications Dr Graham Reed, Chemical Engineering Dr Paul Corbett, Chemical Engineering and Public Affairs (7 years) Ms Sky Yarlett, ICU Dr Paolo Costa, Computing Ms Pelagia Matalliotaki, Catering Services Ms Katharina Reeh, Chemistry Dr Amelle Zair, Physics (8 years) Ms Ziva Cotic, Public Health Dr Lorenzo Matteini, Physics Dr Olena Riabinina, Institute of Clinical Dr Liya Zheng, Chemical Engineering Mr Walter Craw, HR Dr Maria Mazon Moya, Medicine Sciences Dr Ju Zhu, Chemical Engineering Dr Hetal Dattani, Surgery & Cancer Dr Ronan McCarthy, Life Sciences Ms Kelly Ribeiro Alves, Finance (9 years) Miss Megan McIntosh, NHLI Dr Alberto Riera Sanchez, Institute of Clinical Sciences Ms Franca Davenport, Communications Mr Malcolm McLean, School of Retirement and Public Affairs Dr John Rippon, ESE Professional Development Professor Thomas Barnes, Medicine Miss Molly Davey, EYEC Miss Celia Miguel Blanco, Life Sciences Dr Francesca Rosini, Surgery & Cancer (7 years) Mr Mark Davies, Business School Mr Justin Miller, Education Office Dr Monica Ruiz Garcia, Medicine Mr Kevin Cope, Estates Division (10 years) Dr Rishi Mistry, Physics Dr Marieta Ruseva, Medicine (6 years) (41 years) Dr Tiziana Denaro, Chemistry Dr Anita Mitra, Surgery & Cancer Dr Inaki Sainz de Murieta Fuentes, Professor David Fisk, Civil and Dr Luca Di Mare, Mechanical Bioengineering Environmental Engineering (15 years) Dr Michelle Moram, Materials (5 years) Engineering (14 years) Miss Asha Salah, Medicine Dr Halina Garavini, Medicine (10 years) Dr Ignasi Moran Castany, Medicine Dr Nazanin Dolatshad, NHLI Mr Philip Sandwell, Grantham Institute Mr Carl Green, Security Services (14 years) Miss Alessandra Morelli, Dr Beverly Donaldson, Medicine Surgery & Cancer Mrs Iris Scherwitzl, Medicine Mr Ronald Knaap, Catering Services Dr Olga Ekkert, Chemistry (16 years) Mr Neil Mosley, Business School Ms Nina Sedlakova, Faculty of Dr Ranti Fayokun, Medicine (10 years) Medicine Centre Mr John Luke, Health and Safety Dr Simon Mouradian, ESE (18 years) Miss Rebecca Firth, Business School Dr Chengguo Shen, Medicine Dr David Moxey, Aeronautics (5 years) Mr John Punter, Finance (16 years) Dr Juan Garcia De La Cruz Lopez, Mr Robert Sherer, Civil and Dr Katy Murphy, ESE Aeronautics Environmental Engineering (5 years) Mr Peter Sulsh, Chemistry (45 years)
This data is supplied by HR and covers staff joining the College during the period 7 March 2017 – 24 April 2017. This data was correct at the time of going to press. FOR COMPLETE DETAILS: events highlights www.imperial.ac.uk/whats-on May 2017
12.00– 12.00– SAT 6 MAY 18.00 SUN 7 MAY 17.00
Explore the unexpected side of science with a weekend full of hands-on research activities, talks, music and dance for all ages
Pop-up Alumni Visitor Centre performances Alumni Zone Innovation Zone (Level ) (Level ) 2
Robot Zone Health and Futures Energy and Body Zone Zone Environment Zone (Great Hall, Level )
Discover Zone Dance QUEEN’S GATE Tent
Kids Music Explore Zone Café Tent EXHIBITION ROAD Festival Entrance Info Tent Shop
Haemo Street food market Street food market Globe Inn Interactive IMPERIAL COLLEGE ROAD Tent
Face painting Festival Entrance
Food KEY Zone Contemplation Toilets Cashpoint Seating Zone (Level ) Disabled Food and First aid Gloucester Talks toilet drink point South (Level ) Road Baby Kensington change
Superbugs Zone
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Designed and produced by Communications and Public Affairs, Imperial College London // Principal photography: Imperial College London // Additional images: Chase Stone (p6, Breakaway Britain), NASA (p11, pyramids)