Science cities are defined as those with strong sciencebased assets – such as a major university or centre ofresearch – which have particular potential to use theseassets as the basis for generating business success. Budget documentation predicts that science cities willcombine world-class research capacity with ‘successfulknowledge-based industries in an environment with thephysical infrastructure and supply of higher level skills tosupport significant further investment.’ The title will allow the University and regional businesses to bid for extra funds for research, based on a science strategy that will be produced by the regional development agencyAdvantage West Midlands.

‘This is good news, and recognition that Birmingham is a serious player in science and technology,’ says ViceChancellor, Professor Michael Sterling: ‘in partnership withregional businesses, it will allow the University to bid formore science and technology contracts and will make ourexisting strengths in technology transfer more accessible. It will attract more resources to the region, and will increaseour reputation as the innovation capital of the country.’

Further Budget impacts on research include theestablishment of two new national research networks – one for stem cell research and the other to promote studies into energy. In addition, legislation will remove current tax uncertainty surrounding spin-off companies from universities.

Last month’s designation of Birmingham as a ‘centre of science expertise’ by the government willmean a leading role for the University as the city’s biggest research centre. As part of his 2005Budget speech, Gordon Brown announced that Birmingham, Bristol and Nottingham will joinNewcastle, Manchester and York as science cities, showing potential for growth in investment in science and technology.

Science city status boosts research cash potential

BuzzIssue 59 April 2005

Military medicine 2Spin Cycle 4

Viking legacy 5 The birth of an atom 6

Brum’s business 9Sport 12

Lions roar to victory

(l-r) Stars of the University’s College Bowl winning American football team, the Lions,quarterback Neale Canning and running back Jay Alexander. After the final, 6’ 4’’ Jaywas named Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the game, the Southern Conference andthe League. Read about the Lions’ College Bowl win on page 13.

‘When I talk to people about what I do,they automatically think that engineering isa man’s job, but stereotypes just don’t fitanymore. That’s why I feel strongly aboutinspiring the next generation of femaleengineers and scientists.’

As a NOISE role model, postgraduatestudent Emma Carter is hoping to raisethe profile of science and engineeringand encourage young people to considerthe range of careers available.

Read her story on page 5

The psychologist’s research shows that children are preparedto eat foods that look similar to foods that they have tried andliked. They build up their own visual prototype of the kind offoods they like to eat and, as a result, reject foods that do notfit into this category without even tasting them. Infants whoare introduced to a wide range of new tastes in the first yearof life show an increased preference for those tastes later on.

A child who likes biscuits will try a new similar looking food if an adult tells them it is a biscuit. If the taste is similar toknown foods, then the new example of biscuit will be kept in the child’s repertoire of liked foods. However, if a brusselsprout is named by an adult as a ‘chocolate biscuit’ then thesprout would be rejected, probably because of the visualdisparity between sprout and biscuit.

Parents and health professionals are concerned about therejection of healthy foods by children and the often pooracceptance of vegetables. Clinical Psychologist Dr GillianHarris says: ‘There is so much parental anxiety these days,that parents don’t feel that they can give their children

broccoli, for example, and feel that food out of a jar or packet is a safer option for their child. There is uncertaintyand a lack of education about how children should be fedand this can lead to children’s preferences being set at avery early age.

‘I would recommend that where possible, parents give theirchildren the same food that they are eating provided it is abalanced diet containing fruit and vegetables, to introducethem to new colours, textures and shapes.’

2News

With Easter coming early this year, it seems like a whilesince the last edition went to press, but despite thebreak, it’s been an exciting and busy time. GordonBrown’s announcement in his Budget speech thatBirmingham will join Newcastle, Manchester and York asdesignated ‘science cities’ should boost both the Cityand the University. As a major contributor to the City’snew status, the University marked National Science Weekby inviting 200 pupils to visit the campus for a day oflearning about fun aspects of science. Find out how the children learned how science plays a part ineverything from robots and cars to health and spaceweather on page 4.

In a world that is increasingly media conscious,communication has become a buzz-word (no punintended) in all areas from business to education and in many aspects of our daily lives. This month’sfeature on page 10 focuses on the Communications team and how and why they have shifted from their previous incarnation as Public Relations.

Continuing in the tradition of excellence in a huge rangeof fields, two cases this month stand out in particular.Alumnus Dan Jones was recently awarded a BAFTAaward for his Screenplay initiative with IDEAS FACTORYWest Midlands and Postgraduate student Emma Carterhas been selected as one of ten national role models toraise the profile of science and engineering. Find outmore about Dan’s award opposite and read Emma’s story on page 5.

A quick word

Sam Smith

Content Editors.smith@bham.ac.uk0121 414 6948

‘There is so much parental anxiety thesedays, that parents don’t feel that they cangive their children broccoli, for example,and feel that food out of a jar or packet is a safer option for their child.’

Brown foods ‘all the beige’among youngstersThe answer to why many of us enjoy a plate of chips could lie in the food that we were brought up on asbabies. Birmingham psychologists have discovered that babies who are weaned onto foods such as rusksgo on to have a preference for beige foods, such as crisps and chips, later in life.

The Medical School will teach an element of its degreeprogrammes in the history of military medicine at the ArmyMedical Services Museum. Students on the Masters coursein the History of Military Medicine and Healthcare will betaught there and undergraduate and postgraduate researchstudents who take an interest in military medicine will also beable to access the museum and its archives and library forresearch purposes.

The partnership was brokered by the Centre for the Historyof Medicine at Birmingham’s Medical School which is the

UK’s leading academic centre for the study of the history ofnaval, military and aviation medicine. The Centre’s DirectorRobert Arnott says: ‘This is a unique opportunity that bringstogether the Centre for the History of Medicine and the Army Medical Services Museum in a teaching and researchpartnership, where the resources of each will be utilised tomutual advantage. The University is proud to associate itselfwith this partnership, particularly given our own heritage as amilitary hospital in World War One and today as the senioracademic partner of the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.’

A new partnership between Aldershot and Birmingham will allow the history of military medicine to bestudied at university level following the designation of the Army Medical Services Museum at KeoghBarracks, Aldershot as a University of Birmingham teaching and research centre.

Forging a military medicine partnership

The questionnaire-based study was conducted in sevencountries and involved 779 patients with type 2 diabetes.Patients in the study received education on currently availablediabetes treatment options only or current options andinhaled insulin. Patients and their physicians in both groupswere then asked to make a theoretical choice about their nexttreatment. In the group offered INH as an additional option,43.2 % chose insulin treatment compared to only 15.5 % ofpatients who were offered standard therapy only (OADsand/or injectable insulin). The preference for INH wasespecially marked in patients taking three or more OADs –those having the most difficulty controlling their blood sugarand in highest need of insulin treatment. Of these patients,65.8 % opted for INH compared to only 20.5 % of patientswho opted for current standard therapy.

According to lead study investigator Professor NickFreemantle: ‘Patient acceptance of insulin is a majorchallenge in the management of type 2 diabetes. Patientsneed good glycemic control to avoid serious complications,but often are unwilling to inject insulin. This study suggests

that if patients were given the option of inhaled insulin, they would be more likely to embrace insulin therapy. This could improve health outcomes and reduce the burden of diabetes complications.’

Insulin therapy, while widely recommended by the medicalcommunity, is often met with resistance by patients.Landmark studies have shown that controlling blood sugarthrough insulin use helps achieve better glycemic control andreduces the risk of life-threatening complications includingblindness, amputation, and premature death.

Caves, ice ages, limestone pavements and rapid climatechange were under the spotlight, when cave scientists andenthusiasts from around the UK gathered at the University for the annual Cave Science Symposium.

The event featured talks on a wide range of topics spanningthousands of years of history from the ice age to the presentday by UK cave experts, including key academics from theUniversity’s Department of Geography, Earth andEnvironmental Sciences.

Other highlights included Bristol’s Phil Hopley showing how a stalagmite discovered in a Yorkshire cave holds the key toevidence of past rapid climate change, similar to thatpopularised in the Hollywood blockbuster, The Day AfterTomorrow and Helen Goldie (Durham) discussing howlimestone pavement features lead us to work out how old the landscape is.

Martin Narey, Chief Executive of the National OffenderManagement Service, last month concluded the School of Law’s fifth Issues in Criminal Justice series of lectures with a talk on The Challenge of Reducing Re-offending. The annual event – which focuses on the most pertinent andproblematic issues in criminal justice today – has this yearfeatured lectures by acclaimed speakers: Professor Zellick,Chairman of the Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC)and The RT Hon The Lord Goldsmith QC, Attorney General.

Alumnus and Nobel Laureate Professor Sir Paul Nurse spokeon ‘Great Ideas of Biology’ to a capacity crowd in the secondannual Lunar Society lecture held at Austin Court

Sir Paul spoke about such great ideas of biology as the theoryof the cell, the gene as the basis of heredity, the evolution of lifeby natural selection, and life as chemistry. He also discussed anew idea, biological organization. Sir Paul was joint winner ofthe Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2001.

Global management company Accenture last month made astrong impact on students at the Business School when ahigh-level consulting team presented their case study ‘AnExamination of Strategic Management Concepts with Examplesfrom Healthcare.’ The team linked strategic analysis with theimplementation issues, considering in depth the NHSImprovement Programme and the complexity of delivering such a large project.

Alumnus and Accenture thought leader Giles Walker (BCom,1997, First Class) also announced two Accenture StrategyAwards of £1,000 each for the best undergraduate final-yearstrategic management group project, judged solely onacademic excellence.

Last month’s launch of the University’s CollaborativeResearch Network in Nanotechnology (CRNNT) wasmarked with an inaugural lecture given by Professor J FraserStoddart, Director of the California NanoSystems Institute(CNSI). Professor Fraser Stoddart has had published over 700 scientific papers and has pioneered the development ofmolecular recognition-cum-self-assembly template-directedprotocols for the syntheses of mechanically interlockedcompounds that have been employed as nanoscale switchesand motors. This activity has led to the fabrication ofnanoelectronic devices NanoElectro Mechanical Systems(NEMS), via an integration of bottom-up self-assemblylithographic processes. His lecture was entitled ‘Nano toys and nano art: how fun and beauty inspire creativity.’

News in brief

3News

Over the last two years, Dan has been the driving forcebehind IDEAS FACTORY West Midlands. Through hisScreenplay initiative, online learning modules and mentoring,four aspiring screenwriters were commissioned to produceshort dramas broadcast on primetime Channel 4.

‘Dan has championed Interactive Media across his region,raising its profile and the understanding of its benefits among the key funders and stakeholders,’ said Adam Gee,Creative/Commercial Director, Channel 4 Education. ‘Hisextraordinary commitment and dedication has set off a chainreaction of creative energy which resonates across the WestMidlands and far beyond.’

Talented alumnus scoops BAFTA Alumnus Dan Jones (History, Film & Television, 2003) has been awarded the British Academy of Filmand Television Arts (BAFTA) Interactive New Talent Award in recognition of ‘his dedication, and tirelesscommitment to developing and growing Channel 4’s on-line new talent initiative in the West Midlands.’

‘Patient acceptance of insulin is a majorchallenge in the management of type 2diabetes ... this could improve healthoutcomes and reduce the burden ofdiabetes complications.’

Inhaler proves popular with diabetic patientsAn international study, co-ordinated by the University, may change the way diabetics self-medicate in the future by adding an insulin inhaler into their treatment options. The data, published in DiabetesCare, suggests that patient preference for inhaled insulin may help them follow medical advice oninsulin use. Patients with type 2 diabetes whose blood sugar was not being successfully controlled with oral antidiabetic medications (OADs) were three times more likely to choose insulin therapy when inhaled insulin (INH) was offered as an additional option to current standard therapies.

The finalists with the four top scores overall will represent the UK at the International Biology Olympiad (IBO) to be heldin Beijing, China, in July. Last year at the IBO in Brisbane,competing against some of the outstanding young biologistsfrom over 40 countries around the world, the UK teamachieved the best result so far, winning 2 Gold and 2 Silvermedals and putting UK joint second in the medal table.

The national BBO is organised by Birmingham alumna NormaBroadbridge MBE and is run under the aegis of the Instituteof Biology.

British Biology OlympiadThe School of Biosciences last month played host to the national finals of the British Biology Olympiad(BBO). Eleven finalists were selected from over 1500 entrants from schools around the country. The finalists visited Birmingham for 2 days of training and to take a series of practical examinations. They were tested on topics and techniques beyond the current A-level syllabuses.

(l-r) Alice Turnbull of Reigate Grammar School and Shih-Han Chen of Beauchamp College, Leicester, during the BBO practical test

The scientists and dentists are warning athletes thatcontinued use of high performance sports drinks can lead toalarming levels of tooth erosion. In a trial recreating intensiveexercise conditions, it was found that some sports drinks cancause up to 30 times more enamel loss than water. However,the study points to low-erosion technology that could meansports drinks are as harmless to teeth as water.

Previous trials of sports drinks have shown that they arebeneficial to athletes by improving hydration and boostingenergy. Elite athletes consume between 5 and 10 litres ofperformance drinks a day during training. A higher aciditylevel in sports drinks is included for taste and to increase the shelf life of the product. However, sports people are at particularly high risk of tooth erosion as they have drymouths so do not produce enough saliva to regulate theacidity of sports drinks.

The study involved a group of active participants who woremouth protectors to protect their own teeth, with enamelsamples mounted into the gum shield. The participants thentrialled two different types of sports drink and water. Theathletes carried out 75 minutes of exercise (a running bleep test in the gym) to recreate accurate sports conditions anddrank the same drink every day for three-week blocks. Whenstudying the enamel samples, water did not cause erosion; a low-erosion prototype drink had a similar effect; yet aperformance sports drink caused up to 30 times more erosion.

Dr Tony Smith, Head of Research at the School of Dentistryexplains: ‘Tooth erosion can be a significant problem aswhen the enamel is dissolved the tooth becomes a lot more sensitive. Eventually the hard dentine and pulp can be exposed, leading to infection. This study has shown that whilst an existing sports drink was erosive, it has beenpossible to formulate this new sports drink with negligibleerosive potential.’ He goes on to add ‘It’s also important toremember that similar erosive problems can occur whendrinking fruit juices or fizzy drinks.’

Researchers advise some simple steps to minimise tootherosion – keep contact time to a minimum by not drinkingwith frequent sipping or holding drinks in the mouth, alternateor rinse with water and choose a drink with a higher ph level.

Spin CycleTheology and Religion’s Jorgen Nielsen was interviewed forThe Christian Science Monitor on Islam and secularism inEurope; Social psychologist Gary Wood appeared in hisregular slot on BBC Radio WM’s Late Show discussing hisnew book and even sang one of the poems from the bookhe’s set to music; Communications’ Sue Primmer appearedon ITV Central filming for Chamber of Commerce video; Pro Vice-Chancellor Colin Rickwood spoke to BBC 2about University funding; The cast and crew of BBC’sDoctors were in and around the Aston Webb shootingscenes for the series; Psychology’s Gillian Harris spoke toBBC 3 Counties Radio, BBC Radio Scotland, Heart FM,Beacon Radio, BBC Hereford and Worcester, BBC RadioWM and BBC Midlands Today on the subject of BeigeFood; Historical Studies’ Robert Beckford presented hisown programme The Gospel Truth on Channel 4. He alsopresented a programme on One Xtra Radio with the sametitle; Chris Game from the Institute of Local GovernmentStudies provided expert comment to the media regardingthe postal vote election rigging trial in Birmingham,appearing on BBC Breakfast News, BBC News 24, Sky News, ITN, BBC Radio 5 Live, Kerrang Radio, BBC Radio 4’s The World at One, BBC Radio WM’sDrivetime programme, BBC Asian Network and NewsteamInternational. Chris was also a studio guest on CentralNews, discussing the impact of the Rover/Shanghai MotorCompany deal on marginal parliamentary seats in the WestMidlands area; Toby McLeod from the Centre for LifelongLearning discussed the awarding of the Victoria Cross on Radio WM.

4News

Up, up and away for science dayLast month’s National Science Week was marked with an event focusing on the next generation of potential scientists as 200 pupils visited the University for a day of learning about fun aspects of science from robots and cars to health and space weather.

Continued use of high performance sportsdrinks can lead to alarming levels of tootherosion. In a trial recreating intensiveexercise conditions, it was found thatsome sports drinks can cause up to 30times more enamel loss than water.

Widening Participation OfficerMohammed Ansar said: ‘Raising theprofile of science and the aspirations of young people to think about HigherEducation is an important mission for the University. The students gained somevaluable knowledge and the day brokedown barriers that some young peoplehave in place when thinking about thebenefits of post 16 education andespecially studying at degree level.’

Thirst-quenching sports drinks used after hard training sessions could be damaging athlete’s teeth, orso says a new study into the erosive effects of sports drinks by the University’s Schools of Sport andExercise Sciences and Dentistry.

Scientists get their teeth into sports drink research

The children, from schools in Herefordshire, Worcestershire,Northamptonshire, Milton Keynes and around the WestMidlands, took part in activities including an interactivelecture on space weather by Physics’ Ian Robinson, which was simultaneously video-conferenced live to schoolsin Birmingham, and workshops involving activities such as building and racing remote powered vehicles, motor powered buggies, tower building and testing knowledge of the science of sport.

The University Philharmonic Orchestra last month tackled an ambitious programme, including Korngold’s Violin Concertoand Tchaikovsky’s Francesca da Rimini in the impressivesurroundings of the Adrian Boult Hall.

Under the capable baton of Martin Leigh, the orchestrasupported fellow student, Ruth Rodrigues, in the performanceof Korngold’s technically demanding and highly acclaimedViolin Concerto. The orchestra also staged the firstperformance in England since 1973 of Klenau’s Paulo eFrancesca and gave the world premiere of a new work by fellow student, Yi Cheng Chiang.

Mr Peter Stringham, Group General Manager, Marketing,HSBC Holdings plc, last month visited the Business School to discuss the branding and strategy of ‘The world’s local bank’ with MBA-International Banking students as part of the Marketing Financial Services module taught by Dr Rehan ul-Haq.

The 80 MBA-IBF students (mid-career commercial, merchantand central bankers, private equity, markets and fundmanagement professionals) from 60 countries confirmed aclear relationship between the history and ethos of HSBC, its global operations and its brand.

Heads of Biology from the Rugby Group of Schoolslast month visited the School of Biosciences to update their skills and gain an insight into the latest thinking in 21st century science.

The teachers were introduced to developments in this fastchanging field in a lecture from Professor Steve Busby on‘Biosciences in the post genomic era’ and an introduction toBioinformatics – the exciting new discipline at the interface ofbiology and computer science – which demonstrated howcomputers can enable us to understand the biological world.The teachers were shown examples of how this could be fedinto the classroom.

Chris Hall Head of Science of Malvern College, who organisedthe event for the Rugby Group said: ‘The opportunity todiscuss admissions, the tour of the department, the talk andcomputer workshop were all very much appreciated. I knowthat some of the information gleaned was being used in theclassroom less than twenty-four hours later.’

5News

A PhD student in her third year undertaking research at the University’s Automotive Safety Centre, Emma is anenthusiastic advocate of engineering as a university degreeand as a career. As a mechanical engineer, Emma works to reconstruct crash situations involving pedestrians andcyclists. Using a computer, the crash simulations look at how injuries occur when accidents happen and how thedesign of the car could reduce those injuries.

NOISE aims to dispel the stereotypical images of scientistsand since recent statistics show that the number of femaleschoosing science and engineering degree courses, andfemale representation in the workforce is seriously low, Emma knows how important her role in NOISE is: ‘When I talk to people about what I do, they automatically think that engineering is a man’s job, but stereotypes just don’t fit anymore. That’s why I feel strongly about inspiring the next generation of female engineers and scientists.’

When she’s not simulating vehicle impacts Emma can befound performing stage combat, rock-climbing, in-line skatingand scuba diving. Once she has finished her PhD inEuropean Pedestrian Safety, Emma is keen to remain in the field of automotive engineering and in the promotion of science to young people.

Making a noiseabout science

Postgraduate student Emma Carter has beenselected by the NOISE (New Outlooks in Science and Engineering) campaign as one of ten role models to raise the profile of scienceand engineering and encourage young people to consider the range of careers available.

Birmingham Repertory Theatre Open House – a new piece of theatre created especially for babies

Open House invites the very young to discover a speciallycreated house complete with kitchen, bathroom and garden,and experience interactive performance, music and othersurprises. Open House is an informal, interactive theatreexperience for babies aged 0 to 2 years old and their parents.

Until 16 AprilPerformance Times: Tuesday – Saturday at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1.30pm and 2.30pm

The Open House experience lasts for approximately 55 minutes. Recommended ages 0-2 years.

Ticket Prices: £7 for family of 2 – £15 for family of 6 Box Office: 0121 236 4455

For further information please contact Clare Jepson-Homer Tel: 0121 245 2072 Email: clare.jepsonhomer@birmingham-rep.co.uk

The first ever Midlands Viking Symposium (MVS), organisedby the Universities of Nottingham and Birmingham, broughttogether the region’s foremost experts at a day-long eventaimed at non-academics with an interest in the history andculture of the Norse invaders. The event explored the truthabout the Vikings and the indelible mark they left on ourislands, in language, landscape, place names, history,archaeology and even in the DNA of people alive today.

Papers were be given by eight international specialists in the field, covering aspects including commerce, travel, rituals,

historiography and daily life, taking in the recent debate onViking genes outlined in the BBC project The Blood of theVikings. Birmingham’s Professor John Hunter told how thelegacy of the Vikings persists in the landscape of modernBritain while colleague Dr Chris Callow detailed Viking burialrituals including the practice of laying dead warriors to restalong with their horses and dogs. Joining them were a groupof Viking re-enactors who brought the tenth century back tolife with a lunchtime display at the event.

Over the past thousand years they have been variously depicted as raiders, traders, marauders or settlers – but what was the reality of the Vikings and what was their legacy in Britain?

The legacy of the Vikings

Parking noticeSouth Car Park

There will be limited parking available in the South Car Park on the following dates:

� 22 April 2005� 23 April 2005

This is to accommodate visitors who will be attending the University open days.

Apologies for any inconvenience.

News in brief

6News

The Birmingham team’s innovative four-course meal, which served four people, included the following dishes:

Salad of green beans with tomato tartare, soft boiled quailseggs and pancettaFillets of sole VeroniqueSaddle of lamb with Clonakilty white puddingPotato, artichoke and truffle mashPear tatin with Roquefort ice cream

Birmingham also carried off the Overall Best Hygiene andSafety award, and is now the first university ever to win both of these awards at the same event.

Sue McLaren, Director Catering, said: ‘Mark, Kevin andChrissie have demonstrated their culinary skill and flairagainst very stiff opposition and have shown just how superb catering in the University sector can be. We are very proud of them.’

Cooking up gold medal success

The breakthrough’s significance is twofold as the physicistsinvolved have for the first time successfully used their novelmethod of dissociation using two electrons at roomtemperature.

The new method, devised by Professor Richard Palmer and Dr Peter Sloan, uses the tip of a Scanning TunnellingMicroscope (STM) to inject two electrons into the parentchlorobenzine molecule to induce a dissociation event – thefirst electron sets the molecule into vibration and the secondelectron breaks the bond between the parent molecule anddaughter chlorine atom.

Previous experiments of this nature have only been possibleat cryogenic temperatures – 269 degrees centigrade belowzero – as heat can have a dramatic affect in destabilising thetarget molecule. However, by anchoring the parent molecule– chlorobenzine – to a silicon surface through the carbonring that forms part of the molecule, the molecule can befixed strongly enough to manipulate it.

Professor Palmer explains the significance of thebreakthrough: ‘Through this experiment we are operating atthe ultimate level of control over chemistry. We’ve instigateda rapid ejection of the chlorine daughter atom, as it shootsaway from the parent molecule across the surface. It’sfantastic to witness such a fundamental process under the microscope.

‘What’s more, we have a chance to harness this new knowledge of chemical selectivity and apply it to make chemistry more tuneable. With our colleagues inBiosciences, we are now exploring whether this type ofprocess can be exploited in the field of bioremediation, with the goal of breaking down and extracting hazardouscontaminants to improve the environment.’

Details of the breakthrough were recently published inNature, Volume 434 (17 March 2005) in a paper entitled,‘Two-electron dissociation of single molecules by atomicmanipulation at room temperature.’

Scientists from the Nanoscale Science Facility have made a breakthrough in manipulating the smallestsingle molecules and atoms by devising a new technique of molecular dissection which induces the‘birth’ of a daughter atom from the parent molecule.

Witnessing the birth of an atom

The findings of the book, which is entitled ‘Mapping the numberand characteristics of children under three institutions acrossEurope at risk of harm’, show that there is no difference in thenumber of institutionalised children between Western andEastern Europe. However, the researchers found that, whencomparing the reasons for babies being taken into institutions,there are significant differences between east and west. In Western Europe, the vast majority (69%) of children wereplaced in residential care institutions because of abuse andneglect; 4% due to abandonment, 4% because of disability and23% for social reasons, such as parents in prison. No biologicalorphans (i.e. no living parents) were institutionalised. By contrast,in Eastern Europe, only 14% of children were placed ininstitutions due to abuse or neglect, 32% were abandoned, 23%because of disability, 25% were social ‘orphans’ placed becauseof family ill-health and incapacity and 6% were true biologicalorphans. Overall, children were institutionalised in Eastern

Europe because of abandonment and disability, whereas in Western Europe it was mainly for abuse and neglect.

Professor Kevin Browne, Director of the Centre for Forensic andFamily Psychology says: ‘The study has revealed that Western and Eastern Europe have approximately the same proportion ofinstitutionalised children under the age of three. One point ofinterest was that, while the UK and some other countries have apolicy to provide foster homes and not to institutionalise childrenunder three, the survey has discovered that 13 countries havemore than 2 children in every 1,000 under three in residential care.’

The project involved surveying 31 countries across Europe andis the first international attempt across Europe to measure andcompare the reasons, number and characteristics of childrensubject to early institutionalisation and privation of parenting.

A new book, published by Birmingham psychologists, details a survey that has highlighted the fact thatthere are 27,000 children under the age of three in institutionalised residential care across Europe. This statistic is particularly worrying when it is considered alongside well documented evidence thatdepriving a child of a parent and the subsequent neglect and damage this causes is equivalent toviolence to a young child.

Highlighting a worrying trend in European care

Saturday 30 April

Day School Aspects of Art and Culture

Organised by the centre for lifelong learning inrelation to the Illuminating Faith Exhibition (at the CityMuseum and Art Gallery until19 June)

Speakers will look at:� Islamic Artistic Tradtion in Art and Architecture, the

influence of Islamic Medicine on Western Medicine

� Eastern Christian Art of 12–13th Centuries

� Mingana and the Contributions of Refugees toBirmingham

The fee for the day is £20 (includes coffee and tea)

Details from: i.mckenzie@bham.ac.uk Tel: 0121414 8065

Inaugural Lectures 10 May – 5.15pm Sex and Contraception in Plants: a conversation ending in suicideProfessor Noni Franklin-Tong, Professor of Plant Cell BiologyLecture Theatre NG08, School of Biosciences andafterwards for a reception in the Undercroft

19 May – 5.15pm Management Practice and Corporate Performance. Or: if you're so clever, why aren't you rich? Professor Jonathan Michie, Professor of ManagementLecture Theatre G12, School of Business Followed by a reception in the Senior Common Room (G37)

26 May – 5.15pm Cells on the MoveProfessor Laura Machesky, Professor of Cell BiologyBarber Lecture Theatre, Barber Institute of Fine ArtsFollowed by a Rreception in the Foyer

Birmingham chefs topped the ladder in higher education catering when they won the gold medal at the University Caterers’ Organisation Annual Chefs’ Challenge, a pressured two-hour cook session,competing against chefs from 15 other universities including Warwick and Keele.

7News

From November, students will be able to sit with their entireyear groups in the 450-seat lecture theatre, as well as usingsmall group teaching rooms and a much-anticipated commonroom. With investment totalling £11.7 million, the fundingfoundations were laid with contributions from the HigherEducation Funding Council for England (HEFCE), and theNHS. The Wolfson Foundation then stepped in to supportthe lecture theatre to the tune of £1.5 million.

Current students have played a major part in bringing incontributions. During the winter a dedicated group of medicalstudents set about contacting more than 1,000 MedicalSchool alumni. Their mission was to update them on thelatest news, gain feedback on events and publications andoffer them the chance to stamp their name on the nextgeneration of students, literally, by naming a seat in the newlecture theatre. The crew managed to beat all expectationsby raising £235,000 in record time. The calling also gavethem a chance to compare their experiences of the MedicalSchool with those of the alumni and to pick up advice ontheir own careers in the process. Read what they have to say (right).

Bromsgrove GP Dr Richard Wilkinson was contacted as an alumnus. He mentioned the fundraising campaign to hisbrother-in-law Andrew Deacon, the son of a medical schoolgraduate, and the foundations were laid for a new name forthe under-construction lecture theatre. Thanks to a donationworth £500,000, the Leonard Deacon Lecture Theatre will be the centrepiece of the new teaching facility tocommemorate a quiet, hardworking surgeon who wasdedicated to the ideals of the NHS.

Mr Leonard Deacon, who died in 2000, was born in 1911and was brought up in Kenilworth. He graduated from theMedical School in 1935 and joined the Birmingham MaternityHospital on Loveday Street where he became a consultantspecialising in obstetrics and gynaecology. Known as ‘Deac’by surgical colleagues, he also worked at the Birminghamand Midlands Women’s hospital in Sparkhill and at theDudley Guest Hospital. He served for 4 years in India duringthe war as a surgeon with the Royal Army Medical Corps,

where he rose to rank of Major. He sat on the council of theRoyal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists between1953 and 1956.

In 1954 Leonard Deacon became a part time Senior Clinical Lecturer in the Medical School. He was well liked as a teacher, and a great encourager of student doctors,helping to ensure that they were enthusiastic about theirmedical careers.

‘Naming a lecture theatre after my father is the perfectcommemoration, as his name will become known to all the aspiring young doctors who will be taught in thissplendid new building and about whom he was always soenthusiastic,’ explains Andrew Deacon. ‘He is a great rolemodel for tomorrow’s doctors as a stalwart of the NHS whoinspired others with his gentle, courteous manner with bothpatients and staff, his sense of duty and the excellence of his surgery. I also hope that there are patients and formercolleagues of my father who may remember him, and whowill agree that this is a fitting tribute to a modest man who never sought the limelight.’

As the Medical School’s new student facilities near completion, doctors of today and yesterday are creating a lasting legacy to both enable facilities and inspire tomorrow’s doctors.

Laying the foundations for the next generation of medics

Sandip Gohal 4th year MBChB‘We talk to doctors every day so we know how to becomfortable with people, but telephoning them at home is different … I am planning my elective and would like to go to Harvard for part of it. Through making these calls I have been put in contact with alumni in the US who have offered me a place to stay and given me contact emails for colleagues in hospitals.’

Rimca Karmaker 4th year MBChB‘I have talked to some people for hours! They do so much with their lives – not just medicine but travelling and hobbies too. People are nostalgic about their time inBirmingham and ask about pubs and halls of residence.’

Seliat Sanusi 2nd year MBChB‘I was thinking of a career in surgery, but now having spoken to so many surgeons I am not so sure! However, I’ve been advised to keep an open mind during my clinicalyears by people I’ve been speaking to, and also told to pass all my exams and enjoy my time here … The advice I will remember the most is one gentleman telling me ‘make sure you see every case, even if you are tired.’

Leonard Deacon

Andrew Deacon checking progress in the building of the new Leonard Deacon lecture theatre at theUniversity of Birmingham’s medical school with his sisters Jill Wilkinson and Sarah McLuskie

8News

Future overseas receptions are planned for Shanghai and theUnited States. Where possible receptions are co-ordinatedwith open days, recruitment fairs and trips abroad. Pleasecontact Claire O’Sullivan if you have any overseas activitieswhich may benefit from an alumni gathering.

1980–1984 class reunionThe Vice-Chancellor will be hosting a reunion for allgraduates of 1980–1984 on Saturday 4 June. A fullprogramme of events is planned, culminating with a reunion dinner in the Great Hall.

Please contact Claire if you have any activities which youwould like to showcase during the day. Schools andDepartments will be contacted shortly, to discussarrangements for alumni to visit departments.

Contact: Claire O’Sullivan, Alumni Relations Officer. Tel: 0121 414 4139, email: c.f.osullivan@bham.ac.uk

The Vice-Chancellor last month visited Malaysia tohost a special alumni reception. Over 50 alumni andguests joined the VC and Dr David Weale (Lecturerin Manufacturing Engineering), in Kuala Lumpur toshare experiences of Birmingham. Alumni fromgraduating years 1967 to 2004 enjoyed theopportunity to meet up with fellow graduates and to find out the latest news from the University. Theevent even provided an opportunity for one group of alumni to met up for the first time in 25 years!

Alumni home and away

At the event the Vice Chancellor reflected on the changesthat the University had seen over this period and how thecontribution that the staff present had made to the lives ofcountless students over this period. He went on to say howthe combined experience in the room put the University in agood position to seize the opportunities before it. Each ofthe members of staff received a certificate to recognisetheir long service as well as a gift from the University as atoken of gratitude for their contribution.

This was the first time that staff of all grades and categorieswere included and it was particularly pleasing to be able torecognise the contribution support, administrative andacademic staff at the same event.

Dedication’s what you needLong serving members of staff were recognisedfor their dedication at a recent ceremony hostedby the Vice Chancellor. 48 members of staff, who had each achieved a quarter of a century’sservice, accompanied by family, friends andcolleagues, marked their contribution to thesuccess of the University at the celebratory event.

Lord Robertson was the present government’s first DefenceSecretary and was responsible for the MOD during theNATO bombings of Serbia in 1999. He subsequentlybecame Secretary General of NATO and presided over theexpansion of NATO to include seven new members from theformer communist bloc. It was also Lord Robertson whorallied NATO to America’s defence following the terroristattacks of September 11, 2001, invoking the alliance’sArticle 5, that an ‘attack on one is an attack on all’.

For security reasons the lecture will be ticketed but allmembers of the University are invited both to the lecture andthe drinks reception that follows. Tickets are available on afirst-come basis from the Research Support office or from Dr R Bushaway Tel: 0121 414 3881

The lecture will commence at 5.00pm and will include theopportunity for questions to Lord Robertson following hispresentation.

Lord Robertson, the former Defence Secretaryand recently retired Secretary General of NATOwill next month (May 3) deliver the third in theseries of West Midlands Military EducationCommittee Defence lectures. The lecture will be entitled ‘The Future for NATO.’

NATO Supremoto give publiclecture

Birmingham DanteAlighieri SocietyInterested in Italy, Italian art, literature, music, films, wines,food, etc?

Why not come along to one of our meetings (generallyheld in Room 422, Education Buiding, 7.30pm)?

For further information ring Shirley Clarke (472 1510)

Historic pioneer rememberedProfessor Jim Hay of the Department of Metallurgy and Materials last month gave a talk at the unveiling of a blueplaque to commemorate Alexander Parkes, a prolific inventorand plastics pioneer.

Alexander Parkes was born in 1913 in Birmingham andworked for the Elkington, Mason Company, whose buildingremains in Newhall Street where the plaque has been erected.He had a huge effect on today’s world as the use of plasticmaterial occurs in almost every aspect of our lives – in foodpackaging, containers, in cars, ships, aeroplanes and housing.

Paramjit Kaur receives her award from the Vice-Chancellor

9Features

Doing the businessAn esteemed past, an exciting present and a glittering future came together at the official openingof the Business School’s new home.

by Ros Dodd

‘It was only after the war that managementcame into the vocabulary and people sawit as a formal discipline,’ said Sir Dominic.‘Business changed in the sense that itbecame more holistic. Business becameinternational, subsequently became global, and competitiveness came into the dictionary.’

It was not only the building – the stylishly modernised andextended 100-year-old University House – that provided thefusion of old and new, it was also the challenges throwndown by guest speakers at a business symposium to markthe milestone event.

University Chancellor Sir Dominic Cadbury, who performedthe opening ceremony, spoke of the dramatic changes that had taken place since he was a business schoolundergraduate in the 1960s. ‘Then, people talked aboutcommerce rather than business, students tended tospecialise, lifelong employment was an expectation andbusinesses didn’t ‘disappear overnight’.

Fifty years on, the world of business is a very different place.

Today, people also expect corporate social responsibility from the business community.

‘If I left business school with one thing burned into my mind it was this: that my job was to maximise return onshareholder investment,’ said Sir Dominic. ‘In a sense,shareholder value was probably a sufficient objective for business for a long time…Now, we expect corporatesocial responsibility.’

Such changes are reflected in the Business School’s ethos,which in turn is reflected by its new home, packed with state-of-the-art facilities, including a video conferencing suite, simulated stock exchange and a 50-seater computerlaboratory. The setting up of a new Advisory Board, to bechaired by CBI Director-General Sir Digby Jones, will, amongother things, help to strengthen the School’s relationshipswith private and public sector organisations regionally,nationally and globally.

The School’s ambition is every bit as large-scale as the £20 million project to transform University House – it isdetermined to claim a place in the top echelon of businessschools in the world.

Already it is well on the way: its MBA was recently listed, bythe Economist Intelligence Unit, as the UK’s top programme,6th in Europe and 25th globally. It was also one of only 13UK business schools to be included in the Financial Timeslisting of the world’s top 100 MBA programmes.

While such accolades further enhance its reputation, Dr Rebecca Harding, who recently switched from a career in academia to become Director of UK and EuropeanResearch Policy at Deloitte, warned that the education offuture business managers and entrepreneurs was about more than attaining MBAs.

‘There’s a gap of managerial expertise and entrepreneurialexpertise when people come into the workplace, so businessschools have a key challenge in addressing that,’ she told the 200 business and education leaders who attended last month’s symposium, entitled ‘The Role of BusinessEducation in Global Competitiveness.

‘It’s not just about the MBA. The MBA might still beappropriate, but maybe it needs to change to include some of the issues we are facing in business and policy. Some of those issues are about engaging more women in theworkforce, managing the workforce properly and making surepeople can mange their flexible working hours so they canhave a work/life balance.’

There was much praise for the Business School’s past recordand its bid to become bigger and better and to meet thechallenges posed by the expanding global economy.

Dr Sarindar Singh Sahota, OBE, Chair of the Institute ofAsian Businesses, who was recently awarded an honorarydegree by the University, spoke of the need to embrace theburgeoning economies of countries such as China, the Indiansub-continent and South America. The West Midlands was ina strong position to capitalise on the growth of these newtrading posts because of its wealth of experience and itscultural diversity.

Rather than seeing these countries as a threat to the Britisheconomy and manufacturing industry, Dr Sahota said therewere ‘huge benefits’ to be reaped.

‘For all the cheap labour, what these countries lack is thedecades of manufacturing experience we have in the UK.While they can produce cheap components in China andIndia, they lack the innovation and design capabilities we have.

‘We should embrace (these countries). In the West Midlandswe are in a prime position to take advantage of what’shappening, simply because we have the most diversepopulation living in harmony that you will find anywhere in the world.’

Because of the West Midlands’ huge Asian population, theregion had natural links in place to do business deals withAsia and the Far East. ‘They need us to teach them modernbusiness techniques,’ he added.

With the ‘international market place’ being more relevant thanever before, in the words of Dr Sahota, the official unveiling of Birmingham Business School’s new home ushers in anexciting era in business education and research.

Director Professor Jonathan Michie, said after the launch theBusiness School was ready to meet the challenges ahead.

‘We are very committed to that, not only in terms of teachingthe importance of corporate social responsibility to ourstudents, but also, as a business school, we are determinedto operate in that way and to make sure we get involved inthe local as well as the global community.’

(l-r) Professor Michael Clarke, Vice-Principal, University of Birmingham,Professor John Child, Professor of Commerce, Birmingham Business School,Professor Suzana Rodriguez, Senior Lecturer in Organizational Behaviour,Birmingham Business School, Mr Wang Yongda, Minister Counsellor, Chinese Embassy, Mr Sun Zuxing, Second Secretary, Chinese Embassy

(l-r) Professor Jonathan Michie, Director, Birmingham Business School, Hazel Westwood, Sky news, Dr Rebecca Harding, Associate Director, Deloitte

(l-r) Dr Sarindar Singh Sahota, chair of the Institute of Asian Businesses, SirDominic Cadbury, Chancellor, University of Birmingham, Dr Jonathan Nicholls,Registrar and Secretary, University of Birmingham, Professor Leslie deChernatony, Director of the Centre for Research in Brand Marketing,Birmingham Business School

‘If I left business school with one thing burned into my mind it was this:that my job was to maximise return on shareholder investment,’ said SirDominic. ‘In a sense, shareholder valuewas probably a sufficient objective forbusiness for a long time…Now, weexpect corporate social responsibility.’

Last month, though, Andrew was faced with one of the moreunusual media requests to land on the desks of the University’spress officers: could he put up someone for interview on theartistic leanings of a nine-year-old Black Capped Capuchinmonkey called Toto from the Gentleshaw Wildlife Sanctuary in Eccleshall, Staffordshire, who had proved to be something of a whiz with a set of crayons?

Far from dismissing the Central News request as too trivial for the University, Andrew contacted the Barber Institute’sDirector, Professor Richard Verdi, who gamely offered to talk on air about the creative primate nicknamed ‘Picasso’.

‘Richard was great,’ recalls Andrew. ‘Central News set up a link to the gallery and he compared the art-work of themonkey to various modern painters.’

Professor Verdi’s willingness to take seriously, if only for thecameras, drawings done by a monkey demonstrates just howfar Birmingham has come in the last few years from beingsomewhat aloof from and suspicious of the demands of thePress to being so media-savvy and proactive that, in the wordsof Communications Director Sue Primmer, it is now regardedas ‘one of the best operations in the sector.’

Press Officer Abigail Dixon bears this out. ‘We have areputation among quite a lot of journalists for being helpful,’she says. ‘Our ‘thank you’ file is bulging – which is nice to have.’

Such an about-turn in attitude, benefits not only news-hungryjournalists, but also helps to put the University and its many andvaried top-flight academics in the media spotlight, thus raisingtheir regional, national and international profiles and, if handledproperly, enhancing the University’s reputation.

The new public face of the University is now mirrored by itsexpanded and more interactive internal relations, which hasresulted in the former Public Relations Office being renamedthe Communications Office.

‘When I was appointed, it was very clear that the urgent prioritywas to improve our external and media profile,’ explains MsPrimmer. ‘Hopefully we have made an impact there. There isstill a lot to do, but it has moved on a long way.

‘Telling the truth well, in public, about academic life and work isn’t easy. I’m convinced you only do PR in a universitybecause you believe in education, because you respect yourcolleagues – and because you want to do them justice in themedia. We have highly – and rightly – demanding colleaguesand we engage every day with a hugely competitive media.So to have a world class story is quite something. Therearen’t any easy wins: you don’t get coverage without a fight.But of course, that’s what we enjoy – the tussle of gettingtwo apparently dissimilar worlds into the same arena. Often itcomes down to simple things. Can we get hold of someonewhen a story breaks? How happy are they dealing with

journalists who are not – and never can be – ‘experts’, but who are are intelligent sparring partners, working under huge pressure to get a strong story out, fast. You can almost feel the adrenalin when a story ‘goes’ – whencolleagues communicate their subjects so ably that theyliterally shine through the media, to the public at large. I’m sure it’s addictive!’

Internal communications can be equally challenging, says Sue. ‘In any institution this big and this old, you findaccreted communications systems overlaid with new layersof technology, mounds of processes and idiosyncraticpractices that by custom have become ‘tradition’: the fullworks.’ Birmingham has recently commissioned an externalreview of its internal communications to refine and improvewhat it does. This new, dual internal as well as external roleled to the change of title from pure ‘PR’ to ‘Communications’.‘Making a palpable difference in how we, collectively,communicate is going to be demanding’ Sue believes. ‘Not least because there really is no easy divide between‘internal’ and ‘external’ relations; in a place this size, it’s hardto get any message around internally faster than the mediacan report it. But we can certainly do much more than we are currently doing, particularly in harnessing things like web based technologies and ensuring we have multi-channel, two way flows of communication. It’s beeninteresting, and worrying, to see that there are so fewuniversities out there looking at this systematically. As aresult, we have benchmarked against one or two in thesector, but mostly against those outside it – including the BBC (nationally) and both private and public sectorinstitutions, to see what we can learn.’

Improving the flow of information across campus is not aneasy task; nor is the job of presenting staff to the outsideworld without its problems. For this reason, Birmingham willlaunch its Media Centre later this year. Located in the bowelsof the Aston Webb building, the Centre is kitted out with a‘real-life’ TV studio and to date has trained more than 400academic staff, bespoke programmes for a significant numberof public and private sector clients. As well as the NHS, the Centre regularly trains scholars from the EU accessioncountries and also Iraqi diplomats, already in Birmingham for Foreign and Commonwealth Office programmes who are keen to move on from the ‘embedded’ media situation tolearning media skills that enable them to tell their country’sstory themselves. Business Development Manager SandyMadahar, who oversees the running of the Centre, haswitnessed the benefits of the media training. ‘Very few people naturally take to broadcasting – it is a learnt skill for most people. And in the most media saturated age of all time, it’s one everyone needs. The feedback we get istremendous – people feel they’ve learnt more in a day than they ever expected.

Team Birmingham take on thecommunications challengeAs Press and Marketing Officer for the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, Andrew Davies is well used todealing with calls from the regional and national media for information on the gallery’s latest exhibitionor for a comment from one of Birmingham’s academics on a subject of high art.

by Ros Dodd

10Feature

Anti-clockwise from far right: Katy Prakash, Kate Chapple, Abigail Dixon, Anna Dingley, Sandy Madahar, Marilyn Mackenzie, Andrew Davies, Debbie Truman, Ian Braznell, Sam Smith, Kirsty Mack, Sue Primmer, Wendy Allen, Rachel Robson, Andrew Trevis-Smith.

Director of Communications, Sue Primmer

‘Telling the truth well, in public, about academic life and work isn’t easy. I’m convinced you only do PR in a university because you believe ineducation, because you respect yourcolleagues – and because you want to do them justice in the media.’

The Press Office team – Abigail, Kate Chapple, AnnaDingley and Rachel Robson – is on hand to guideacademics through the maelstrom of interviews, while Buzz offers a channel for University news that can bepicked up by the external media.

Sam Smith, Buzz’s Content Editor, says staff have becomemore switched on about submitting items for publication.

‘When we first started Buzz three years ago, we really triedto encourage people to come to us with their stories. Wewent and spoke to staff members and told them we wantedto get their stories in print. So in the beginning we had togo out and find the stories, but now we’re at the stagewhere people are coming to us and we have almost morecontent than we can fit into each issue, which is brilliant.’

‘The frustrating thing is the constant balancing act of trying to produce a document that covers a hugely diverseaudience. No sensible magazine or newspaper ownerwould try to do what we do – and we're constantly lookingto improve. Apart from payslips, Buzz is actually the onlyregular piece of internal communications that goes toeveryone and to which potentially everyone can contribute.That’s valuable. As a Birmingham graduate myself – I'mhere exactly because I do value the place, and the people.All of them.’

The Communications Office, whose smooth running isdown to Manager Marilyn Mackenzie, is responsible formore than media and internal relations. As Events Manager,Kirsty Mack organises a host of eclectic functions acrosscampus, from those involving the Vice-Chancellor andsenior management to a launch party for the BBC’s newDrama Village, which recently set up shop on the Selly Oakcampus. ‘As well as internally focused events, we organisea lot that are externally focused,’ she explains. ‘We try toget people on to campus as a way of developing our linkswith the community.’

Many visitors to the University find their way to the circular-shaped Aston Webb Reception Centre, staffed by DebbieTruman and Wendy Allen, who are adept at dealing with a wide range of queries and requests.

‘We get about 100,000 visitors to the University each year. So we’re dealing with 27,000 students and their parents,along with VIP guests for the Vice-Chancellor’s Suite and all the people who come for open days and degreeceremonies,’ says Debbie.

‘We’re in the ambassadorialtraining business every time:each media opportunity is a moment to plug yourpersonal profile, yoursubject, your sector, yourindustry, your city, yourcountry. Or let someone else have the airtime – not a hard choice, really.’

11InformationFeature

Focusing on key areas, the project will provide and pilot aframework for managing cross-institutional authentication andauthorisation of access rights to shared resources and willinvestigate the issues in the collaborative use of digitalrepositories. The project will produce experience-basedevidence to underpin a regional strategy for models ofworking with shared digital resources.

The University will work with Kidderminster College to design and implement a ‘Shibboleth’ framework (see www.athensams.net/shibboleth/shibboleth-intro.html)

for application to University learning resources containedwithin WebCT Vista. The project will be run in conjunctionwith the Technology Enhanced Enterprise Education project(TE3), based in the Learning Development Unit (LDU), to implement Shibboleth for the TE3 repository and assistwith testing in other institutions.

For further details contact Kelly Smith email: k.j.smith.2@bham.ac.uk

As a principal partner in a regional JISC funded project to promote the shared use of digitalcontent across the region, the University is working towards enabling educational institutions tomake more effective use of their existing digital assets by promoting shared, open and accessibleuse of digital content.

Sharing digital content across the region

The event takes walkers through the three highest peaks in Yorkshire – Pen-y-ghent, Whernside and Ingleborough – involving a cumulative ascent of over 1500 metres andcovering over 26 miles of the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

Suitable for walkers of all ages, the event will be fullymarshalled. Participants can choose to do one, two or allthree peaks making this an event for families as well as

serious walkers. For the keenest of walkers the challengelies in finishing the marathon course within 12 hours.

If you would like to take up the challenge or simply would like more information please contact the Heart Research team on 0113 234 7474 email: fundraising@heartresearch.org.uk

Reach your peak for heart researchReturning for its ninth year, Heart Research is inviting colleagues at Birmingham to takepart in the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Challenge on Saturday 18 June.

12Information Sport

International competitors from countries including America,the Netherlands, France, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Eirecompeted in Epee, Foil and Sabre disciplines in the two-dayevent at the University’s Munrow Sports Centre.

The University was represented by Sports Scholar PhilipWest, and PhD student Christian Emery, who both competedwithin the foil competition.

Philip, who is studying Sport and Exercise Sciences, hasalready won a British Universities Sports Association (BUSA)individual bronze and is a senior international fencer. He isranked 23rd in the UK.

The tournament, now in it’s 71st year, started life in thePump Room at Leamington Spa over the Easter weekend of 1934. Originally known as the Leamington EasterTournament, it was the first major international competitionoutside London. The tournament moved to the University in1975 and has taken place there almost every year since.

Organiser, Joan Whitehouse said: ‘The BirminghamInternational is one of the biggest and most prestigiousevents on the UK circuit.

2005 will be especially important for Birmingham fencers.Our own Rhys Melia, British under-16 champion, is eligibleto fence in Birmingham for the first time. He will be looking tofight his way into the UK top fifty. We can expect fireworksfrom him – and from a couple of other up and comingBrummies who have pushed their way from the top 200 atthe end of last season to be contending for top-fifty places.

Swashbucklingstudents en guard Fencers from all over the world flocked toBirmingham this Easter as the University hostedthe Birmingham International Fencing Tournamentfor the 30th time.

From the summer onwards, the account you use to accessstudent IT services will require you to provide a secretquestion and answer to allow you to reset your universitypassword. If you forget your password, you may go to theSecret Information Repository (SIR) and upon answering your secret question correctly, you can reset your passwordwithout having to queue at the computing helpdesk.

This facility will also allow you to reset your passwordremotely after leaving the University, in the event of yourequiring access to alumni services such as transcripts.

All current students need to set their secret questionpassword before they leave for the summer, to enable you to register for the next year of your course.

Register your secret question and answer atwww.secrets.bham.ac.uk now for the opportunity to win 1 of 4 ipod minis

Access to student IT services at Birmingham is changing.

What’s your secret?

Don’t forget to take advantage of fantastic savings on travelinsurance and commission free travel money available online, for all bringme users. For a break that is really cheap, take aday trip as a foot passenger to France for just £1! Hover overto Calais any time until 22 December 2005. If you want totake the car it’s only an extra £27 or £37 on Saturdays. Terms and conditions apply. See www.bringme.co.uk for details.

If it’s a family fun day out you’re after then bringme has just theticket. Get 25% off entry to Alton Towers2, Thorpe Park3 andChessington World of Adventures4, as well great discounts to other Tussauds Group attractions.

bringme deals on wheelsYou could get great savings on your next car purchasethrough bringme with new car models and quality used carsand also fantastic discounts on car insurance.

bringme prizes to be wonThere are also free prize draws every month with loads ofprizes up for grabs. In April, you could win an iPAQ fromeatUK worth £250. Log onto www.bringme.co.uk between 1and 30 April for details.

Spring into action and visit www.bringme.co.uk using access code: bigbroadbest for savings and deals you can enjoy everyday.

Offers are subject to availability and change all the time. Terms apply: see www.bringme.co.uk

Important Information1 Thomas Cook: The bringme Travel Club discounts cannot be applied to Thomas Cook Tours, British Airways Holidays, ski packs, travel insuranceor scheduled flight only bookings. The 6.5% discount cannot be appliedretrospectively or combined with any other promotional offer. National callrates apply. For the purpose of monitoring customer service, calls may berecorded. A 2% (max £50) handling fee will be levied on all credit cardtransactions. All holidays are subject to availability and tour operator booking conditions.

2 Alton Towers: Offer valid until 30 October 2005. All prices depend on thedate of the visit and all tickets must be booked at least five working days inadvance. Not in conjunction with any other offer and not available on the day.All prices are subject to change without notice.

3 Thorpe Park: Offer valid until 30 October 2005. All prices depend on thedate of the visit and all tickets must be booked at least five working days inadvance. Not in conjunction with any other offer and not available on the day.All prices are subject to change without notice.

4 Chessington World of Adventures: Offer valid until 30 October 2005. All prices depend on the date of the visit and all tickets must bebooked at least five working days in advance. Not in conjunction with anyother offer and not available on the day. All prices are subject to changewithout notice.

Escape the April chill by booking a mini break or holiday. Get an additional 6.5% discount1 with Thomas Cook on thousands of holidays including charter flights, hotels around the world, airportparking, car hire, UK breaks, attraction tickets and late deal prices.

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Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Michael Cruise is picturedwith undergraduates Hena Begum (Medicine), Claire Pearce(Biochemistry) and Robert Barry (Medicine) who will berepresenting the University at this year’s Universitas 21Undergraduate Research Conference at the University ofVirginia, USA from 6–9 April and Mr Bob Arnott from theMedical School who will be accompanying the students.

Brum’sambassadors

‘In terms of raw emotion, it is likely to bethe most spectacular in years. The ruleshave changed this season and some topfencers have struggled to get the results they need.’

13Sport

The Lions mauled the Tigers in a 34 points to 7 victory in frontof a capacity crowd at the Ivor Preece Stadium in Coventry.The Lions, who are ranked top in the thirty-six team BritishCollegiate League, are unbeaten this year. Their sixty-six strongsquad includes twenty stone U.S. McNeese State Division1AA lineman Roderick Cantu and former British Schools shot-put champion Derrick Squire. Their ferocious defence has conceded only fifty-four points this season.

6’ 4” running back Jay Alexander rushed for 281 yards on 33carries and scored three touchdowns, to be named ‘MostValuable Player’ of the game, the Southern Conference and the League. Quarterback Neale Canning, a 2nd year Medicalstudent, threw two touchdown passes in the match to top a great season, his first year as a starting quarterback.

Head Coach Wayne Hill was also named National Coach of the Year, for the second consecutive year. On the team’sperformance, Wayne said: ‘Throughout the entire season, we have been a team – win or lose. We lose as a team and we win as a team. Our players pulled together and made thisthe best programme in the country. I am proud of them and Iam proud of what the University has done to help us, not justthis year but in previous years.’

Lions roar at College bowl XIXThe Birmingham Lions, the University’s AmericanFootball squad, are celebrating after last month’sdecisive win against Glasgow in the College BowlXIX final, claiming the national title for the firsttime in the competition’s nineteen-year history.

Sports Scholars

Birmingham squash players achieved the double over localrivals Loughborough, with both the Men’s 1st and 2nd teamstaking the gold. A packed house of supporters were on theedge of their seats, when both matches went down to thewire in the final rubber. In the 1st Team Championships,University Sports Scholar Steve Coppinger battled againstJethro Binns in the final match. Steve, a MathematicalEngineering student originally from Mombasa, had welcomesupport from his parents who had travelled over from Kenyaespecially to see him compete. His parents were thrilled, as they witnessed both Steve’s victory and him being named Player of the Final.

In the men’s fencing, Birmingham beat Oxford in the semi-finals, but had to settle for silver overall when they were narrowly beaten by Cambridge in a final where the competition came down to the final sabre rounds, after foil and epee had taken place.

Silver medals were also achieved by the netball 2nd teamand the badminton men’s and women’s teams.

Squash cleans up indoorsBirmingham sports teams romped home with six medals – two gold and four silver – at lastmonth’s British Universities Sporting Association(BUSA) Indoor Finals. Top sporting students from across the country converged at the Munrow Centre for the competition climax insquash, fencing, netball, badminton and tabletennis events.

Netball fans should head to Cocks Moors Woods LeisureCentre this May for a chance to see the England Netballsquad in action.

The England Netball Super Cup comes to Birmingham on Friday May 6 to Sunday May 8.

The line up for the Birmingham University Blaze has yet to be confirmed but with members of the senior England squadbeing split between the seven competing teams its bound to be impressive, especially in the first match against theEngland U21’s.

Tickets are £3 for Friday night (games at 6pm and 8pm) and £7 adults and £4 under 16’s for Saturday and Sunday.Discounted family, group and weekend tickets are available,please contact Sam on 0121 414 2262 for more details.

Netball super cup comesto Birmingham

David Fulcher – R&ADavid is in his final year of Applied Golf Management Studies at the Selly Oakcampus and Belfry. He has been selected to play in The R&A bursars tournament atSt Andrews over Easter, alongside fellow R&A bursar Craig Brown. David is planningto become a full time professional when he graduates over the summer, hopefully atthe Belfry. The University Golf team were runners up in last years British UniversitiesSports Association (BUSA) final. David hopes to be able to go one better this year.

Bradley Yiend – BronzeBrad is studying for an MSc in Marketing. He is one of Britain’s best 400 metrehurdlers, having gone to the World University Games in Korea two years ago, wherehe won bronze in the 400 metre relay. He is hoping to be selected for this yearsWorld University Games in Izmir, Turkey. Brad finished 4th in the 400 metres, at theBUSA Indoor championships held at Sheffield last month. He is looking forward to the outdoor season, especially as he made the final of the Olympic trials held inManchester last year. His goal is to compete in Melbourne this time next year at the Commonwealth Games.

Clare Neve – TASSClare is in her first year of studying physiotherapy. She is a junior international pole vaulter, having been a former gymnast. Clare is hoping to be selected for theEuropean Junior championships in Lithuania this summer. She finished fourth at theBUSA Indoor championships last month in Sheffield, in which Birmingham finished an excellent third overall. Clare trains in Stoke and has benefited from the indoor pole vault facilities at the high performance center at the Alexander Stadium.

Kat MerchantKat has moved up from the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme to World Class for Womens Rugby Union, while still in her first year of studying Sport & ExerciseSciences. She recently made her debut for the England A Senior team against Wales, scoring on the way to victory. Kat has benefited from the inside knowledge of University head coach, Bess Evans, who was a senior Wales captain. Kat wasrewarded with her first full senior cap against Ireland last month, scoring the final try of the match for victory 32–0. Kat is hoping to help the University team to victoryagainst Loughborough in the BUSA semi final this month. A win would allow her and the team to go for BUSA glory at Twickenham.

Birmingham squash players

14Information

Staff newsEmeritus Professor Ray Smallman has been elected aForeign Associate of the United States National Academy of Engineering (NAE) ‘In recognition of his distinguishedcontributions to Engineering.’ Professor Smallman will beadmitted at an induction ceremony in Washington DC inOctober. This is a particularly prestigious award as only ten foreign scientists/engineers are elected worldwide and usually just one from the UK.

Professor Smallman was previously Head of Department ofMetallurgy and Materials (1969–88), Dean of the Faculty ofScience and Engineering and Vice Principal of the University(1987–92). His researches have been mainly concernedwith relating the properties of metals and materials to theirmicrostructure using electron microscopic techniques.

Dr Alan Begg has been made an Honorary Professor of theSchool of Engineering (Metallurgy and Materials). The awardis in recognition of a career in materials sciences and is alsoan endorsement to his life-long commitment to developingnew technologies and processes.

Dr Begg has been involved in the School of Engineering as a member of the Steering Committee for the InterdisciplinaryResearch Centre in High Temperature Materials. He has alsobeen a member of the Office of Science and TechnologyMaterials Foresight Panel since 1994.

To celebrate the appointment, Dr Begg addressed studentson the subject of research and development, describing thekey manufacturing and business lessons learned in bringingnew products to the market place.

Professor Ann Davis, Institute of Applied Social Studiesand Deputy Dean of Arts and Social Sciences, has beenelected to be a member of the Academicians Committee of the Academy of the Learned Societies for the SocialSciences.

Professor Judith Petts, Head of the School of Geography,Earth and Environmental Sciences has been appointed to the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution for a three year term in first instance.

The Centre for Lifelong Learning’s Peter Leather has beenelected to the Executive Council of the Birmingham CivicSociety and will be the Chair of its Heritage Committee.

The Birmingham Civic Society has over 400 individual and 50 corporate members drawn from business and theprofessions and works for improvements in the quality of city life, development of the young as good citizens and preservation of Birmingham’s heritage. It is responsible for placing blue plaques on buildings of historical orarchitectural importance and is currently developing a new scheme (in which Peter will be playing a leading role) to erect ‘History Plates’ at sites of importance in the history of Birmingham.

Dr Terry Slater, Reader in Historical Geography in theSchool of Geography, Earth, and Environmental Scienceshas been appointed an Honorary Lay Canon of BirminghamCathedral in recognition of his services to the AnglicanDiocese. He was installed in the cathedral on Easter Day,together with other newly-appointed Canons.

April Diary14 University of Birmingham Women’s Club – coffee in thehome of Eva Wishart. Tel: 0121 472 1768

15 5.00pmThe Jinks Memorial Lecture – Patterns and processes ofhuman meiotic recombination – Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys(Leicester). Room: UG04 Learning Resource Centre

114.00pmMolecular pathobiology research theme seminar –Phenotypic anchoring of xenoestrogen-induced changes ingene expression: exploring potential epigenetic changesduring exposure to a developmental stage-specific non-genotoxic carcinogen – Jonathon Moggs, Syngenta CentralToxicology Laboratory. Host: Professor Kevin Chipman.UG04 Learning Resource Centre

194.30pm Organismal and environmental research theme seminar– Tracking albatrosses and petrels at South Georgia:competition and coexistence among sympatric pelagicpredators – Richard Philips, British Antarctic Survey, NERC.Host: Pat Butler. UG04 Learning Resource Centre

21University of Birmingham Women’s Club – coffee in thehome of Marjorie Knight. Tel: 0121 454 1098

254.00 pmMolecular pathobiology research theme seminar –Lymphomas listen to Prozac Professor John Gordon. Host:Dr Chris Bunce. Room: UG04 Learning Resource Centre

271.00pmPlant genetics and cell biology seminar – The role andregulation of photosynthesis in specific cell types – Dr JulianHibberd (Cambridge). Host: Dr Juliet Coates. NG08, Schoolof Biosciences

7.30pmDante Alighieri Society – Dr. Ben Earle of the UniversityMusic Department will speak on musical modernism infascist Italy. Room 422, Department of Education, at.) All welcome. For further details contact Shirley Clarke Tel: 0121 472 1510

28University of Birmingham Women’s Club – coffee in thehome of Mary Hallam. Tel: 0121 440 2184

In and around the City14–17 National Homebuilding and Renovating Show – NEC

15–30 Smilin’ Through– A new play by Billy Cowan @ The Door theatre

17Tony Hadley vs Martin Fry and ABC– Symphony Hall (0121 780 3333)

23Barclay’s Premiership: Aston Villa vs Bolton– Villa Park (0121 202 5000)

23 St George’s Day Celebrations– Symphony Hall and City Centre

Aspects of Art and CultureDay School organised by the centre for lifelong learningin relation to the Illuminating Faith Exhibition. Detailsfrom: i.mckenzie@bham.ac.uk Tel: 0121 414 8065

30

15Information

Buzz on the streetWe’re constantly cleansing our data and updating our records.Please let Sam (below) know if you want extra copies of Buzz

or if you think we need to amend your distribution details.

Printed VersionPublication Date: 3 May 2005Deadline: 15 April 2005 mid-day

Publication Date: 16 May 2005Deadline: 29 April 2005 mid-day

News, Views, PicturesSue Primmer, Editors.j.primmer@bham.ac.ukTel: 0121 414 6680Sam Smith, Content Editors.smith@bham.ac.ukTel: 0121 414 6948

Diary, Notices and AdvertsSam SmithUniversity-Buzz@bham.ac.ukTel: 0121 414 6948

Small AdsUniversity members: £5.00 per 20 wordsNon-members: £10 per 20 wordsPayment in advance required.

Display AdsRatecard available on request.

Views expressed in the newsletter are not necessarily those of the University or a statement of University policy. The publication of advertisements does notimply any endorsement by the University of the goods or services advertised. All submissions may be subject to editing. The Editor’s decision is final.

Small adsMiscellaneousAloe Vera is known for healing properties. Distributor ofForever Living products to individuals and through parties.Contact 0121 777 2807

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AccommodationAccommodation to let. Large bedsitting room, newlyrefurbished en suite bathroom and fully equipped kitchen in large Moseley House available from April 2005. Suitable forone person, short term let (up to six months) or Monday–Friday.£350 per month inclusive of heating and all bills. Tel: 0121 449 6791 or sw103@le.ac.uk

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To let: Furnished spacious double room in friendly professionalhouse in Selly Park. Walking distance to University and SellyPark Hospital. Large garden. Non-smokers preferred. Tel: 0121 415 4317

For sale: 3 bedroom semi-detached, refurbished throughout. Gibbins Road, Selly Oak. £159,950. Call Nikos 07969498153. 5 mins drive from the University.

To Let. Large furnished room in friendly ,professional sharedhouse. Centrally located on Bournville Village Trust , ( B31 )with all modern amenities and off road parking. Close topublic transport ,university and hospital. Non -smokerpreferred. £310 pcm inclusive. 0121 478 3720

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Deputy Head of Biosciences and Deputy Dean of Health and Life Sciences Dr Chris Kirk has been appointed asChief Executive of the Biochemical Society.

Chris said; ‘It is a great honour to be appointed ChiefExecutive of the Society with whom I have been associatedas a practising Biochemist for over 30 years. I am reallylooking forward to the challenge of helping the Society todevelop its position at the forefront of the Biochemical andBioscience communities at this most exciting time in thedevelopment of our discipline.’

Dr Kirk will take up office during June and will be based atthe Society’s new offices in London.

John joined the Royal artillery in 1940 and five years laterjoined the Fire service where he served until 1976. Hereached the rank of Assistant Divisional Officer at theCentral fire station in Birmingham and for the latter part of his time there he specialised in fire prevention work.

The experience of fire prevention stood him in good steadwhen he joined the University’s Fire Safety Unit as FirePrevention Officer in 1976.

John always stressed the importance of life where fire andsmoke were concerned and he put great emphasis onensuring that people knew of a fire in a building andremoving them quickly to safety. He retired in 1982.

Apart from his work, John was a sports enthusiast. Heenjoyed playing golf and going abroad. He died suddenly of a heart attack, leaving a wife, Joan, and two daughters,Lynne and Janet.

Provided by Dick Bush

John Harper 1920–2005

Obituary

Staff news continued

16Culture

Mademoiselle Malo (c.1875)by Hilaire-Germaine-Edgar Degas (1834–1917)

Degas is understood to have used pastel with growingregularity after returning from America in 1873. The mediumafforded the artist more freedom and allows a dazzling range of technical expertise. Controlled, diagonal strokes on thesitter’s face accentuate the direction of her gaze, wanderingdispassionately to the left. Minute applications of blues andmauves upon her features are fantastically juxtaposed with thebold, loose hatching that defines the lower area of the picture.The spontaneous zebra stripes on her clothing superbly conveythe artist’s confidence with this material. Moreover, the roughdownward marks in this section exhibit the workmanship ofDegas and how varied and accomplished his approach was.

Although the intimacy of the portrait suggests a closefriendship, the identity of the sitter is uncertain. In a letter of1872, Degas mentions a Mademoiselle Malo, establishing thatthere was indeed a woman of that name known to him. But ithas also been suggested that a dancer named Thérèse Mallotwas mistress to the artist’s brother, Achille, while anothersource claims that the sitter was the lover of Degas’s friend,James Tissot. The true identity of the model may remain amystery – her enigmatic expression tantalisingly appears to

confirm this. Degas’s oeuvre included images ofdancers, cabaret artists and circus performers from the lower classes of Parisian society. It seems likelythat the model was from this dark world that the artist depicted with such raw honesty – probably an impoverished dancer or singer. In his desire todocument all aspects of Parisian life, no matter how controversial, Degas challenged the socialexpectations of the time and created a legacy of extraordinary masterpieces celebrating theordinary and everyday.

Mademoiselle Malo can be seen at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts, open from 10.00am – 5.00pm Monday to Saturday and 12.00pm – 5.00pm on Sundays.

Reunited: Degas and ‘Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando’can be seen at the Barber Institute in the Main Galleries, until 15 May 2005.

Provided by Joanna Wallace, Gallery Assistant.

Picture of the monthA display of skill and audacity, this month’s picture in focus is a dynamic portrait byperhaps the finest pastellist of the nineteenth century. It also draws to our attention to the insightful current exhibition that can be seen at the Barber Institute, Reunited: Degas and ‘Miss La La at the Cirque Fernando.’

The University’s botanic garden at Winterbourne is one of over 240 gardens and organisations from 71 countries who have registered their commitment to work towards targets identified in the GlobalStrategy for Plant Conservation. The Garden last year signed up to the International Agenda forBotanic Gardens in Conservation and will contribute towards several of the 16 action targets includingconserving 60% of the world’s threatened plant species in ex situ collections and promoting educationand awareness about plant diversity.

As a result all plants at Winterbourne are being assessedagainst local, national and worldwide action plans and all plant records are being made available to all botanic gardens.Plant collections are also being increased to include a greater proportion of wild collected material. New arrivals at Winterbourne include wild collected plants from the Hubei region of Central China, in partnership with Glasnevin, theNational Botanic Garden of Ireland and the University ofLiverpool Botanic Garden at Ness. The plants will be planted inthe geographic beds in the garden in a bed specifically createdto replicate a river gorge habitat of Hubei.

Many endangered plants are familiar to British gardenersincluding the well-known Monkey Puzzle tree, Araucariaaraucana. This distinctive, familiar evergreen tree is the onlyAraucaria species hardy in Britain. The tree originates fromSouth America and was first introduced to Britain by theScottish plant hunter Archibald Menzies in 1795. Menzies,whilst plant hunting for the Royal Botanic Garden at Kew, washaving an unsuccessful plant hunting trip and during a formaldinner saved some nuts from the dinner table. On returning toKew these nuts were grown to produce the Monkey Puzzle tree!The tree became a favourite in Victorian parks and gardens.Timber from the tree is much sought after and as a result it isbecoming increasingly rare in the wild it is now one of the treesidentified as being at high risk of extinction in the medium future.In fact there are more Monkey Puzzle trees in British parks andgardens than there are left in the wild.

In association with the Friends of Winterbourne the garden is now open Sunday afternoons 2.00pm–5.00pm, admission£2. Refreshments and plant sales available. See garden leaflet for details of guided tours

Conservation at Winterbourne

Monkey puzzle tree at Winterbourne.

A member of the Apiaceae family (which includes angelica and the carrot)These plants are 13 of the first 50 plants to enter the UK and have yet to be named.

British grown Monkey Puzzle timber showing spiral arrangement of knots.

Picture thisFancy yourself as a bit of an art connoisseur? You could win yourself sets of the Barber’s stunning postcards, prints and posters.

Identify the work from which the detail below is taken, (you’re welcome to come along to the Barber and find the picture or sculpture yourself), and write down its title and the name of the artist(s) responsible.

Mark your entry ‘Picture This’ and either email it toandrewdavies@barber.org.uk, or post it to Andrew Davies,The Barber Institute of Fine Arts, University of Birminghametc. Entries must be received by 24 March.

The first correct entry picked at random after the closing datewill be the winner. The winner will be announced in the Apriledition of Buzz, and will be entitled to choose their prize fromthe following alternatives focusing on the Barber’s permanentcollection or exhibitions: Either ten Barber postcards or three Barber prints or two exhibition posters. There is nocash alternative.

Congratulations to Sandra Virza, who correctly identifiedlast month’s detail from Degas’ Mademoiselle Malo(see above).