The free magazine for The University of Manchester UniLife 1st November 2004 Volume 2 Issue 4 Historic Day as University is granted Royal Charter 2 UniLife NewsDigest A summary of the key news in this issue of UniLife: Contents 3 Royal Appointment The University of Manchester was officially launched on 22 October when HM The Queen 4 News 3 visited the campus to grant it’s Royal Charter 7 Research which was presented to Co-Chancellor Anna Ford. This is the first Royal Charter to be granted to a 8 Profile University this century. 10 People 12 Inauguration of The University of Manchester Palaeontologist Dr Phil Manning explains how 15 President’s Presentation dinosaurs used their feathers to help them move 5 with the aid of one of the world’s fastest 16 Campus Developments production cars for a new BBC series. 18 What’s On 20 Seminars 21 Noticeboard Scientists at the University have discovered the world’s first single atom-thick fabric, which 22 Classified Ads 7 reveals the existence of a new class of materials and may eventually lead to computers made 24 Just the Job from a single molecule. HM The Queen presents Royal Charter to Co-Chancellor Anna Ford. Photo by Howard Barlow Profile of Steve George, General Secretary of The University of Manchester Students’ Union, 8 now the largest students’ union, with a student body of more than 36,000. President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Alan Gilbert gave a Foundation Day presentation to staff in the Whitworth Hall on 22 October 15 following the Queen’s visit. He said the ambitious plans in the Manchester 2015 Agenda were of “national and international significance” as well as being crucial for the North-West. UniLife 3 Royal Appointment d Barlow ar Photo by How Even a typically wet Manchester day couldn’t dampen the spirits as The University of Manchester welcomed Her Majesty The Queen last week. HRH visited the University on Friday 22 In the ceremony, the University’s After lunch she signed the University’s October to bestow a Royal Charter on the President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Visitor’s Book and received a posy, new institution created by the merger of Alan Gilbert also read the Foundation before undertaking a walkabout in the the Victoria University of Manchester Declaration and honoured the four Old Quadrangle where she met and UMIST. The University of Manchester founders of the new University – students and staff of the University. is the first university this century to Professor John Garside, Professor Sir (pictured) receive a Royal Charter. Martin Harris, Professor Tom Hinchcliffe and Dr Rodger Pannone. In the afternoon President and Vice- The Charter was handed over to Co- Chancellor Professor Alan Gilbertgave Chancellor Anna Ford in an Inauguration Following the ceremony, the Queen took a Foundation Day Presentation to staff Ceremony held in the Whitworth Hall. the opportunity to meet with a group of followed by a reception (see page 15). The ceremony was witnessed by around students representing the University’s 500 invited guests from the University four Faculties, before attending a drinks For a full report of the Queen’s visit, see and the wider Manchester community. reception and lunch. pages 12-14. www.manchester.ac.uk/inauguration 4 UniLife News Museum Shortlisted Although it didn’t win, it was in good The multi-million pound redevelopment company in its two Special Awards of the museum, which was completed categories: The Crown Estate Conservation last year, now provides improved visitor Award and the RIBA Inclusive Design facilities and access including a café and Award. The first was won by The King’s new galleries to display more of the Library at the British Museum and the Museum’s fascinating collections. second by the City of Manchester stadium. THE RIBA Special Awards are chosen from Tristram said:”Whilst I regret not being RIBA Award Winners and are judged by able to brandish a prize victoriously in The Manchester Museum was panels including specialist judges who this occasion, the inclusion of The visit the shortlisted buildings. Manchester Museum for two awards at recently shortlisted from hundreds so prestigious an event, reflects well on Musuem Director Tristram Besterman, of applicants for two national attended the awards dinner in London on the University, and underlines the awards from the Royal Institute of 16 October with architect Ian Simpson, importance of commissioning the along with key political, arts and highest quality of design as we build the British Architects (RIBA). architectural figures. new campus.” www.museum.man.ac.uk UMIP Scores Early Goal Peter Sanderson, UMIP Chairman UMIP, (The University of UMITEK is a successful consulting and Peter Sanderson, UMIP Chairman, says that product-based company operating in the field the opportunity to sell some shares and at Manchester Intellectual Property of energy management and devices, corrosion the same time launch the company and its Ltd), the University’s wholly owned and protection services and software and management into a new era by scaling with a sales turnover of £8m p.a. Intellectual Property down UMIP’s own involvement in UMITEK, The deal, worth a substantial amount of makes perfect sense in the university spin- commercialisation company cash to the University, allows UMITEK to out process;“It allows us to reinvest in earlier formed on 1 October, has got off to move to its next business plan phase stage companies, where UMIP’s expertise which is set for entrepreneurial growth lies” said Peter. In addition, UMITEK provides a flying start by realising a lump and increased drive on its existing another route to market for the University’s sum from the sale of shares arising business and more opportunities to researchers to pursue, if they have inventions acquire new businesses and inventions. or research and consultancy interests that from the re-structuring of one of its The University will continue to hold a match UMITEK’s expertise, for example in spin-out companies, UMITEK. significant number of shares in UMITEK. the oil and gas and energy sectors. www.umitek.com UniLife 5 News ‘Noble’ Prize for Phil Curator of Palaeontology at the Manchester Museum, Dr Phil Manning, had the enviable task of driving around the city in a Noble M400 car last month as part of the filming for a new BBC series on dinosaurs. But what does one of the world’s fastest Phil said:” It wasn’t just an excuse to The programme scheduled for broadcast production cars with a top speed of 200 get a nice car for a few days, we next summer, is a new series which builds mph have to do with dinosaurs? thought it would be an accessible and on the highly successful “Walking with very visual way of explaining how Dinosaurs”. It is to be presented by Bill Oddie and includes experts like Phil Experts know that some dinosaurs had dinosaurs would have used their Manning. Made four years ago, the feathers and one of the programmes looks feathers. The car has a huge rear spoiler impressive computer generated images at how they would have used them. It is which creates a downward force, used in that production have since been thought that they provided insulation and helping to keep it firmly on the road at surpassed. This new programme will use also helped them move around providing high speeds. The concept of a predator the latest technology and cutting edge streamlining, drag and also enabling them as fast, agile and streamlined is just palaentological research to investigate to steer - like aelerons on an aircraft. like a car.” what we know already about dinosaurs. School of Chemistry Opens The University of Manchester's School of Chemistry was officially launched on 15 October by former member of University staff and eminent scientist Professor, the Lord Lewis of Newnham. When combined, the new School will be with the addition of a new teaching Professor O'Brien said: "We look forward From left: one of the largest in Europe, with more wing, at a cost of £13m. with confidence to the challenge of Professors John than 600 undergraduates and more than building the new School and of adding to Perkins (Faculty “We are also making significant Dean), Lord Lewis 60 academic staff. Work will shortly begin our distinguished record of achievement." investment in new posts, intending to of Newnham and on an extension costing over £13 million become one of the very best schools of that will provide new state-of-the-art Professor Lord Lewis of Newnham, Professor Paul Chemistry in Europe, as well as one of the O'Brien teaching laboratories and allow both of largest. Staff from the School will also Warden Emeritus of Robinson College, the former departments to co-locate on a make significant contributions to research Cambridge, is an eminent Professor of single site from 2006. in two new University research centres, Inorganic Chemistry and a major Head of School, Professor Paul O'Brien the Manchester Interdisciplinary Biocentre contributor to the development of and the Photon Science Institute." said: "The formation of the new School national and international science policy. will bring great change. We are aiming to In its first year, the School will admit over He was Professor of Inorganic Chemistry integrate both operations on one site in 210 new first degree students, more than at the Victoria University of Manchester an extended and refurbished building, any other Chemistry School in the UK. in the late 1960's and early 1970's. 6 UniLife News What do you think? The University’s 9,000 staff have the opportunity to have their say in a campus-wide survey which is being launched later this month.