Issue 261 ▸ 6 June 2013 reporterSharing stories of Imperial’s community Human impact The Business School researchers tackling big global social and economic issues → centre pages HEALTH PARTICULAR FILM STAR FOSSIL REVOLUTION PILGRIMAGE New fossil New centre will Friends of named after unpick nature Imperial visit the Johnny Depp and nuture in particle smasher PAGE 6 human health at CERN PAGE 3 PAGE 10 2 >> newsupdate www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 6 June 2013 • issue 261 East meets west I mperial College London signed a memo- ogy, engineering, medicine and business. randum of understanding on 15 May with The early response has been strong. EDI’ TOR S CORNER Zhejiang University (ZJU), one of China’s ZJU and Imperial agreed this week to leading universities. explore the possibility of ZJU co-investing in a future R&D facility at Imperial West, The big At the launch event in March of the vision as well as enhancing the two universities’ for Imperial West, the College’s new cam- academic links. picture pus in White City, President & Rector Sir Sir Keith O’Nions said: “Our ambition Keith O’Nions set out an idea for an inno- for collaborating with other organisations Imperial is no stranger vative approach to creating a university at Imperial West – and certainly with ZJU – to invention; it’s one of campus. is to achieve a level of excellence together the things the College is The College invited proposals from that would not be possible apart. best known for. Advanced potential global partners in business, “We look forward to working with ZJU composites for motorsport, industry and academia to co-locate on the colleagues to establish how the two insti- An artist’s impression of Imperial sensors to explore distant campus and collaborate with Imperial’s tutions will benefit from the potential West. To see more visit: http:// planets, vaccines for world-leading experts in science, technol- partnerships.” youtu.be/iKwN1R3bXvQ tropical diseases – all tangible things to come out of research here. But there’s also invention that’s perhaps a little President & Rector thanks harder to pin down that relates to overarching staff after roaring success processes – something that the Business School of Festival excels at. The best ideas can’t flourish without Imperial’s President properly thought-out & Rector, Sir Keith Call to the ways of delivering them O’Nions, extended a big – whether that’s in the thank you to everyone summer ball healthcare, construction who took time to make or environmental sector. this year’s Imperial This issue we take a look Festival such an Imperial staff and their guests are invited at how research done by enjoyable event. to attend the Imperial College Union academics at the Business Summer Ball 2013 on Saturday 22 June. School is having an impact The Festival, on Friday The theme for this year is ‘1920s on virtually every facet of 3 May and Saturday 4 Prohibition’ and guests are encouraged society (pages 8 and 9). May, showcased the to dress for this theme. Looking at the bigger best of Imperial with picture is a theme that hands-on science dem- A funfair, fireworks and food stalls will continues this month with onstrations, music, be among the attractions at the the opening of the MRC- comedy, dance and art for all ages. festival-style event. Doors NIHR Phenome Centre, Sir Keith said: “It made me very proud to see staff and stu- open at 17.30 for those which moves on from the dents representing every single academic department across attending the optional human genome project the College, engaging with thousands of visitors in creative dinner, 19.30 for by looking at the effects and imaginative ways. non-diners. of our genes, our lifestyle “The Imperial Festival is a tremendous opportunity for the and our environment (page College to showcase its activities to a whole host of guests The first 550 3). With a more complete including our alumni and the general public. tickets cost understanding of the “I would like recognise the talent, energy and dedication £35, with ‘nature-nurture’ question it of everyone who helped to bring the campus to life and create dinner an could revolutionise health such a warm, vibrant and welcoming atmosphere.” additional £30. and medical research. This year, approximately 10,000 visitors attended the Festi- ANDREW CZYZEWSKI, ACTING EDITOR val, which was 50 per cent up for alumni and other guests from last year. It was organised and run by more than 400 academ- For tickets visit: Reporter is published every three weeks during term time ics, staff and student volunteers from the College. bit.ly/17VArGV in print and online. The next — COLIN SMITH, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS publication day is 27 June. Contact Andrew Czyzewski: To watch a selection of videos from the festival visit: bit.ly/18KG8V4 and for a [email protected] special Festival edition of Imperial podcast visit: bit.ly/12qCCjQ 3 www.imperial.ac.uk/reporter | reporter | 6 June 2013 • issue 261 >> newsupdate China alumni tour strengthens links The President & Rector, Sir Keith O’Nions, hosted a series of events for alumni across China last month, featuring special aca- demic lectures by College staff. Over 100 Imperial alumni gathered at Tsinghua University in Beijing on 13 May for the College’s largest ever alumni event in the Chinese capital. Guests heard from Professor Jianguo Lin (Mechanical Engi- neering) about how his work in lightweight manufacturing is having an impact on the automotive and aerospace industries. Among the guests was the President of Tsinghua University and Imperial alumnus, Professor Chen Jining (Civil and Environmental New centre will unpick nature Engineering PhD 1992), who reminisced about his time at the Col- lege: “I miss a lot about Imperial and London: the weather, M&S, and nurture in human health the BBC, Hyde Park and, most of all, student life. But I’m delighted to see Imperial here. There’s a Y esterday saw the official launch of the Imperial-based MRC-NIHR Phenome special link between Imperial Centre which will put the UK at the forefront of a revolution in health and medi- and China and we are stronger cal research. together.” At the Shanghai alumni event The new centre, a collaboration between Imperial, King’s College London, and on 16 May, Professor Yike Guo analytical technology companies the Waters Corporation and Bruker Biospin, (Computing) gave a special lec- is funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC) and the National Institute for ture on big data, discussing Health Research (NIHR). the realities, possibilities and The centre will enable scientists to better understand and tackle diseases challenges for universities and that are triggered by environment as well as genetic causes, and increase the businesses. potential to develop strategies for their prevention and treatment. The tour concluded in Hong Kong on 19 May, where Profes- Professor Jeremy Nicholson, Head of the Department of Surgery and Cancer, sor David Gann, Vice-President (Development and Innovation), is the Director of the Centre. He said: “The sequencing of the human genome described how Imperial is “innovating the innovation process” in generated a lot of excitement among scientists and the public, but studying our science, engineering, medicine and business. genes has revealed less than we had hoped about common diseases such as He introduced Imperial West as “a place where colleagues can cancer, diabetes and heart disease. By studying the phenome we can examine come together and challenge preconceived ideas and solve big the effects of our genes, our lifestyle and our environment. What we discover problems”. about the causes of disease can be used to inform healthcare.” One of the guests present, Ken Ho (Civil Engineering 1984, MSc The Centre has secured funding of £10 million from the MRC and NIHR for 1985), current chair of the Imperial College Alumni Association of its first five years. During this time it will test the thousands of samples already Hong Kong, explained why he gives his time to lead the work of stored by researchers working at the NIHR’s Biomedical Research Centres and the cause: “I fell in love with Imperial when a student. Through the Units. The centres and units are collaborations between hospitals and universi- association we bring together like-minded people, all holding a ties that focus on ensuring that patients benefit from the most promising medi- passion to pursue excellence.” cal research. — ANDREW SCHEUBER, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS — KERRY NOBLE, COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS S urvey of Imperial Antibiotic use studied in hospitals academics launched Doctors are influenced by ‘prescribing etiquette’ when The Queen’s The Business School is launching a deciding whether to give a patient antibiotics, according Tower was built survey of Imperial academics to gather to new research by the Centre for Infection Prevention and Management at Imperial. The growing crisis of antibiotic in 1887 as a in brief views on essential aspects of academic life. The survey is being carried out as resistance means doctors are under increasing pressure commemorative part of a larger research project sup- to cut down on their use. The study found that the cultural building in honour ported by the Management Board called rules within doctors’ specialties most strongly dictate their Academic Engagement at Imperial. It decision to prescribe antibiotics. of Queen Victoria’s covers all activities in which academics Golden Jubilee. work with industry, policy and practice, T ooling up such as collaborative research, contract The surrounding research, and entrepreneurial and advi- Helping the UK to develop more hi-tech industries will be buildings were demolished in the sory activities.