www.york.ac.uk The University of York Alumni Magazine 2011 Autumn/Winter The next generation next The YORK GRADUATES Anthony Horowitz Award-winning author Award-winning Guest Editor Vital connections: making the most of alumni networks Find a voice: an interview with alumna and author Linda Grant Surround sound: new system aids hearing test News in brief HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2010/11 November n York was named University of the Year 2010 in the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards for its drive to combine academic excellence with social inclusion, and its record in scientific discovery. Vice-Chancellor Professor Brian Cantor with Lord Burns, Chairman of Santander Universities which sponsor the prestigious THE award The CLL team celebrates 25 years n University of York’s Centre for n The Ron Cooke Hub, York’s Lifelong Learning celebrated its stunning new building on 25th anniversary. During its 25 Heslington East, designed years, the Centre has helped more to encourage innovation than 15,000 citizens of York and and research collaborations, the surrounding area. opened for business. December January n York announced a major cultural programme with the creation of n The University of York’s The Jiangning Foundation, to facilitate research, teaching and other links Post-war Reconstruction and between Chinese and British cultural institutions and universities. Development Unit (PRDU), in n The University won a Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) award partnership with the Institute for outstanding achievement in planning for the expansion on for International Education (IIE) Heslington East. based in Washington DC, hosted a major international conference on the reconstruction of Higher Education in Iraq. n The Centre for Excellence in the Teaching and Learning of Enterprise (CETLE), which aims to help create the next generation of successful young entrepreneurs, moved to its new home in the Ron Cooke Hub at The University of York Magazine for Alumni and Friends of The University the heart of Heslington East. The Law and Management School on Heslington East February April n Scientists at the University’s n Music by two York alumni featured Department of Health Sciences in the wedding of Prince William and were awarded over £3m to Kate Middleton at Westminster Abbey. continue a groundbreaking Paul Mealor’s (Music, Alcuin, 1997) latest research project which is work, Ubi caritas was performed during helping cancer patients in the ceremony and, Duncan Stubbs Yorkshire and across the UK. (Music, Alcuin, 1982), who is now principal n The University won Wellcome director of music for RAF Music Services, Trust funding for a new inter- Paul Mealor conducted the Central Band of the RAF. disciplinary PhD programme that will offer novel approaches to research into infectious diseases. May March n The Annual Alumni Reunion was attended by over 150 alumni across weekend. Read more about this event on page 14. n War of the Roses: the Carter- James trophy returned to York as this year’s tournament resulted in victory with an overwhelming win of 176.5 points to York. n Heslington East won a 2011 Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Award for architectural excellence. June n A team of scientists from during excavations on the the University of York were University’s campus. commissioned to examine n York hosted a new National the role biodiversity plays in Deviancy Conference entitled the ecosystems provided by ‘Critical Perspectives on Crime, Britain’s landscapes. Deviance, Disorder and Social Harm’ 43 years after the University was the venue for the world’s first n The York Festival of Ideas was conference to explore the nature launched. Read more about this of deviancy. on page 48. n The York Annual Fund telephone n University of York Archaeology appeal raises over £68,000 thanks students unearthed a rare to generous support from alumni. Bronze Age cremation urn Read more on page 36. July n The Mother and Infant Research Unit (MIRU) based in the n YorkSpace, our University’s Department of online community Health Sciences launches a for alumni and £1m collaborative programme friends launches aimed at encouraging improved to the Class of nutrition for mothers and infants. 2011. Read more n Researchers in the Stockholm on page 20. Environment Institute (SEI) at the University develop a new approach to help households reduce their carbon footprint. Contents York welcomes… A campus for the 21st century 8 10 Back on campus York graduates – the next generation 14 22 Surround sound Continuing the work of a medical pioneer 28 30 Finding a voice Media moguls 44 50 Conserving Sport at York the future 54 60 Front cover Recognise anyone? Left to right – Daniel Gilks, Annelies Vredeveldt, Helen Fall, Amit Sinha, Leo Plunkett, Alex Houlton, Dominka Gruszka, Timur Tatlioglu, Matthew Freckleton, Heba Khalil, Primrose Lovett and Claire Wood. Cover credit: Ian Martindale – www.ianmartindale.co.uk. Welcome to grapevine t is my pleasure to mark the academic year 2011/12 by sending you your latest Iissue of grapevine. grapevine is a window onto the life of the University of York – the place where you spent some of the most important years of your life. But once you have been a York student, you have become part of an extended family. You have joined a worldwide continuing community. York is your university for life. I hope that within the pages of this latest issue you will find stories which will inspire you to continue to play a role at the University, to get back in touch, and to with the ability to benefit from an with alumna and internationally take part in one of the many events education at the University of York will renowned author Linda Grant coming up over the course of the year. be able to do so, independent of their (English with Educational Studies, Right now on campus we are financial circumstances. Derwent, 1975) is also testament to poised to welcome a new intake of At the same time as coping with the quality of our graduates (page 44). undergraduate and postgraduate major changes in government financial And we are of course grateful to students. It is vital from the moment support for undergraduate students, alumnus Anthony Horowitz (English, they get here that they know that the we are also faced with substantial Vanburgh, 1977) for being the Guest education they receive will not only cuts in research funding. Yet we need Editor in this issue. allow them to flourish in their chosen to ensure that our research remains Colleagues are breaking new careers, but will also provide the tools cutting edge, and of benefit to wider ground across all areas of teaching and they need for the rest of their lives. No society. I am proud to say that my research every day, so don’t just rely matter when you graduated from York colleagues are rising tremendously on grapevine for your latest news. we believe you never really leave us. well to all these challenges. Please sign up for our regular email We want our newest arrivals, like grapevine can only provide a bulletins by registering your email and all our students, graduates and alumni, brief glimpse into our innovative, contact details at www.YorkSpace.net. to know that one of the best things inclusive and highly successful We are committed to including we offer is membership of a vibrant community. I urge you to come and you in the life of the University of community and international network. re-visit York, and see for yourself. York, now and always. Do please stay Never more than now has the support You might like to attend the Festival in touch and let us know if there is Welcome to Welcome of the University of York community of Ideas, which was launched this anything we can do to add to and been of such significance. summer in partnership with the City improve your experience of being There are enormous challenges of York, (page 48). Or perhaps you will a member of our extended family. in higher education. With increased want to seek out help with your career Wishing you an enjoyable and fees, it is essential that we maintain development through the Professional fulfilling year. grapevine the aspirations of young people, Networks. There is always a good particularly those from disadvantaged reason to stay connected with us. backgrounds, to seek out a university Our feature article this issue education. A huge part of this is focuses on the next generation of providing funding to help every graduates and is truly inspiring. It gives bright and talented student in need of you a sense of the calibre of students financial support. We are committed we have the good fortune to graduate Brian Cantor to assuring that every student each year. Our exclusive interview Vice-Chancellor 1 Guest Editor his issue of grapevine And I’m glad to say I do still come here times, I would imagine that graduates reminds me what a brilliant quite often. As Vice-Chancellor Brian have to consider every resource. university York is – even Cantor writes on the preceding page: Of course, one thing new graduates Tbetter, in fact, than it was when “No matter when you graduated from have at York which I didn’t is the fairly York, we believe you never leave us,” major debt of which many newer I came here to study English and this is certainly true in my case. alumni will be saddled and it’s frankly Literature and Art History Receiving a doctorate from the shameful that my generation should be (quite a long time ago). I can’t University in 2010 was as unexpected so mean in bequeathing the privileges walk across the campus and as it was agreeable and reminded me – grant-supported education – that it pass buildings like the Berrick of the long journey which, in many enjoyed itself.