NEWS STUDENT NEWS PROFILE FOCUS Higgs boson Stage and screen Andy Allford, former Social Science, discovery at CERN stardom for alumna Olympic coach Health & Medicine 3 6 8 10 CommentFor staff, students & friends Issue 201 | October 2012 Events COL / GETTY I IAN MACN Arts & Humanities Festival 13 – 27 October, daily events, Strand Campus Go Global Week 29 October – 2 November, daily events, Strand Campus King’s PhD student and Olympic champion Katherine Grainger MBE (right) celebrates her London 2012 gold in the women’s double sculls with rowing partner Anna Watkins Sporting glory for King’s and country Throughout London 2012 King’s phenomenal achievement but having crimes they have committed,’ she told were alumni Frances Houghton students, staff and alumni have had three in the past I wanted a gold the Daily Telegraph. ‘I was never a and Corinna Lawrence. Frances been at the forefront of the action. one to complete the collection.’ natural academic but I find the subject (BA Hispanic Studies, 2003), Edmond J. Safra PhD student Katherine Grainger Congratulating the Olympic absolutely fascinating, particularly who previously won silver medals at Memorial Lecture MBE secured a gold medal, alumna champion, Principal Professor Rick because I get to discuss it with some of Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008 rowing 14 November, 18.30 – 20.00 Ashleigh Ball a bronze, whilst many Trainor said: ‘This extremely well- the top people in law and order.’ with Katherine Grainger, raced in the Edmond J. Safra Lecture Theatre, others competed, volunteered and deserved recognition is a credit to King’s alumna and midfielder women’s quadruple sculls final and performed, contributing to the Katherine, her distinguished work Ashleigh Ball (MA Nutrition & finished in sixth place. Strand Campus monumental success of the Games. and her awe-inspiring dedication. Dietetics, 2009) made her Olympic Corinna (BSc Mathematics with Katherine Grainger MBE, together Her spectacular accomplishments debut at London 2012 and secured Management & Finance, 2012) with rowing partner Anna Watkins, are a source of great pride to everyone third place on the podium, claiming reached the last 32 in the second won gold in the women’s double at King’s and many of us were GB’s first women’s Olympic hockey round of the women’s individual épée sculls, making history as the first gathered around the television to medal in 20 years. The team faced a (fencing) but was beaten by European British woman to win medals at four witness her triumph.’ The window heartbreaking defeat in the semi-finals champion Simona Gherman from successive Olympic Games. In the featuring Katherine in the Strand against Argentina, but bounced back Romania. Corinna said: ‘To be told semi-final the unbeaten pair smashed ‘Hall of Fame’ has been updated to to win 3-1 against rival New Zealand that I achieved a first in my degree on the Olympic record by nearly five reflect her latest achievement. in the bronze medal match. Speaking the day that I moved into the Olympic seconds. Having won silver at Sydney 2012-3 will be a momentous year for to local Gloucestershire newspaper Village was a very special moment for 2000, Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, Katherine, who is nearing completion The Citizen, Ashleigh said: ‘Gold is me – it clarified that I made the most Katherine was overjoyed finally to of her PhD in the ethics of criminal what we came here to do, but we have of my time, working hard to balance claim the gold title for Team GB and law at The Dickson Poon School of now won bronze which is fantastic. my education and my fencing.’ told the Guardian: ‘On the podium Law. Her research focuses on ‘some To leave without a medal would have Corinna described her ‘passion we both knew how special it was. It’s of the most extreme murderers in been really tough, so it’s a massive and drive to succeed’ and has high More information the fulfilment of a lot of blood, sweat Britain, people who will never be relief to come away with something.’ hopes for Rio 2016: ‘I want to be on For more details on these events, and tears. Any Olympic medal is a released from prison because of the Also representing Team GB the podium in four years time and 2 please turn to page 12 News A word from the Principal King’s and the Games (continued) G N 1 I will do everything I can to make weekly College staff ezine, I millions of people. Danny Boyle was LEEN K LEEN that happen.’ volunteered in a wide range of roles Ai incredible – he was there at every Another alumna and Britain’s to ensure the smooth running of the DR rehearsal and made sure he spoke to Dear colleagues and students most experienced female Paralympic Olympics and Paralympics. Medical us whenever he could.’ Ruth, who Welcome to the new academic year. archer Pippa Britton (Geography, student David Gee was one of 7,500 performed in the pastoral ‘Green and It has been a momentous summer of 1983) made it to the final eight in the London Ambassadors, welcoming Pleasant’ section, added: ‘All those celebration in London thanks to the Women’s Individual Compound – visitors from around the world weekends I spent rehearsing were Olympic and Paralympic Games. Open (archery). She describes her to the capital. ‘It was an amazing truly worth it. The atmosphere in We have celebrated the gold medal anticipation of competing at London experience and there’s been a fantastic the stadium was electric.’ of King’s PhD student and rower, 2012: ‘The spectre of performing atmosphere in London,’ he said. ‘I am Ana Bajo, a researcher in the Katherine Grainger MBE, and the before a home crowd makes this so happy I volunteered and can’t wait Institute of Psychiatry, performed in bronze medal of alumna Ashleigh year’s Games especially exciting. to do some more!’ the Paralympic opening ceremony. Ball for hockey. Many of you have It’s a wonderful opportunity for all On the eve of the Games three ‘I was part of the ‘umbrella’ group, shared your experiences of the those people who help you achieve King’s torchbearers (Dr Ian reflecting a rainbow of colours. Games with us for the cover story. your dreams – the physios, coaches, McFadzean, Senior Lecturer in The crowd was incredibly welcoming One major development over psychologists, etc – to be able to see Pharmacology, Pharmacology PhD Torchbearer and Senior Lecturer Dr Ian McFadzean – we could hear their cheers from our the summer has been the RIBA you compete. Friends and family student Abigail Morris and LLB Law dressing rooms’, she said. competition to design a landmark don’t often get the chance to come student Laura Arowolo) carried the of Wonder’ opening ceremony and Closing the Olympic Games redevelopment of the Strand and support you.’ Michael Smith, torch through London on its journey joining the throng of performers in musical harmony, Abbi Tew, Quadrangle. The six shortlisted undergraduate Geography student to the Olympic Park. Dr McFadzean were BA Hispanic Studies student Admissions Officer for the Florence architectural practices displayed and Paralympic hopeful (featured on described it as an ‘unforgettable and Don Samkange, recent Theology Nightingale School of Nursing & their design concepts in Somerset the cover of the last issue of Comment), humbling’ experience, adding: ‘To see graduate Sophie Colbourne, and Ruth Midwifery, sang ‘Here Comes the House East Wing in August and trained with and supported the GB so many people, including friends from Shepherd, Communications Officer, Sun’ as part of vocal group Urban many staff and students provided five-a-side football team in reserve King’s, lining the streets of London King’s Health Partners. Sophie, who Voices Collective, which she feedback. We will be announcing but did not make an appearance that early on a Thursday morning just was a dancer in the ‘Thanks Tim’ cast described as a ‘once in a lifetime the winning design shortly. on the pitch. to get a glimpse of the flame, really and a placard bearer at the Paralympic experience.’ Abbi added: ‘I was truly In September the National Many more King’s students and brought home to me how much the opening ceremony, said: ‘It was honoured to be part of the ceremony Student Survey 2012 results were staff contributed to the Games outside city took the Olympics into its heart.’ the most exhilarating experience and sing with some incredible people published. Our aim has been to of the competitive events. Our ‘Games The following night, all eyes of my life. I made some incredible – both the headliners and my fellow have all areas scoring above 80 per Makers’, who have featured in the turned to the stadium for the ‘Isles friends and got to dance in front of choir members.’ cent for overall satisfaction and I am EE G pleased to say this has been achieved id HOCKEY D for all but three subject areas. There DAV LAN G N are some very strong performances E with ten areas scoring 90 per cent or above. However, it is disappointing that levels of overall satisfaction have dropped by more than 10 per cent in Medicine, Management and Classics. As Medicine and Management have large student numbers, this has had a particularly significant impact on the College’s overall satisfaction score which has dropped to 82 per cent, from 84 per cent in 2011. This drop will have negative consequences for King’s ranking in UK league tables throughout 2012-3. We will explore the reasons for the poor performance of these areas, and will work closely with KCLSU to take vigorous King's graduate and Bronze medallist Ashleigh Ball (left) with hockey teammate Nicola White Medical student David Gee was one of the 70,000 Games Makers who volunteered at London 2012 remedial measures to ensure that our performance improves.