QM Alumni e-Newsletter Issue 18, March 2009
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QUEEN MARY NEWS
New Chairman of Council
Former Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue, Sir Nicholas Montagu, KCB, is announced as the next Chairman of Council at Queen Mary, University of London.
Sir Nicholas will succeed Dr Colette Bowe who stands down as Chairman in August 2009. Sir Nicholas joins the Queen Mary Council in January 2009 before taking over as Chairman.
Sir Nicholas Montagu is a distinguished public servant who has worked at the heart of Government for over twenty years. As a high-ranking civil servant, under both Conservative and Labour administrations, he has worked on some of the most vital issues of the day. Pensions, rail privatisation, and public service reform - he has played a leading role in all of these.
Speaking about his appointment, Sir Nicholas said: “I am delighted to be joining the Council of Queen Mary. As the recent Research Assessment Exercise has shown, it is one of the country’s foremost higher education institutions and I look forward very much to playing a part in its progress from strength to strength.”
Professor Philip Ogden, Acting Principal of Queen Mary said: “Chairing Queen Mary’s governing body, and holding the management to account for the College’s strategic direction, is a hugely important role and one to which Sir Nicholas will bring a wealth of experience and expertise. This is an especially important role as we move into a new strategic planning period following Queen Mary’s outstanding results in the recent Research Assessment Exercise. Along with my colleagues, I am delighted to welcome Sir Nicholas to Queen Mary.”
“On behalf of Queen Mary’s staff and students I would like to thank Dr Bowe for the outstanding and very hard work she has undertaken on our behalf over the past five years and wish her great success in her new role at Ofcom.”
Sir Nicholas is married, with two daughters, and enjoys cooking and walking in his spare time. He was knighted in 2001.
Queen Mary in top three for Higher Education Funding Council for England
With an increase of £7.28 million, Queen Mary has received the third largest cash increase in research funding in the country, following publication of the HEFCE funding allocations this week. The College has won larger research funding allocations than all 1994 Group institutions and all but Oxford and Nottingham in the Russell Group.
Acting Principal Professor Philip Ogden said: 'We are very pleased by this recognition of Queen Mary's outstanding Research Assessment Exercise results'.
Read more about the HEFCE Funding [opens in a new window]
Read more about the RAE result [PDF 216KB]
Body clock resetting process
Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have discovered a new part of the mechanism which allows our body clocks to reset themselves on a molecular level. Professor Ralf Stanewsky and his team, from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, studied the circadian clocks of Drosophila, a type of fruit fly. Circadian clocks regulate the daily fluctuations of many physiological and behavioural aspects in life, and are synchronised with our surrounding environment via light or temperature cycles. Natural changes in the length of the day mean that an animal's circadian clock often has to reset itself on a molecular level, to avoid getting out of sync with the changing calendar.
Writing in the journal Current Biology, they reported that the resetting process is governed by three factors, Cryptochrome, Jetlag and Timeless. The team's findings suggest that the light responses of circadian clocks are fine tuned on a molecular level, by small differences in the clock proteins.
Disease threat during pregnancy produces less aggressive sons
A team of scientists, including Dr Alan McElligott from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, have found that during pregnancy, when there is a threat of disease, mothers produce less aggressive sons with tougher immune systems and social dominance. The study was conducted in a series of tests using pregnant mice but the researchers believe this ability will occur in other species. Read more [opens in new window]
Artificial Intelligence
Scientists at Queen Mary have generated images, using computer artificial intelligence, to explore the visual abilities of humans. When searching for a target in pictures, they have found humans have a single brain mechanism that determines the increasing difficulty. PhD student Milan Verma (the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science) said: “Our AI system creates a unique range of different shapes that run from easy to spot differences, to hard to spot differences, through all points in between. When we then get people to actually perform the search task, we find that the time they take to perform the task varies in the way we would expect.”
Read more [opens in new window]
Other Queen Mary News [these links open in a new window]
Alastair Campbell, former Downing Street press chief, lectures to students at Queen Mary
Queen Mary, University of London welcomed Alastair Campbell, New Labour’s former Director of Communications and Strategy to speak to students as part of a new undergraduate history course ‘The Blair Government’, teaching the recent history of Tony Blair’s 10 years in office.
European team finds smallest transiting extrasolar planet ever
The CoRoT satellite has discovered a planet only twice as large as Earth orbiting a star slightly smaller than the Sun. It is the smallest extrasolar planet (planet outside our solar system) whose radius has ever been measured. The planet’s composition is not yet certain, but it is probably made predominantly of rock and water. Professor Ian Roxburgh from Queen Mary’s Astronomy Unit, who is a member of the CoRoT team, said the transit method still favoured the detection of big planets because they blocked out more light from the parent star.
cs4fn launches ‘The Magic of Computer Science’ book
Computer Science for Fun (cs4fn) launches its free online e-book ‘The Magic of Computer Science’. This book is available for free and can be downloaded from www.cs4fn.org/mathemagic/.
BARTS AND THE LONDON SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AND DENTISTRY
Institute of Dentistry
X-ray microtomography developments, originally produced for dentistry, could become useful for historians who are eager to look into ancient scrolls that would be damaged if opened. Dr Graham Davis, Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Dentistry, is leading the team at Queen Mary in the hope of making these discoveries. Microtomography was originally used to detect mineral concentrations in three dimensions, but as the technology advanced it became clear it could be used elsewhere from examining other biological systems in hospitals to analysing aircraft materials. Read more [opens in a new window]
Make me live forever
On Tuesday 17 February, a BBC programme looked at the possibilities of living forever, using scientific analysis. Dr Vulliamy and his team from the Institute of Cell and Molecular Science measured the DNA of both the presenter Michael Mosley, and the calorie-restricted individual that the programme was focusing on. The presenter embarked on a calorie restricted diet in addition to injecting himself with testosterone. He also visited a life-extension house all with the aim of seeing if any modern elixirs of youth actually work.
Other School of Medicine News [these links open in a new window]
Prostate cancer patient gets a longer and better life
In 1991, a 62 year old prostate cancer sufferer voluntarily joined the Men’s Cancer Unit’s Intermittent Hormone Therapy Trial (IHT) at Barts and The London Cancer Centre. Eighteen years on, he is now 80 years of age. This new standard for prostate cancer is a result of Professor Tim Oliver’s work on the intermittent hormone method in the UK.
New study sheds light on role of ectopic lymphoid structures in joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients
Researchers have found that structures present in the joint linings of some patients with rheumatoid arthritis are able to produce anti citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) that may be responsible for joint damage.
In a paper published in the January issue of the Americal journal PLoS Medicine, Professor Costantino Pitzalis, Head of Centre for Experimental Medicine and Rheumatology at the William Harvey Research Institute, and colleagues at King’s College London, report the first direct evidence that ectopic lymphoid structures found within synovial tissue, can produce the enzyme activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID); this enzyme can in turn trigger an immune system mechanism, producing anti-CCP antibodies which are associated with rheumatoid arthritis.
Oral steroids ineffective in the treatment of preschool virus-induced wheezing
A new study from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry has found that a common treatment for wheezing in preschool children is no more effective than a placebo.
Professor Jonathan Grigg, a paediatrician at the Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, along with colleagues from Leicester and Nottingham Universities, studied a group of 700 children between the ages of 10 and 60 months, who presented to hospital with an attack of wheezing associated with a viral infection. Half were treated with oral prednisolone, half with a placebo, and symptoms monitored by health care professionals.
ALUMNI NEWS
New Years Honours
Five alumni were honoured in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List.
James Alan Harvard Cave, OBE (q Barts, 1985) a GP, for services to healthcare in Berkshire.
Professor Kate Costeloe, CBE (q Barts, 1973) Professor of Paediatrics at the Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, was awarded a CBE for services to medicine in London.
Kelvyn Derrick, OBE (Mechanical Engineering, 1969) the Deputy Chairman of the South West Regional Development Agency, for services to engineering in the South West and to international trade. For over 10 years until 2007, Kelvyn Derrick was the Chief Executive of Hamworthy plc, an engineering company. He led its transformation from a UK exporter to being an innovative technology company with genuinely international scope and floated the company on AIM in 2004. Kelvyn chairs Regen SW, the South West International Business Forum and is on the board of Marine South West.
Carole Snee, OBE (English and Drama, 1974; MA English, 1976), was awarded an OBE for services to urban regeneration in East London. Over the past 17 years she successfully steered the development of the University of East London (UEL) as a key partner in regional development. Carole was one of the key figures behind the construction and successful development of the UEL’s Docklands campus. She retired in July 2008.
Emmanuel Akuffo, OBE (q Barts, 1969) a consultant psychiatrist in Waltham Forest, for services to medicine.
MORE ALUMNI NEWS
Samata Abudulai (Economics Finance and Management, 2004)
Samata Angel won the Young Entrepreneur of the Year at the Precious Awards 2008. Samata was the first Black British female to showcase her fashion designs during Nolcha Fashion Week in London (spring 2008). In 2007, Samata was made an Ambassador for Girls by Make your Mark, a government campaign that encourages young people to make their ideas happen.
While at Queen Mary, Samata worked for a Japanese clothing label in London as head of Marketing and Sales. She then went on to work as Head of PR for Elival Fashion Incubator, a 3-storey boutique in the prestigious Kings Road. In 2005, She set up her own clothing label, Samata Muse, focusing on designing clothes for women. Her label won ‘Best Couture of the Year’ in 2006 at the UK Urban Fashion Awards. Her designs have been worn by show business personalities such as Jennifer Lopez and Gwen Stefani.
She has launched two guidebooks entitled Fashion your life: a clothing designers guide on working your way through the fashion and designs business.
Professor Peter Ade (Physics, 1969)
The Royal Astronomical Society honoured world-leading astronomer and geophysicist, Professor Peter Ade by awarding him the prestigious Jackson-Gwilt Medal for his work on new instrumentation designs and manufacturing techniques.
The Society’s Jackson-Gwilt Medal is awarded for achievement in invention, improvement or developments in astronomical instrumentation or techniques. Professor Ade was honoured for his work in the development of cryogenic receivers for infrared astronomy.
Professor Ade began his career at Queen Mary in the 1970s where he built an instrumentation group (academic, research, and technical staff and postgraduates students) that provided instruments for both astronomical and atmospheric research. For more than 30 years, optical components designed and manufactured by his group have been used in almost every major infrared astronomical facility.
Colin Bayliss (History, 1969), a composer, has recently produced a double CD of string quartets which has been commended by Rob Barnett of Musicweb International who said, “Anyone who has any interest in the string quartet in the twentieth century has no choice - they must hear these impressive works. These works stand in the company of Bridge, Bartók and Shostakovich and are by no means dwarfed by them”. [music web link] Colin has been composing music from an early age and he now has a catalogue of over a 150 works including two operas, four symphonies, six string quartets, three piano sonatas and many other pieces for most instrumental and chamber groupings.
Michael Beraha (European Business and Hispanic Studies, 1994) has been appointed the new country Executive for France by The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, a leading global company in asset management and securities servicing. Michael will focus on ensuring clients receive the full benefit of the company's leading capabilities across its broad array of products and services. As Representative and Country Executive, he will ensure the company's regulatory requirements are fulfilled in the French market.
Michael joined The Bank of New York Mellon in 2005 and was most recently Client Executive responsible for the broker-dealer sector in Continental Europe. He had previously worked for Clearstream Banking.
Professor David Blanchflower (PhD Economics, 1985)
In an interview published in the business section of The Sunday Times, David Blanchflower, Professor of Economics at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, and a Member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy committee, talked about the recession and how he could not persuade the Bank of England to act more swiftly. “If you look back to what I was saying in January 2008, a year ago, it was that we needed to cut interest rates to avoid a recession,” Read more [opens in a new window]
Kankani Chitrasiri (Law, 2002)
Commercial High Court Judge KT Chitrasiri has been appointed to the Court of Appeal in Sri Lanka. Chitrasiri has held many high profile positions in Sri Lanka, including Chief Magistrate and District Judge in Colombo. He has also made an immense contribution towards the development of ICT law especially in accepting short messages (SMS) evidence in court proceedings and introduced the use of video conferencing to record evidence from points outside the country. His book Decisions on Intellectual Property Issues of the Commercial High Court of Sri Lanka was published in March 2005.
Lord (David) Currie of Marylebone (PhD Economics, 1978)
Lord Currie, who steps down as Chairman of the UK’s communications industry regulator Ofcom, will become a non-executive director at Royal Mail in March 2009. He takes over from Allan Leighton. Read more [opens in e new window]
Lord Currie will be giving this year’s Annual Peston Lecture on Wednesday 25 March at the Mile End Campus.
Paul Huygelen (French 1947; PhD French, 1954)
Paul Huygelen has written a book Equator Crossings – Travelogue Extraordinary,a blend of fact and fiction set against a backdrop of nineteenth century Africa, Zanzibar, Europe and Oman. The book gives an account of Henry Morton Stanley’s 999 gruelling days of exploration in a quest to discover and define the watersheds of Africa’s two gigantic rivers, the Nile and the Congo. This geographical and scientific feat that drastically changed the economic and political history of the world now provides an epic narrative of adventure, travel and romance.
Paul’s professional career has been mostly involved in international affairs which carried him across continents. One idle day, in a library of Stanley’s travels as a newspaper reporter, led him to want to know more about Stanley. His thorough knowledge of East and Central Africa helped him visualise Stanley’s progress across Africa. Although Paul has written many business reports and articles in various specialised publications, Equator Crossing - Travelogue Extraordinary is his first novel. This novel is available online at www.booksarabia.com [opens in new window]
Dr Trevor Lipscombe (Physics, 1983) [image]
Sometime Editor-in-Chief of Johns Hopkins University Press has felt that for too long too many physics books and teachers have confused the issue and as a result the subject has been poorly taught. He has written a book: The Physics of Rugby which intends to prove that physics is not mathematics or about blocks of mass M sliding down inclined planes. He argues that true physics is the process of coming up with a model that solves a problem: once your are given a problem, the solution, as with blocks, is mere mathematics.
Priced at £20, The Physics of Rugby is due to be published at the end of March 2009. Queen Mary alumni can claim a 10 per cent discount by buying the book through the NUP’s website at www.nup.com [opens in new window] using the discount code “rugby10”.
Zinan Liu (PhD Economics, 1993)
The Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, a global vacation company, has appointed Dr Zinan Liu as Managing Director of its operations in China to oversee all commercial and operational activities for three of its brands: Royal Caribbean International, Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises.
Dr Liu has over 10 years experience of helping brands grow globally. Most recently, he served as director of sales and account management for one of the world's leading travel management companies, Hogg Robinson Group. Previously, he served as vice president of China business for Crosby MTM Ltd, where he assisted major western companies expand in China.
Heather Reyes (English, 1971), a novelist and arts manager, had a Eureka moment while on holiday on the slopes of Acropolis. Heather and her partner wondered why they couldn’t find a guide providing a selection of the best writing on Athens to give them a real flavour of the place: and nothing was comparable back home. Oxygen books and their city-lit was born. This year, they produced city-lit Paris, London, Dublin, Amsterdam and Berlin. These books feature best fiction and non fiction, populat and literary on each city. “We’ve loved producing the series which we hope will appeal to all city lovers and city-break visitors. Read more [opens in new window]
Professor Michael Russell (Geology with Chemistry, 1963) has been awarded the 2009 William Smith Medal for his contribution to applied geology by the Geological Society. Professor Russell is currently NASA Senior Research Fellow with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
Paul Wallace (Animal Physiology, 1985) is the new commanding Officer for the RAF base at Spadeadam. Talking about his new role in an interview published by the Cumberland News, Paul says that he needs all the skills he has acquired during his career spanning 25 years: “It is quite a challenge because it brings together all my staff training, career development training, leadership training. The remit covers everything from operations right down to catering, health and safety, equality – every aspect of service and civilian life you can think of”. Read more [opens in new window]
INTERNATIONAL ALUMNI
Alumni in Canada
Des Alvares (Mechanical Engineering, 1987)
Desmond Alvares, who has been working and developing his career in Canada for the last 16 years, having worked for eight years in the UK following graduation, is our new contact for alumni in Canada. While a student, Des was active with the Student Union, as the Clubs and Society representative. He also represented the Engineering students on the School Advisory board as well as being Union representative at a National level.
Des is currently serving on the board of the Risk Management Committee of Ontario as Regional Director, the Upper Canada Section of the BCS as Professional Development Officer.
In 2007, along with his eldest daughter Danielle, Des attended the 20th Anniversary reunion of his year group, at Queen Mary. Des said, “ I am looking forward to have some momentum going with the Alumni in Canada”, when he met with Ceri Bevan, Queen Mary’s International Officer earlier this month.
Overseas Exhibitions
Meet our International Office Colleagues in your county. Click here to see what is available http://www.qmul.ac.uk/international/events/index.html
SUPPORTING THE COLLEGE
Have you thought about making a gift to Queen Mary?
How you can help – supporting outstanding scholarship and student opportunities at Queen Mary has been sent to all alumni.
With the value of all alumni gifts to the Queen Mary, University of London Foundation attracting UK Government Matched Funding on a two:one, private-to-public basis, even a small gift goes much further.
For alumni living and paying taxes in the UK, your gift, together with the additional Gift Aid, is match funded at 50 per cent. See how it works by visiting [http://www.qmul.ac.uk/alumni/
Aalumni in the United States can reclaim tax on their donations by making it through the British Schools and Universities Foundation. For a donation form visit [BSUF donor preference form] and for more information about the BSUF go to http://www.bsuf.org
If you are planning your affairs in the long-term and wish to discuss how to make a gift in your Will, contact Susan Nettle on +44 (0)20 7882 7423 or email s.nettle@qmul.ac.uk
Calling all recent graduates!Queen Mary is developing a major new teaching and learning initiative which will highlight the distinctiveness of a Queen Mary education and significantly enhance the quality of the student learning experience. The Queen Mary Graduate Attributes statement will encourage innovation in teaching and enable future graduates to develop the skills, knowledge and abilities required for the rapidly changing global economy. If you graduated within the last two years, the College urgently needs yourinput to help us develop this exciting and innovative new project.
Queen Mary is hosting a discussion panel on the Graduate Attributes project for recent alumni and leading employers on Thursday 14th May, to be held in the Octagon, Mile End campus from 6.30-8.00pm. We would like to invite alumni who graduated in 2007 & 2008 from all disciplines to attend this important event and give us your thoughts and experiences on the transition from Queen Mary to the workplace. You'll have the opportunity to network with a wide range of employers and fellow alumni in the historic Octagon venue; you'll enjoy Queen Mary hospitality with a buffet supper and wine reception, and most importantly, you will make a vital contribution to improving the student experience at Queen Mary. Places are limited for this event; please contact alumni@qmul.ac.uk to register your interest.
Sharing your knowledge
A number of alumni have returned to Queen Mary recently to talk to students about the career paths they have taken since graduating. These events are a fantastic way of supporting the college. Students who have attended these events have found engaging with alumni beneficial.
School of Business Management on Entrepreneurship
Setting up a new business can be daunting especially in the current economic climate.
Current students on various business management courses had a chance to hear from experienced alumni entrepreneurs who came back to talk about their experiences which gave them real insight into how to develop and sustain their business ideas: the highs and lows, access to finance, effective networks and the value of moral support from family and friends.
Priya Lakhani (Law and Economics, 2003) spoke to students about establishing Masala Masala, her company which produces chilled Indian spices and how she persuaded Harvey Nichols to stock her range. Justin Rhodes (Economics with Hispanic Studies, 1993) (in the photo with current student), whose company Elliott Rhodes’ designs and sells bespoke belts, talked about his decisions to expand from a single shop in Covent Garden to a second store in Duke of York Square, just off Sloane Street, in May last year.
Future guests include Monica Chadha (History, 1999) of Games2c.com and mymovies.net and Harren Jhoti (Biochemistry, 1988) who established Astex Therapeutics.
Alumna Kat Brown (History 2007; MA Contemporary British History, 2008), together with Nigel Fletcher (Politics, 2001) and John Stolliday (History & Politics, 2003) recently came back and gave some hot-tips to a group of current students about the wide range of career opportunities in the Whitehall political arena.
Kat Brown works for the Whitehall and Industry Group (WIG) as a Business Research Co-ordinator in the People Exchange Department. WIG is a not-for-profit organisation which among other things, encourages better informed policy making, by bringing people from the private sector into government departments.
Nigel Fletcher, who began work as a researcher in his local MP's office, while still a student at Queen Mary, and is a veteran on general election campaign; spent five years in the research department at Conservative Central Office. He spoke about the opportunities to work for MPs, members of the Greater London Assembly, as well as in local politics at grass roots level.
John Stolliday, recently promoted to be Head of the Labour Party's media monitoring group, spoke about the challenges and opportunities of working for the political party in power.
In the photo: l to r Nigel Fletcher, John Stolliday and Kat Brown.
Get involved - Media Careers Forum
Alumni who graduated since 2003 and are working in publishing, broadcasting, journalism, and new media are invited to come and talk to students about their career on Tuesday 3 March, 5.30-7.30pm. To take part, please contact Emily Hans at e.huns@qmul.ac.uk or on +44 (0)20 7882 8538.
Destination of Leavers from Higher Education Survey
Every year the Higher Education Statistical Agency (HESA) asks graduates who have recently completed their degree to take part in the Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (DLHE) survey to find out what happens to them after they leave university or college. This national survey provides information about any work and/or further study undertaken by graduates six months after they have completed their degree. The information also provides a basis for advising current students about opportunities that might be available to them.
The deadline for 2008 graduates to return the HESA questionnaires is 31 March 2009.
STUDENT NEWS
Alex O’Neil (PhD Student, School of Mathematical Sciences)
Alex, a PhD student in the School of Mathematical Sciences, was profiled in the education section of The Guardian published on Saturday 17 January. Alex talked about the benefits of pursuing postgraduate studies: “I found I wasn't satisfied with just doing three years - I wanted a new challenge. So I found out about doing a PhD and how you could fund it and it sounded like the perfect answer”.
Studying for a Masters or PhD could be expensive in the short term, especially during the economic downturn, but new research commissioned by the Consultative Committee for Professional Management Organisations has shown that this extension in studying secures future careers through increased employability; wages are on average 37 per cent higher for postgraduates or around £152,000 over a lifetime.
Sports and Exercise Medicine graduates of 1982 and beyondDineth Seneviratna, a current undergraduate student, with his advisor Dr Chris Rufford are carrying out a survey to establish the careers progression of all Sports and Exercise Medicine graduates. If you acquired a diploma, BSc or Masters degree from Barts and The London School of Medicine please help Dineth with his research by completing his questionnaire. This should only take 5-10 minutes of your time. Click here to completer the questionnaire [opens in new window].
Queen Mary students under the spotlight
The UK’s first political internet television channel for young people visited Queen Mary’s Mile End campus to ask some of our students their views on whether prostitution should be legalised. During a 15 minutes interview, Queen Mary students and MPs Fiona MacTaggart, Nadine Dorries and Danny Alexander give their views on prostitution and trafficking as well as the risks faced by young people.
Click here to watch the interview [opens in new window]
Read the latest issue of the Student newspaper QMessenger [PDF,1722 KB]
STAFF NEWS
Professor Richard Ashcroft, one of Queen Mary's leading academics in the School of Law, has been invited to become a Fellow of the Institute of Biology in recognition of his work in bioethics and ethical issues in the life sciences. The Council of the Institute of Biology awarded Professor Ashcroft a prestigious Fellowship at the end of December 2008. Professor Ashcroft commented: “I am delighted at this honour. I look forward to being of service to the community of biologists in the UK.”
Professor Ashcroft is chairing a session during Queen Mary’s Arts Week celebrations on “Emotions, Medicine and the Law” on Wednesday 29 April. Read more about Arts Week.
Professor Joost de Bruijin from the School of Engineering and Materials Science secured an $80m investment agreement for a spin out company, Progentix Orthobiology BV, a company that develops synthetic bone substitutes which can be used to trigger and accelerate bone healing and repair. Read more [opens in new window].
Professor Andrew Lister, leading international authority in the field of medical oncology and Centre Lead for Medical Oncology (Institute of Cancer) in the Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, has been shortlisted for the British Medical Journal’s inaugural Lifetime Achievement award. Lister has developed a team of haemato-oncologists, clinician scientists, and basic scientists at the forefront of translational research into leukaemia and lymphoma, and is highly respected for his skills in teaching undergraduates and postgraduates. The winners of all the awards will be announced at the BMJ Group Awards ceremony at the London Marriott Hotel on 2 April.
Professor Ursula Martin, Vice Principal for Science and Engineering, has been appointed to the Defence Scientific Advisory Council (DSAC). The Council provides a valuable source of independent advice to the Secretary of State for Defence.
Graham Rees, Professor of English, was awarded an MBE in the New Years Honors for his service to scholarship. Professor Rees was appointed to professorship in the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary in 1998.
Kevin Sharpe, Professor of Renaissance Studies’, has been appointed historical advisor for the Tate Britain’s newly opened exhibition on Sir Anthony van Dyck (1599 – 1641) the greatest portrait painter in seventeenth century Britain.
Prior to the opening, Professor Sharpe spoke to Susan Nettle about the preparation for the exhibition and the new understanding about Sir Anthony van Dyck’s work that it has uncovered. Listen to the podcast [MP3, 17590KB, 25 minutes]
FORMER STAFF
Largest prehistoric snake on record discovered in Colombia
Former staff of the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences: Drs Jason Head and David Polly are part of a team of scientists who have recovered fossils of a 60 million year old South American snake whose length and weight might make today's anacondas and reticulated pythons seem a bit cuter and more cuddly!
Dr David Llewellyn has been appointed as the new principal of Harper Adams Univeristy College, Newport, UK. Dr Llewellyn, who worked in the Estates Department as a junior administrator in the early 80s, where he was involved with the early stages of the estate planning associated with Queen Mary’s merger with Westfield College and as an Assistant Registrar, is currently working as Director of Corporate Affairs at Harper Adams.
Dr Llewellyn said: “I am honoured to have been asked to succeed Professor Wynne Jones, whose leadership of the institution has meant that Harper Adams now has an enviable position within the higher education and rural sectors as a centre of academic excellence”.
Obituary: Dr John Shaw
We are sad to announce the death of John Shaw who was a member of the Department of Nuclear Engineering from 1963 to 1983. Dr Shaw joined the College as a Senior Lecturer and Deputy Director of the College nuclear reactor.
Some five years ago, John developed supranuclear palsy. He endured the illness philosophically and was cared for by his devoted wife Linda whom he met when she was a secretary in the department. His friends and colleagues remember a dynamic and talented man.
Click here to read a more extensive obituary by Mike Williams Emeritus Professor of Nuclear Engineering (Nuclear Engineering 1959, PhD 1962). [WORD 26KB]
Friday 6 March
Van Dyck and Britain Colloquium
Queen Mary will be hosting a one day colloquium in conjunction with the Tate Britain to celebrate the opening of the Van Dyck and Britain exhibition, which is open from 18 February - 17 May 2009.
Professor Sharp talks about the Exhibition in a podcast interview by Susan Nettle. Click here to listen to the interview [MP3] [opens in a new window]
Speakers include: Julia Alexander (Yale Center and San Diego Art Gallery); Diana Dethloff (UCL); James Loxley (Edinburgh); Laura Knoppers (Penn State); Catharine Macleod (NPG); John Peacock (Southampton); Malcolm Smuts (U.Mass Boston) and Simon Turner.
Price: £30, price includes entry to the Van Dyck and Britain exhibition at the Tate. Booking required.
Venue: The Octagon, Queens Building, Mile End Read more[opens in new window].
Friday 6 - Saturday 7 March
London Hospital Dental Club Clinical Meeting 2009
Several recent graduates from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry have contributed to this year’s Annual Clinical Meeting for dentists, making it an informative and relevant programme for all dental practitioners.
There will be the usual opportunity to catch up with friends on Friday night at a dinner at Wapping Food; a restaurant specialising in modern British cuisine.
Click here to download a full programme.
Tuesday 10 March, 6.30pm
Renaissance Seminar Series
'Information and communication in early modern Europe: an interdisciplinary conversation on Filippo de Vivo's Information and Communication in Venice: Rethinking Early Modern Politics' (Oxford University Press, 2007).
Speakers: Alain Viala, Renate Pieper, David Colclough, Filippo de Vivo
Chair: Warren Boutcher
Venue: Drapers Lecture Theatre, Geography Building, Mile End
Wednesday 11 March, 6.30pm
Inaugural Lecture
Working and thinking inside the box: (Too) many years of pushing the little fly'
Ralf Stanewsky, Professor of Neurobiology
Venue: Skeel Lecture Theatre, People's Palace, Mile End
Thursday 12 March, 6.30pm
Inaugural Lecture
Nonparametric econometrics, with application to auctions and time series analysis Emmanuel Guerre, Professor of Economics
Venue: Clinical Lecture Theatre, Francis Bancroft Building, Mile End
Monday 16 March, 6.00pm
‘New Approaches to the History of the Emotions’ Seminar Series:
A History of Trauma: Anglo-American Languages of Suffering
Professor Joanna Bourke, Birkbeck, University of London
Venue: Lock-keeper's Cottage, Mile End
Tuesday 17 March, 6.30pm
Inaugural Lecture
The Cause of this Sudden Execution': Treason, Politics and Religion in Post-Reformation England
Michael Questier, Professor in History
Venue: Skeel Lecture Theatre, People's Palace, Mile End
Tuesday 24 March, 6.30pm
Inaugural Lecture
‘Chorochronic Synchronization of Unsteady Energy Conversion Processes’
Theodosios Alexander (a.k.a. Theodosios Korakianitis), Professor and Chair of Energy Engineering
Venue: Skeel Lecture Theatre, People's Palace, Mile End
Wednesday 25 March, 6.30pm
The Annual Peston Lecture
‘Markets, Regulation and Governance’
Lord Currie of Marylebone
Venue: Skeel Lecture Theatre, People's Palace, Mile End
Thursday 26 March, 7.30pm
Easter Concert
Handel, Haydn and Mendelssohn in England
The music society invites you to this Anniversary Celebration of the deaths of Haydn and Handel and the birth of Mendelssohn explores the dramatic way these composers influenced and contributed to the musical life of the UK, including some of their most famous tuneful works. The second half of the concert will also include some light hearted gems from the Music Society’s recent repertoire.
All welcome
Venue: Octagon, Queen’s Building, Mile End Campus
Monday 30 March, 12noon – 5pm
School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science Launce
You are invited to join us for a programme of lectures and exhibitions to celebrate the newly formed School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science at Queen Mary, University of London.
Speakers for the celebration include: Professor Martyn Ware (Illustrious Co. Ltd) and Professor Jonathan Pritchard OBE (QinetiQ).
For further information please see the attached invitation, or visit our website, www.eecs.qmul.ac.uk/events
Please confirm your attendance by email events@qmul.ac.uk
College Open Days
Open days offer you the perfect opportunity to find out more about studying and life in general at Queen Mary.
Wednesday 8 April
Undergraduate Open Day
Wednesday 22 April
Postgraduate Open Day
Wednesday 23 April, 6.30pm
Inaugural Lecture
Gerard Hanlon, Professor of Organisational Sociology and Director of the
School of Business and Management
Venue: Tbc
Monday 27 April - 30 Thursday April
Arts Week
2009 Queen Mary’s Arts Week is a four-day programme with more than 10 events ranging from: the contribution of culture in an international financial crisis to social change driven by emergency; perceived conflicts between users of digital copyright material and copyright owners in the cultural sector to routes into getting published; medicine and law- psychological trauma, stress, and psychiatric injury to the economics of smoking in private places – the impact of smoking ban on small children, and the law and ethics of medicine in conflict situations.
Full details of all the events, including information on how to book tickets will be available on the Arts Week website: www.qmul.ac.uk/artsweek2009
Please note that booking is essential as seating capacity is limited for some events.
Tuesday 5 May
Haydn in London; Haydn on London
The Centre for Anglo-German Cultural Relations at Queen Mary in association with the Austrian Cultural Forum (London) is hosting an evening of music and prose at the Charterhouse featuring The Café Mozart Trio, led by Dr Derek McCulloch: Jenny Thomas (flute), Oliver Sandig (violin) and Ian Gammie (bass violin and guitar) with Rachel Elliot (soprano).
Tickets are free. Contact the Events Office as places are limited. events@qmul.ac.uk
Saturday 6 June
Alumni Day- This event has now been cancelled
The Acting Principal, Professor Philip Ogden and the Warden, Professor Sir Nicholas Wright will be hosting an Alumni Open Day on Saturday 6 June to celebrate the achievements of the College. It is hoped that many academic departments will open their doors to welcome alumni and put on an enticing array of events. Many alumni have already expressed their interest in attending this day including a number of former SU Presidents and Sabbatical Officers who have offered to host some of the events that will be taking place on campus.
The Kirkaldy Society will also be joining us and are proposing to put on a photographic display from their archive.
In the photograph, L to R: Chris Scorey, Dr Alan Bromley, Dr Vicky Scorey, Chris Bean, Derek Morris, Tony Iles, David Harvey, Sali Money, Anthony Proughton, Dr Paul Garrard (obscured), Fritha Buckley and Dr Lesley Atkinson.
A new web page dedicated to this day will be launched soon. Please send us your college memories and images, which we will publish alongside guest lists.
Further information on all events can be found at www.qmul.ac.uk/events
PUBLICATIONS
QUAD Issue 17
Please let us know if you have not yet received your copy. This issue features interviews with alumnae Bushra Nasir (Microbiology, 1974), England's first Muslim female head teacher of a secondary school; Martin Uden (Law, 1976), HM Ambassador to the Republic of Korea and Westfielder Jane Roberts (History and History of Art, 1971), Curator of the Print Room and Librarian of the Royal Collection at Windsor Castle. You can email any changes to your contact details to alumni@qmul.ac.uk
OnQ Magazine
The latest issue of OnQ is packed with practical information and advice on how to make the final two UCAS choices for prospective university students. In addition, there is a subject profile of Materials at Queen Mary. This issue also outlines the benefits of choosing a research-focused university for students and how to read Research Assessment Exercise results. OnQ is Queen Mary’s magazine for Sixth Form teachers and career advisors. Please click here to download a copy [PDF 212KB].
You can also read the Parents Guide to Higher Education – 2010 entry here [PDF 137KB].
News for all Geography graduates eDoG1 has just been published.
This first e-zine celebrates the "stellar performance" of the Department in the 2008 RAE following its top ranking for research in the UK. The Department's success helped the College overall to rise to 11th place from 43rd in 2001.
In addition, London Citizens, a grassroots charity working with local people for local people, named the Department 'Academic Team of the Year 2008' for the "consistent and unparalleled support shown in the revival of broad-based community organisation in East London, and now across London and wider".
Roger Lee would be pleased to receive your news and photos for the next edition.
Read your copy here [PDF 494 KB]
QM Alumni e-Newsletter
The next issue will be reaching you at the beginning of April. Please send your news to Rachel Nabudde at r.nabudde@qmul.ac.uk