The maGazIne for The sTaff of The UnIversity of CambrIdGe lenT Term 2013 hit the switch: how to cut energy use Genius of scale: I, fly: a life in flies, Chopin reinvented midges and gnats page 6 page 10 snapshoT A friend to the University: Dr Alan Reece, who donated £5m to the Institute ConTenTs of Manufacturing for its new home at West Cambridge, passed away on New Year’s Eve aged 85. He was one of the Cover North East’s most successful business- The University’s first Switch men, and the mind behind engineering Off Week is a chance for staff business the Reece Group, which has a and students to get to grips turnover in excess of £211m and 450 with the importance of employees. cutting Cambridge’s carbon footprint. Turn to page eight. 2-5 news round-up Winter shot: January’s snow may have 6-7 Feature brought about travel disruption, school Professor John Rink of the Faculty of closures and rolling news coverage on Music explains how a new online tool the inclement weather, but it also gave can help researchers, performers and the University’s photographer at large listeners appreciate the restless genius Sir Cam the opportunity to capture of Fryderyk Chopin. some of Cambridge’s finest buildings in 8-9 Cover feature winter clothing. Here is the Sainsbury Laboratory on a particularly bleak 10-11 Profile afternoon. More pictures can be found on Dr Henry Disney’s lifetime commitment the University’s Flickr site at http://www. to Diptera (flies, midges and gnats) has flickr.com/photos/cambridgeuniversity. brought him into contact with all manner of people and places. SIR CAM 12 People royal visit: The Duchess of Cambridge met staff and students during her and 13 Small adverts Prince William’s visit to the city and 14-15 Prizes, awards and honours University in November of last year. Among other events, the royal couple 16 Backpage joined more than 400 students, Heads of Houses from the 31 Colleges, as well Front cover photograph: Sir Cam as long-serving University assistant staff and postdoctoral researchers on Senate House lawn. SIR CAM newsletter The Newsletter is published for the staff of the new appointment: Professor Geoffrey University of Cambridge and is produced by the Ward of Royal Holloway College, Office of External Affairs and Communications. University of London, will become Please send in ideas for content and other ways Homerton’s next Principal on 1 October we can improve the publication. succeeding Dr Kate Pretty. Professor Ward Tel: (3)32300 or email [email protected]. Suggestions for articles for the next edition is currently Vice Principal for Students should reach the Editor by 6 April. and Staff at Royal Holloway, where he Editor: Andrew Aldridge previously served as Dean of Arts. Prior Design: www.creative-warehouse.co.uk to that he was Professor of English and Printers: Labute Printers Head of Department at the University Contributors: Andrew Aldridge, Becky Allen, of Dundee before taking on the role of Jacqueline Garget, Sheila Kiggins, Tom Kirk. Deputy Principal. newsletter onlIne www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/newsletter 2 | lent term 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSletter WHAT’s NEW Your comments and contributions are always welcome. Please send them to the Editor at [email protected] The deadline for the next issue is 6 April. CrI transfer to strengthen cancer research Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge The integration of the Institute Research Institute – based in the Li brought together the skills and hard Ka Shing building on the Biomedical work of two project teams, with staff Campus – became part of the on both sides providing expertise and University on 1 January 2013. advice in human resources, finance, The University and Cancer procurement, estates, IT, health and Research UK have also announced safety and legal services. the appointment of Professor Simon Professor Patrick Maxwell, Head Tavaré as the next Director of the of the School of Clinical Medicine newly branded Cancer Research UK and Regius Professor of Physic, said: Cambridge Institute, succeeding Sir “Cambridge is extremely strong in Bruce Ponder. cancer research. The Institute coming The transfer will strengthen the into the University is an important University’s presence in cancer – one step in bringing our strengths of its strategic research initiatives together to accelerate progress in – and benefit the Institute and its understanding the biology of cancer researchers by facilitating interactions and developing new approaches to not only with partners on the Cambridge. Its key research strands premises – and approximately 250 treatment.” Biomedical Campus, but also across focus on: staff to become a department within Professor Tavaré said: “It is an other research disciplines, particularly l Basic research into the cellular and the School of Clinical Medicine. honour to be chosen to direct in the Biological and Physical molecular biology of cancer Cancer Research UK will continue to the Institute after its move to the Sciences. l Research in molecular imaging, core-fund the Institute, in addition to University. The Cambridge Institute Since it was formally opened genomics, bioinformatics and providing significant grant funding looks forward to working with Cancer by the Queen in February 2007, computational biology to other departments within the Research UK and the University to the Cambridge Institute – one of l Translational research on specific University. uncover more of cancer’s secrets.” five CRUK institutes in the UK – cancer sites has established an international l Clinical investigations including reputation for academic and experimental medicine-based research excellence, building on clinical studies and trials. strong scientific and clinical links Cancer Research UK transferred with Cambridge University Hospitals the assets of the Institute – both NHS Foundation Trust, and across equipment and the lease on the NWC: approval given for phase one The Regent House, the University’s have towards the continuing success governing body, has given formal of Cambridge and the wider region.” approval for the first phase of the Phase one includes approximately North West Cambridge development. 530 homes for qualifying University Pro-Vice-Chancellor for and College staff, 450 homes for sale, Institutional Affairs Jeremy Sanders accommodation for 300 students, welcomed the decision. “The North a local centre with community West Cambridge development facilities, and substantial landscaping is a major part of the University’s and public space. There will be long-term future, providing much enhanced connections to and within of the residential and research the local area. accommodation that the University It is estimated to cost £281 million, needs as it grows over the next with the scheme in its entirety costing 20 years. £1 billion. Work will start later in “The endorsement of phase one 2013 with the first buildings due for by the Regent House illustrates the completion in late 2015. commitment that members from For more information, visit www. across the University and Colleges nwcambridge.co.uk lent term 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSletter | 3 whaT’s new reaching out to people in care Young people who grew up in care are hugely under- represented in higher education. It’s an issue the University is working to redress through taster days for potential students, foster carers and social workers This spring the University is is fun, interactive and academically gearing up to deliver its annual challenging. Oxford and Cambridge student In 2011/12, 390 children from 35 conferences. Among the biggest local authorities took part in Realise outreach events in the UK, these events. So far this year almost 200 seminars will be held in football and more young people have been to rugby stadia, as well as race courses, Cambridge for events as diverse as and engage 10,000 students and astronomical observation, enzyme teachers. analysis and understanding the But large-scale national forums science of risk. are not the only way in which the To give an authentic taste of University fulfils its commitment to university, each Realise event identifying and recruiting the very includes at least one session led best future undergraduates. by a current Cambridge academic. “For some, a Realise Above: a young person taking part in one This half-term, two carefully October’s Arts and Humanities Day of the Realise events for children in care focused events will be taking place introduced students to Archaeology event can be the first in Cambridge for a group that is and Anthropology, Philosophy, and time they meet another up by a student on October’s Science hugely under-represented in higher Experimental Psychology. “I study and Environment Day. The last thing education. Young people in care, love. I’m happy about that,” said Dr young person in care he said to me before getting on the their foster carers, social workers and Alex Kolgan, from the Department of who wants to aim for train was: ‘Thank you so much, you education advocates will come to Psychology, describing his work on have all changed my life and I’ll never Cambridge for a taste of university the biology and psychology of human university” forget today’.” life through the collegiate University’s kindness. Tom Levinson, If academic commitments allow, Realise programme. Asked why he wanted to Head of Widening a current undergraduate from a care The University was awarded get involved with Realise, Dr Participation background will also join the day and the Buttle UK Quality Mark in 2010 Kolgan explained: “Our childhood share some of their own story. in recognition of its commitment experiences play such a massive role information” about university life. Tom Levinson, Head of Widening to supporting applicants and in determining our futures. This may Sam, currently reading History Participation, who coordinates the undergraduates who have experience be especially true for individuals who at Lucy Cavendish, volunteers Realise programme for the University, of the care system.