UNIVERSI T Y yourTHE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI AND FRIENDS 2013–2014 In conversation with Hilary Mantel page 20 THE MEDICAL SCHOOL TRANSFORMED page 14 BUILDING IDENTITY EXPLORING THE CHINESE STUDENT COMMUNITY page 16 Contents COVER STORY REGULARS In conversation with 04 University news 20 Hilary Mantel The prize-winning author 10 Connect recalls her time at the Diary of events and alumni benefits University of Sheffield 22 I didn’t know they did that at Sheffield… Research by the Faculty of Science’s Project Sunshine FEATURES 25 Kaleidoscope The best club Exploring the diverse group of people associated with the University of Sheffield 09 in the world Alumni engagement at the University of Sheffield 30 Research in the news Made in Sheffield 32 Your Convocation Celebrating the centenary of stainless steel 12 33 Honours and awards The Medical 34 Your notes and news School transformed 14 Catching up with our alumni, including the Professor A world-class learning environment for future Robert Boucher Distinguished Alumni Awards doctors and health professionals 12 16 Building identity 16 Exploring the Chinese student community in Sheffield Stand out from the crowd 18 Our drive to promote access to higher education 18 22 How to make 24 parliamentary history The ground-breaking partnership with the House of Commons 08 14 Delicious Flickr Twitter Retweet Delicious Flickr Twitter Retweet The Development, Alumni Relations & Facebook: www.facebook.com/ The University of Sheffield is an Facebook EventsMySpace Office is your contactStumbleUpon point for the Digg sheffieldalumni exempt charity (X 1089) University. If you have any questions or Facebook MySpace StumbleUpon Digg Twitter: @sheffieldalumni feedback, please contact us: Editor: Kate Horton Public Relations Twitter: @sheffalumnifund Design: White Light Media DeveloDeliciousPMENT, AluMNIFlick Relatr IONS Twitter (for regular updatesRetweet on the Alumni Slash Dot Mixx Skype Technorati www.whitelightmedia.co.uk & EVENTS OFFICE Slash DoFundt and studentMixx calling team) Skype Printing: LinneyTechnorat Print i The University of Sheffield, LinkedIn: Join the ‘University 40 Victoria Street, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK Cover: Hilary Mantel Facebook MySpace StumbleUponof Sheffield DiggAlumni’ Group Credit: David Sandison Reddit FriendFeed YouTube LinkedIn Tel: +44 (0)114 222 1071 © The Independent Fax: +44 (0)114 222 1044 Reddit ScanningFriendF thiseed QR code YouTube LinkedIn Email: [email protected] will take you directly to Copyright © 2013 Website:Slash www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumniDot Mixx Skype www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumniTechnorati The University of Sheffield Newsvine SlideShare Google Google Talk 02 Newsvine SlideShare Google Google Talk Reddit FriendFeed YouTube LinkedIn Yahoo Yahoo Buzz Netvibes AOL Yahoo Yahoo Buzz Netvibes AOL Newsvine SlideShare Google Google Talk Microsoft MSN Apple MobileMe Microsoft MSN Apple MobileMe Yahoo Yahoo Buzz Netvibes AOL App Store Amazon Last.fm Mister Wong App Store Amazon Last.fm Mister Wong Microsoft MSN Apple MobileMe Qik Vimeo Viddler Virb Qik Vimeo Viddler Virb App Store Amazon Last.fm Mister Wong Tumblr WordPerss Blogger Posterous Tumblr WordPerss Blogger Posterous Qik Vimeo Viddler Virb Behance Design Float Deviant Art Design Bump Behance Design Float Deviant Art Design Bump Tumblr WordPerss Blogger Posterous Friendster Bebo Squidoo Share This Friendster Bebo Squidoo Share This Behance Design Float Deviant Art Design Bump RSS Email RSS Email Update #1 Update #1 Friendster Bebo Squidoo Share This Google Buzz Picasa Bing Meetup Google Buzz Picasa Bing Meetup RSS Email Update #1 Ebay Feedburner WordPress (blue) Drupal Ebay Feedburner WordPress (blue) Drupal Google Buzz Picasa Bing Meetup Gowalla ICQ Metacafe Yelp Gowalla ICQ Metacafe Yelp Ebay Feedburner WordPress (blue) Drupal Xing Paypal Heart Star Xing Paypal Heart Star Gowalla ICQ Metacafe Yelp Podcast Button Blue Button Orange Green Podcast Button Blue Button Orange Green Xing Paypal Heart Star Button Red Button White Button Light Blue Button Yellow Button Red Button White Button Light Blue Button Yellow Update #2 Update #2 Podcast Button Blue Button Orange Green IconDock Foursquare Coroot Ember App IconDock Foursquare Coroot Ember App Button Red Button White Button Light Blue Button Yellow Update #2 Hyves Identi.ca Hyves Identi.ca IconDock Foursquare Coroot Ember App Hyves Identi.ca A significant impact Each YEAR I have THE PLEASURE OF WRITING to graduates of the University of Sheffield and to share with our wider Sheffield family some of the successes and challenges of the last year. Whenever I visit alumni around the world, it is clear that their memories of Sheffield have had a significant impact. From London to Delhi, from Tokyo to Beijing, our graduates are proud of the work being done back in Sheffield – work which continues Vice-Chancellor Professor Sir Keith Burnett to mean something to you, whether in relation to the treatment and cure of disease, or the need for a far deeper understanding Our scientists are working on food security and renewable of the nature of our complex global problems and the ways we energy, our social scientists are addressing questions of might solve them. sustainable development and political stability, and we are You also ask me questions. How are changes in the economy developing the qualities in young people which will allow them to affecting our university? How will we use new technology in our relate their knowledge and learning to a rapidly changing world. teaching? And how can we be sure we are relevant to the needs We are helping equip the generation who must address the great of our world, without losing the very best of what a university has challenges of the future. And we certainly need them to have both meant to you? optimism and skill in how they go about that enormous task. Certainly, we are thinking deeply about all these questions. I was asked in an open meeting what sort of university I Our sense is that to truly survive and thrive, we will need to be wanted Sheffield to be. I said I wanted an adaptable university adaptable and innovative perhaps as never before. that could keep its values in the face of changes ahead. Yet this is also why I believe we have every reason to be On a recent trip to India, I repeatedly heard about the confident. This year our Engineering research income from influence of Gandhi who challenged people to ‘be the change you grants and contracts overtook that of Cambridge, due in large want to see in the world’. That is our task too. We must personify part to our focus on innovation and the application of knowledge. change and be a catalyst for better ways of solving problems. If Our Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre is transforming we can do this, I have no doubt that our future is assured. how universities and businesses work together, not to mention access to skills through our technical apprenticeships. Our Medical School is providing our students with arguably the best facilities for health education in the UK, and researchers in Medicine and Engineering are using innovative technologies to Professor Sir Keith Burnett FRS deliver healthcare which is more mobile and personal. Vice-Chancellor Welcome to the 2013 issue of Your University magazine. The popularity of the University of projects to share your work experiences Sheffield with our current students was with current students, such as mentoring highlighted by the high ranking we gained and career case studies organised by the in the Times Higher Education Student Careers Service (see page 9). These have Experience Survey 2013, coming third in a tremendous impact. the UK. The Students’ Union was again We will expand our alumni voted the best in the country. engagement activities in the coming Alumni returning to the campus will months and I hope that we can involve be astonished by the developments to more of you in these developments. facilities and buildings that are taking place. Remember you can keep informed of And, as you’ll see from the news of our our activities via our social media sites, New Engineering Building and the Medical website and e-bulletin. School (see pages 12 and 14), we are continually expanding and developing the University for new generations of students. Our alumni are integral to our future The Alumni Relations team: (left-right) Nancy Edwards, Claire Rundström and success and we are delighted when Miles Stevenson Helen Meadows. you find the time to become involved in Director of Alumni & Donor Relations www.sheffield.ac.uk/alumni: your UNIVERSITY : 03 Sheffield shines again The University Concourse with the Students’ Union (left) and Firth Court (right). Knighthood AN INDEPENDENT survey has GIVEN outstaNDING results for THE for Vice- numbers of students saying that they are satisfied with services at the University of Sheffield, for the second year in a row. Sheffield was ranked first in the Chancellor prestigious Russell Group of universities on average for its support provision: Professor KEITH BURNett, the Student Services Information Desk, Corporate Information and Computing Vice-Chancellor of the University of Services, Disability & Dyslexia Support Service, University Health Service, Careers Sheffield since 2007, was awarded a Service and Students’ Union (including clubs and societies) all ranked as Russell knighthood in the New Year Honours Group leaders. List 2013 for services to science and Students were also very satisfied with their learning and living experience, higher education. He is placing Sheffield second in the Russell Group. The University ranked number one an eminent atomic in the Russell Group for living and accommodation costs, the availability of financial physicist who has also support and the opportunity to earn money while studying. It was also seen as the played an important university with the most eco-friendly attitude to the environment. role in developing The study showed that Sheffield is second in the Russell Group as the university that science policy in the most students would recommend to their friends, with 90.9 per cent of students willing UK.