10
Business courses Read why London is the world’s business and financial capital
12
Arts courses Find out how London’s creative arts schools inspire and showcase talent
14
insight Issue thirteen
Science courses
16
Discover how London is pushing the boundaries of science and technology
Student volunteer Read how student volunteering in London can change your life
The latest news and courses from London’s universities www.studylondon.ac.uk
Study in London Experience the world in one city
Tate Galleries Discover free lectures and research spaces at Tate Modern, the most popular modern art gallery in the world
WELCOME
To subscribe for free, visit www.studylondon.ac.uk
In 1909 Guglielmo Marconi, the Italian born inventor of the radio, received the Nobel Prize in Physics as a result of the work he undertook in his London laboratory. Skip forward 100 years and the Chinese scientist Charles Kao, who was also trained in London, received his Nobel Prize for his work in fibre optics which has transformed the way electronic data is transmitted. These are just two examples of the excellent research with a global impact that is undertaken in London and its universities. In this edition of insight you can read how current researchers are building on Charles Kao’s legacy to transform the way we communicate. Computers, telecommunications systems and consumer electronics are advancing at a fast pace and I think it’s fitting that London, the adopted home of Marconi, should be leading the next wave of technological invention. Technology will also help present London to a new global audience during the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. When receiving the Olympic flag in Beijing I was inspired by the passion of their Olympic volunteers. Inside you can read about James Xu, a volunteer at the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, whose love of sport has brought him to London to study just so he can volunteer again, this time for the London 2012 Games. I hope you enjoy reading this edition of insight. Remember, you can go to www.studylondon.ac.uk for more news and information on studying in one of the best connected cities in the world.
Boris Johnson, Mayor of London February 2011
Issue 13
CONTENTS news 02 Read about the latest courses, research and student successes from London’s universities
business & finance 10 THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS ONLINE How London’s young entrepreneurs are leading the online revolution 11 Entrepreneurial spirit • Overseas investment • Nobel Prize award • Paper of the decade
creative ARTS 12 THE WORLD’S FASHION HIGH STREET Study fashion in the world’s retail capital 13 Children’s book animation • Fashion photography • Pen design wins prize • Architecture award
science & TECHNOLOGY 14 GRANDFATHER OF BROADBAND How a Nobel Prize winning London alumni pioneered the technology at the centre of the internet 15 ‘Living’ buildings • Eco-friendly engine • NASA computer project • Caterpillar scholarships
health & public policy 16 VOLUNTEER FOLLOWS OLYMPIC FLAME Student volunteers can help society and add work experience to their CV 17 Nursing skills • Doctor in your pocket • New philosophy centre • Childhood studies
regular features 18 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Discover London’s diverse festivals and celebrations 20 London’s hidden gems Tate Galleries London’s art students can take advantage of free lectures and seminars at the Tate Modern, Tate Britain and Tate online
insight is produced by London Higher four times a year. The editorial content of insight is produced by the Study London team. London Higher, Senate House, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HU. Company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales No. 05731255. Registered Charity No.1114873. For editorial enquiries please email press@studylondon.ac.uk For advertising enquiries please email advertising@studylondon.ac.uk. insight is printed on 100% recycled paper. Credits: Some facts have been supplied by Visit London and HESA data. Cover image: London South Bank University Inset: Herzog de Meuron and Hayes Davidson 2009. insight is designed and printed by Fatpipe Limited www.fatpipe.co.uk The views in insight are not necessarily those of London Higher. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in insight, London Higher does not accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors or the advertisers. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.
NEWS
in the news the LATEST NEWS FROM LONDON’s UNIVERSITIES
Film festival triumph
2 www.studylondon.ac.uk
A TEAM of students and alumni from Imperial College London have driven an electric car 26,000 kilometres down the length of North and South America. They began their 140-day journey in Alaska, and passed through 14 countries before completing the trip in Ushuaia in Argentina, the world’s most southerly city. The electric supercar (pictured) attracted people’s interest at every stop, from curious businessmen in San Francisco to local farmers at the Guatemalan border. The car can travel over 500 kilometres on just $5 of electricity. It was also able to withstand the extreme temperatures and terrains of the Americas,
Source: Imperial College London
AN ALUMNUS from Goldsmiths, University of London has won the top prize at the Exposures film festival. Olivia Humphreys’s graduation film Noctuaries, was named Best Documentary at the festival, which also featured over 60 films including those made by other Goldsmiths students. The former MA in Screen Documentary student’s film was based on her family’s interest in dreams and her own experience after her mother’s death. Olivia filmed, edited, produced and directed the film herself whilst receiving support and advice from her tutor.
Electric powered journey
travelling through ice fields, deserts and mountains. The team’s journey adds to the growing evidence that electric vehicles are a viable lowcarbon alternative to cars powered by the combustion engine.
NEWS
Grow your own clothes SUZANNE Lee, a researcher at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is using a technique to grow ‘vegetable leather’ in a laboratory. The BioCouture research project has discovered a method to grow material from a bacteria produced from fermented green tea. Once grown, the material can be harvested, dried and used to make clothes. It can be moulded, cut or sewn, and can even be coloured or printed on using conventional clothing dye. The promising invention is already drawing international acclaim, and was featured in the New York Times and Time magazine’s Best Inventions of 2010. It is hoped that BioCouture will eventually provide an environmentally friendly alternative to the non-biodegradable polyester that currently dominates the clothing market. Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design is one of six internationally recognised art, design, fashion and media colleges that are part of University of the Arts London. The other colleges are Camberwell College of Arts; Chelsea College of Art and Design; London College of Communication; London College of Fashion; Wimbledon College of Art.
BioCouture ‘vegetable leather’ jacket
Source: University of the Arts London
Source: University of the Arts London
Judicial legal studies UNIVERSITY College London has launched its new Judicial Institute, the UK’s first and only centre of excellence in research and teaching on the judiciary. The judicial system is of crucial importance to legal decision-making in the UK and it has a profound impact on all areas of society. However, the system has never been subject to broad academic studies. The new Judicial Institute will address that gap, creating a better and more thorough understanding of the judicial system and its workings. Research will focus on areas such as how judges are appointed, how
Hong Kong vets
they reach decisions, the operation of the courts, and the relationship between the judiciary and the government. The Faculty of Laws at University College London has a world-class reputation for research. Did you know?
There are over
18,500
law students studying in London (Source: HESA 2008-9)
THE Royal Veterinary College has launched the first veterinary nursing degree programme in Asia in collaboration with Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The four-year Veterinary Nursing BSc is based in Hong Kong and will help address the shortage of qualified veterinary nurses in Hong Kong whilst also improving the welfare of animals in the region. In addition to attending lectures and clinical skills sessions, students will attend practical training sessions at Hong Kong’s Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals to learn about animal handling.
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NEWS
Saatchi & Saatchi talent
Cycling 3,000 miles
Did you know?
Seven
of the top ten advertising agencies worldwide have their corporate headquarters in London (Source: Think London)
4 www.studylondon.ac.uk
Source: SOAS / Mikaela Parrack & Imran Khan
ADVERTISING giants Saatchi & Saatchi recently showcased the clothes of London College of Fashion graduates in its central London headquarters. Clothes designed by five graduates were chosen based on their quality and inventiveness. The winning clothes were put on display and seen by passersby and Saatchi & Saatchi clients, among whom are some of the largest multinational companies in the world. A STUDENT and graduate from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) have cycled 3,000 miles from the UK to Mali. Mikaela Parrack (pictured), a BA Development Studies and South Asian Studies student, and Imran Khan, who studied music at SOAS, completed the trip to learn more about West
African music and raise money for Joliba Trust, a Malian charity. Inspired by their passion for Malian music, the trip took three months to complete and raised money to support farming communities in Mali suffering from the damaging effects of desertification.
NEWS
Architecture award
Source: Jonathan Schofield
TWO Graduate Diploma in Architecture students from the University of Westminster have been awarded the prestigious Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) President’s Medals Student Awards 2010. Jonathan Schofield won the Silver Medal for his project Creative Evolution - Silvertown Ship Breaking Yard (pictured), while Clare Richards was awarded the Dissertation Medal for her work, Happy Communities. They beat competition from more than 270 architecture schools from over 60 countries. University of Westminster students have won the RIBA Dissertation Medal for five consecutive years. The Awards promote excellence in the study of architecture, rewarding talent and encouraging architectural debate worldwide. The RIBA was founded in 1834 and has 40,000 members and sponsors worldwide.
Qatar campus UNIVERSITY College London (UCL) will become the first British university to open a campus in Qatar, where 150 students will study a range of research programmes and Master’s degrees in archaeology, conservation and museum studies. The Qatari UCL campus (UCL-Q) will also provide a wide range of bespoke training courses taught by museum and heritage professionals. Working with the Qatar Foundation and Qatar Museums Authority, UCL will help position Qatar as the regional centre of excellence in museum practice as well as furthering research in Arab and Islamic archaeology. The new courses, Museums and Conservation Practice, and Arab and Islamic Archaeology, will be available from 2012 and will be located in Education City.
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NEWS
Space saver
6 www.studylondon.ac.uk
Students in the drawing centre
THE Courtauld Institute of Art was recently given £600,000 by the International Music and Art Foundation to create the IMAF Centre for the Study and Conservation of Drawings. The Centre will support the conservation of artwork in the Courtauld Gallery’s collection, helping the Institute to improve its cataloguing system and
give scholars and the public more access to the collection online. Ranging from the early Renaissance to the 20th century, the Courtauld Gallery’s collection of 7,000 drawings and watercolours is one of the finest of its kind in the world. It includes masterpieces by artists ranging from Rembrandt and Michelangelo to Cézanne and Picasso.
Source: Courtauld Institute of Art
LONDON South Bank University student Matthieu Philippault is celebrating after winning a Shell LiveWIRE Grand Ideas Young Entrepreneur Award 2010 for his folding trailer invention. The award ceremony recognises young entrepreneurs aged 16-30 who are starting or managing their own business. The Engineering Product Design student has invented a space-saving, foldable trailer that can be attached to a vehicle to transport motorbikes, jet skis, quad bikes and other sports equipment. The unique folding structure of the trailer enables users to reduce the trailer’s size and easily store it at home. The trailer also promotes better fuel economy thanks to its small and light design. Matthieu is now in the process of bringing his prototype to market. The trailer also promotes better fuel economy thanks to its small and light design.
Conservation centre
NEWS
Stress relieving coat
Source: Squease
Mexican scholarships
A model wearing the final product
Visit London student competition UNDERGRADUATES from the London College of Communication were selected to illustrate the Visit London Official City Guide 2011. Visitors from all over the world will now see the designs. Naomi Wu, Rich Sheehan, and Karen Ho, from the College’s Graphic and Media Design course, were complimented for giving each section of the guide an individual flavour and energy that reflects the rich diversity and vibrancy of London. The 2011 City Guide is themed Only in London, which highlights the hundreds of unique attractions, sights and experiences that can only be found in the capital. to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk 7
Source: Visit London
KING’S College London recently signed an agreement which makes King’s eligible to receive scholarships for Mexican Masters and PhD students. The agreement was signed with FIDERH (Fund for Development of Human Resources), a funding agency managed by the Central Bank of Mexico, to encourage the brightest and most talented students from Mexico to study at King’s. The scholarships will pay for tuition fees and living expenses. King’s is one of the top 25 universities in the world and is home to more than 23,000 students.
The inflatable ‘inner’ jacket
Source: Squease
FOUR graduates from the Royal College of Art have won the 2010 Research Councils UK (RCUK) Business Plan Competition for their coat design that gives the wearer a comforting hug to reduce stress and anxiety. Developed for people with autism, the Squease coat mimics a human hug by using a ‘Deep Pressure Vest’ which is zipped into the coat and can be inflated by the wearer using controls in a coat pocket. This creates the calming hug, leading to reduced stress and anxiety while helping them to feel safe and protected. Squease won first prize and £25,000. It is the first time an arts and humanities project has ever won the RCUK competition, which traditionally recognises research from a science or medical background. The MA Innovation Design Engineering graduates are now working on the production of the coat. RCUK is the strategic partnership of the UK’s seven Research Councils. It provides funding for a range of subjects ranging from the medical and biological sciences to astronomy, social sciences, and the arts and humanities.
NEWS
Folding wheelchair
8 www.studylondon.ac.uk
Students at the Museum
A TEAM of students from the BA Creative Lighting Control and BA Lighting Design at Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance has won the National Railway Museum (NRM) Lighting
Source: Rose Bruford College of Theatre & Performance
ROYAL College of Art graduate Duncan Fitzsimons has created a revolutionary wheelchair design that allows users to fold the chair and its tyres into a small sports bag. The design will give wheelchair users more freedom as the chair will be easier to transport, particularly on aeroplanes. The wheelchair has attracted the interest of several wheelchair companies and Duncan is now choosing a manufacturer to licence his innovative design to make daily life easier for wheelchair users. Duncan’s idea has also been chosen by influential design magazine Wallpaper as one of the top ten designs for 2010. Duncan is an MA Industrial Design Engineering graduate. He has worked as an ergonomist for Renault in France and more recently, he has worked freelance for organisations such as Olympus Medical.
Students light up museum
Competition 2010. The students’ ideas have helped the museum explore the use of the most up-todate digital technology and theatrical lighting to showcase its unique transport collection.
NEWS
Foundation courses
Leadership challenges
Source: Kingston University London
Study Group students and staff
STUDY Group, a provider of foundation and preparation courses for international students in the UK, has opened its first London-based International Study Centre (ISC) at Kingston University. The centre will allow 70 students from around the world to study and prepare for a full university course. Progression to pre-selected undergraduate or postgraduate programmes at Kingston is
guaranteed once the student has completed the ISC course. The centre offers six foundation courses, which will lead to undergraduate degrees in: Business; Management and Economics; and Life and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Students studying the specialist pre-Master’s programme can choose Business and Management, Computing, or Engineering.
Bees solve math problem BUMBLEBEES can solve a complex mathematical problem that would keep a computer busy for days, say London university researchers. A bee’s brain is the size of pinhead yet they are able to compare the distance between hundreds of flowers to find the shortest route - a task that can keep supercomputers busy for much longer. Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London and Royal Holloway, University of London used artificial flowers to test whether bees flew to the flowers in the order by which they were discovered or if
they would find the shortest route. It is hoped the research can be applied to human thinking to help us solve tasks such as navigation and business supply chains. Did you know?
Over
30 percent
of London is green space and parks (Source: Greater London Authority)
PROSPECTIVE MBA students at City University London can find out what it takes to be a successful business leader at a new series of free seminars within its Cass Business School. The seminars are designed to give MBA candidates an essential insight into leadership and the teaching style of the school’s MBA. The seminars are free, interactive and will explore some of the concepts behind leadership, such as staff motivation and business ethics.
Strategic Marketing IMPERIAL College Business School has launched a new full-time, one-year programme, specifically designed for the marketers of tomorrow. With a strong emphasis on project work and real-life case studies, the programme not only examines the fundamentals of marketing strategy but also focuses on new technologies and the marketing opportunities they present. It will be taught primarily by Business School faculty, whose teaching in marketing is rated 7th in the world, together with guest speakers from industry and the wider Imperial College community, all experts in their field. The MSc Strategic Marketing has been developed in response to the rapidly changing business landscape and the increased emphasis on marketing as a strategic function within an organisation. It builds directly on the Business School’s reputation for providing world-class Master’s programmes with a focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and the latest research in marketing.
to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk 9
business & FINANCE NEWS AND COURSES
The future of business online How London’s young entrepreneurs are leading the online revolution.
S
ocial media and the mobile internet are the latest online innovations transforming the way we communicate and do business. Tools such as Facebook, Twitter and the iPhone give us the ability to communicate with our friends across the world in seconds. This online revolution is also helping young entrepreneurs in London to launch their own businesses and ideas. Sean Callahan (pictured) was studying his Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) at London Metropolitan University when he had the idea to create Plixi, a photo sharing tool that is now used by millions of people every day on Twitter and Facebook. Feedback from Twitter users with an interest in photography helped Sean to build his business, which came to global prominence when Britney Spears used Plixi to share her concert photos with her six million Twitter followers.
“The support and help at London Met is second to none and the MBA has helped me apply theories in real-life work situations.”
Source: London Metropolitan University
10
Sean Callahan
www.studylondon.ac.uk
Sean’s education in London has been instrumental to his success. “The support and help at London Met is second to none and the MBA has helped me apply theories in real-life work situations,” he says. “I am using the knowledge I gained to help me with my current business model.” Elsewhere, Graham Weir, an MSc Software Engineering student at City University London, has built an iPhone application that gives students mobile access to practical information about the
university. And it’s not just students at the forefront of the technological revolution. Universities across London are posting videos and lectures on YouTube and iTunes U to broadcast lectures online and graduation ceremonies to millions of viewers across the world. Mobile technology and social media are leading the latest technological revolution, providing the next generation of entrepreneurs with access to millions of potential customers and business partners. Did you know?
Almost
4,000
people have joined Study London’s international student group on Facebook (Source: Study London)
Course highlights MBA programmes in London are taught at: BRUNEL UNIVERSITY CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON KINGSTON UNIVERSITY LONDON LONDON BUSINESS SCHOOL LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS LONDON SOUTH BANK UNIVERSITY MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY ROEHAMPTON UNIVERSITY ROYAL HOLLOWAY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER Find more courses at www.studylondon.ac.uk
business & FINANCE
Paper of the decade A PAPER written by Professor Erkko Autio from the business school at Imperial College London has been awarded ‘paper of the decade’ status by the American Marketing Association (AMA). Professor Erkko won the Gerald E Hills Prize for his paper Social Capital, Knowledge Acquisition
and Knowledge Exploitation in Young Technology based Firms first published in Strategic Management Journal in 2001. The article played a key role in starting a new area of research, studying the relationships that entrepreneurial organisations have with their key customers.
Entrepreneurial spirit Zoe Robson (left) and Sarah Elenany (right) with their awards
Overseas investment OVERSEAS investors are returning to the UK financial services sector, demonstrating that London is still an international centre for the finance industry. Foreign-owned businesses accounted for 9.1 percent of new authorisations by the Financial Services Authority in the first half of 2010, up 40 percent from 2009. There are over 200 finance related courses available at London’s universities including financial accounting; banking and finance; and investment and risk management.
Nobel Prize award
Source: London South Bank University
TWO London South Bank University (LSBU) graduates have won the top prizes at the Brand Amplifier awards for female entrepreneurs. Zoe Robson took Platinum (first place) and Sarah Elenany was awarded Gold (second place) for their entrepreneurial ideas and business vision. Zoe’s business Zed Studio combines printed electronics with a unique technology tool called SeQu-EL to create interactive smart graphics and
products. While Sarah’s company Demonstrate Design has developed Elenany, a clothing design company inspired by Islamic art and culture with bold graphics and exciting designs. Both are graduates of LSBU’s Enterprise Associate Scheme, a twoyear programme that helps students develop the commercial potential of their final year projects while they study an MSc in Enterprise.
A PROFESSOR at the London School of Economics (LSE) has been awarded the 2010 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences. Christopher Pissarides won the prize for his work on the economics of unemployment. His studies focus on what happens when somebody loses their job due to changes in the economic environment. The prize was shared with fellow researchers Peter Diamond from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Dale Mortensen from Northwestern University. The professor of economics was awarded his PhD at the LSE in 1973 and he has worked at the School for 38 years. Did you know?
In total,
16
Nobel Prize winners have been either a student or teacher at the LSE (Source: London School of Economics)
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11
CREATIVE ARTS NEWS AND COURSES
The world’s fashion high street Course highlights CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN Fashion Communication with Promotion BSc LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Fashion Marketing and Retail Management BA
Source: visitbritainimages.com
Oxford Street
Study fashion in the world’s retail capital.
F
ashion bible Drapers magazine recently named London’s Oxford Street ‘the world’s leading high street’. In 2010, more people spent more money in shops on Oxford Street than in any of its global rivals such as New York’s Fifth Avenue or Paris’s Champs Elysee. It is Oxford Street’s mix of affordable, quickmoving and designer-driven high street fashion that helps it remain so popular and cutting edge. London was also recently named the most popular city in the world for retailers. Almost 60 percent of international retailers have opened shops in the city, putting it ahead of its nearest rival, Dubai. Studying in the world’s retail capital gives the city’s fashion students the perfect opportunity to find inspiration and work placements. Levi Palmer, an American student who studied BA Fashion at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design agrees, “There’s always something new and fashion starts 12
www.studylondon.ac.uk
here. You see so many fashion trends then two years later they are on the catwalk in Paris or New York.” Living in the city’s East End during his studies, Levi was surrounded by an experimental and creative culture that has had a big impact on his designs. “London is such an exciting city and full of inspiration,” he says.
“London is such an exciting city and full of inspiration.” Clothing retail giant H&M talentspotted Levi at his college’s graduate fashion show, which has been described as a ‘must’ in the fashion calendar. This is no surprise when Stella McCartney and John Galliano are both alumni of the Central Saint Martins, one of the six colleges that form the University of the Arts London. It is this world-beating cluster of innovative designers and fashion students that have helped keep London at the top of high street fashion. And with so many alumni setting next year’s styles now, London’s influence can only increase.
MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY Fashion Design, Styling and Promotion BA RAVENSBOURNE Fashion BA UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON Fashion Design with Fashion Management BA UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER Fashion Merchandise Management BA KINGSTON UNIVERSITY LONDON Fashion and the Creative Economy MA LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION Fashion Design and Technology MA Find more courses at www.studylondon.ac.uk
Did you know?
There are
15,000 fashion and design students in London
(Source: HESA 2008-9)
Only in London
The new Westfield Stratford City in East London will be the biggest retail outlet in Europe when completed later this year.
CREATIVE ARTS
Children’s book animation STUDENTS from Kingston University London have transformed a new novel by Sir Salman Rushdie into four different animated films. The students were commissioned to produce four films after presenting their ideas to Sir Rushdie and his publisher Random House. The novel, Luka and the Fire of Life, is the prize winning author’s second
children’s novel. It tells the story of 12-year-old Luka and his quest to wake his father Rashid who has fallen into a deep sleep. The students from the University’s Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture were praised for their imagination, creativity and the quality of their work. The animated films can be watched on the Random House website.
Source: Kingston University London
Kingston student Yao Xiang working on her design
Fashion photography LONDON alumnus Clare Shilland has won the 2010 ELLE Commission at the prestigious Taylor Wessing Photography Awards for her portrait of ‘Merel’. Clare will now be given the opportunity to take photographs for a feature story in ELLE magazine. The prize was judged by the fashion magazine’s editor, art director, and picture editor.
Clare studied BA Graphic Design at the University of the Arts London before completing her postgraduate studies at the Royal College of Art. She has won commissions for clients such as Warner Music and the retail clothing giant H&M. Her images have been published in a variety of popular magazines including i-D, Rolling Stone, GQ Style and Teen Vogue.
Pen design wins prize RAVENSBOURNE student James Leitch’s pen designs have impressed industry experts at the pen manufacturer Zebra. The BA Design student used London’s iconic transport system as his theme when he was asked to design pens based on his own life. Each pen is based on a different mode of transport found in London from the Routemaster bus and the black cab, to the Underground tube train and the boats on the River Thames. James won the President’s Prize of €2,000 for his designs, which he has turned into working samples using his college’s rapid prototyping equipment. The student credited his course for giving him the management and technical design skills to advance his idea from paper to product.
Architecture award AN ARCHITECTURE tutor from London Metropolitan University has won the top prize at the 2010 Architect of the Year Awards. Deborah Saunt was named the Richard Fielden Architect of the Year and the Education Architect of the Year for the work of her architectural agency, DSDHA. Her agency’s work was also shortlisted for the RIBA Sterling Prize, the UK’s top architectural prize. Did you know?
London’s latest skyscraper, The Shard, will measure
310
metres and will be the tallest building in Europe (Source: Think London)
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13
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NEWS AND COURSES
Grandfather of Broadband Source: University of Greenwich
Dr Charles Kao
How a Nobel Prize winning London alumnus pioneered the technology at the centre of the internet.
Y
and Cables that Dr Kao made his breakthrough. He discovered that the initial problems scientists encountered when using fibre optics were due to impurities in the optical glass. By removing these impurities, he realised, fibre optic cable could transfer light over vast distances. The huge amount of information fibre optics can carry compared to traditional copper wire has formed the basis for the modern telecommunication revolution. That we can now send emails across the world in a fraction of a second, or perform surgical operations with relative ease, is due to the findings of Dr Kao. The information revolution is set to gather pace as scientists in London continue to transform our lives with their discoveries and inventions.
ou might not know it, but fibre optics play a vital role in our daily lives. Optical cables are used to deliver broadband internet to our homes and without fibre optics many of the diagnostic cameras used for keyhole surgery in hospitals would not exist. These developments are possible thanks to Dr Charles Kao, the Nobel Prize winning physicist known as the ‘Father of Fibre Optics’. After spending his childhood in China, Dr Kao moved to London to study an Electrical Engineering degree at the University of Greenwich, before Did you know? completing his PhD at University London is the world’s most wireless College London. internet city with a total of Dr Kao’s research in the 1960s investigated how to use glass fibres to create optical communications, a technology which is used to send information as pulses of light through access points - over 3,000 more an optical fibre. than in New York It was while working for British (Source: Think London) company Standard Telephones
12,300
14
www.studylondon.ac.uk
Only in London
Italian born Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of the radio, won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1909 in recognition of his contributions to the development of wireless telegraphy while working in London.
Course highlights CITY UNIVERSITY LONDON Telecommunications BEng IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON Electrical and Electronic Engineering BEng UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON Computing and Electronics BEng UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH Electronics and Communications Engineering MSc UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER Mobile, Personal and Satellite Communication MSc BRUNEL UNIVERSITY Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Computer Engineering PhD Find more courses at www.studylondon.ac.uk
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
‘Living’ buildings PROFESSOR Neil Spiller and a team of researchers from University of Greenwich are part of an international team studying the use of synthetic biology to create ‘living’ materials that could be used to cover buildings and help combat the effects of climate change. The research team also hopes
to develop materials that could eventually produce water in desert environments or use sunlight to produce biofuels. Along with colleagues from the University of Southern Denmark, University of Glasgow and University College London, the team is studying how to build carbon-negative architecture.
Eco-friendly engine BRUNEL University has signed a major agreement with Guangxi Yuchai Machinery Company Ltd, the largest diesel engine manufacturer in China, to develop an eco-friendly and fuel efficient hybrid engine in buses that will operate throughout the country. The engine is an air hybrid system that can lead to a 10 percent fuel saving by capturing and storing energy as compressed air every time a bus uses its brakes. The compressed air is then used to restart the engine through an air starter motor. Yuchai is also collaborating with Brunel to create a joint research centre.
Caterpillar scholarships
Source: University of Greenwich
Professor Neil Spiller from University of Greenwich
NASA computer project A PROFESSOR from London Business School has been selected to play a key role in the operations of a software development initiative established by NASA and Harvard University. Kevin Boudreau, assistant professor of Strategic and International
SIX engineering students from City University London have been awarded scholarships worth more than £16,000 by Caterpillar, the world’s largest manufacturer of construction equipment. Established in 1952, the Caterpillar Foundation has distributed $200 million to support education, health and environmental causes. Caterpillar and City have been working together on scholarships and internships for three years, providing students with the chance to gain valuable work experience. Did you know?
Management, will be the chief economist in the NASA Tournament Lab. The Lab is a forum where software developers compete with each other to create the best computer code and solutions to complex data processing problems.
You can study mechanical engineering in
nine
London universities (Source: Study London)
to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk
15
HEALTH & PUBLIC POLICY NEWS AND COURSES
Volunteer follows the Olympic Flame
Source: James Xu
James as a volunteer at the Beijing 2008 Olympics
Student volunteers can help society and add work experience to their CV.
S
tudents in London can join hundreds of different university clubs and societies. The diverse range of activities covers everything from scuba diving and geophysics, to languages and learning to fly an aeroplane. But few activities are more rewarding than volunteering. Most universities in London have careers and volunteering placements staff who can help you find the right volunteering experience. The Volunteering Services Unit at University College London (UCL) provides advice on the types of volunteering projects available to their students. Each year they host Volunteering Week, which last year encouraged over 1,200 UCL students to volunteer. James Xu, an undergraduate student 16
www.studylondon.ac.uk
“Volunteering makes a difference to the wider community and makes other people’s lives better.” from China is a keen volunteer and he says, “Volunteering has changed my life.” It was while volunteering at the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games that James decided to follow the Olympic Flame to London and study in the city. Originally an agricultural student in China, James decided to change degrees and direction when he applied to study an Italian and Business Management degree at UCL. As a student in London, James is aiming to make a difference to people’s lives whilst also adding volunteering experience to his CV. He explains, “Volunteering makes a difference to the wider community and makes other
people’s lives better.” And as a student in a new city, volunteering is also a great way to make new friends. James is currently volunteering with LOCOG, the organisation responsible for organising the London 2012 Olympics. He is one of the 70,000 Olympic volunteers who will help the city host the greatest show on earth. Only in London
London is the only city in the world to have hosted the Olympic Games three times - in 1908, 1948 and now in 2012. Did you know?
Over
240,000 people have applied to be an Olympic volunteer (Source: LOCOG)
HEALTH & PUBLIC POLICY
New philosophy centre
Nursing skills
THE Centre for Research in Modern European Philosophy at Kingston University London has announced a partnership with the Department of Philosophy at Paris 8, a French university famed for its intellectual
CITY University London has developed a new online teaching tool to demonstrate the clinical nursing skills required in the workplace. Nursing and midwifery students can now improve their practical skills by using the UK’s first comprehensive library of clinical skills and procedures. The online tool includes step-bystep video demonstrations for 82 key clinical tasks, such as clinical observations, tracheostomy care, and IV infusions. The resource is currently available to all City University London students and is also being used within classes to enhance student learning.
excellence. The two universities will work together on research, staff and student exchanges, and the creation of a new Master’s programme in the area of contemporary European philosophy.
Source: Kingston University London
Researchers at Kingston University London
A PHD Education student from Roehampton University has received the prestigious International Standing Conference for the History of Education (ISCHE) award for the best paper by a postgraduate research student. Amy Palmer’s paper explores the various nursery education policy shifts in the UK. Following the awards ceremony in Germany, the study will be published in the international journal Paedagogica Historica. Amy was recently appointed Senior Lecturer in the Department of Education at Roehampton.
A doctor in your pocket Imperial’s Faculty of Medicine is one of the largest medical institutions in Europe. Established in 1997, it works closely with a number of NHS Trusts in teaching and research activities.
Did you know? Source: Imperial College London
A PROFESSOR at Imperial College London has created a new iPhone application that enables users to rate and store their healthcare treatments and medicines. Users can also store their medical history on their phone, which can be emailed easily to their doctor in the event of an emergency. Professor Lord Ara Darzi (pictured) and his team developed the Wellnote application, which is pre-loaded with more than 2,000 medications and can create alerts to remind users when to take their tablets. This is a particularly useful feature given that research suggests up to half of patients do not take their medication correctly. Reminders for health appointments can also be programmed into the application which will help the NHS save some of the £600 million lost when around ten percent of patients miss their appointments.
Childhood studies
There are over
330
teaching courses available in London universities (Source: Study London)
to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk
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EVENTS
calendar of events january
New Year’s Day Parade International Mime Festival London Art Fair FEBRUARY
Chinese New Year Celebrations London Fashion Week Six Nations Rugby at Twickenham march
St Patrick’s Day Parade Affordable Art Fair
London Marathon London Book Fair The Camden Crawl Vaisakhi Celebrations The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race may
Africa Day Celebrations FA Cup Final Chelsea Flower Show Student Final Year Shows across London
FEBRUARY London Fashion Week Join fashion leaders, retailers and models for the premier event in the UK fashion calendar. See the future of fashion and study the work of more than 210 top British and international ready-to-wear and accessory designers, from the edgy and cool to the contemporary and commercial.
Source: Catwalk.com
april
A selection of London’s festivals and celebrations
FEBRUARY Chinese New Year Celebrations Celebrate Chinese arts, heritage and culture at venues throughout London. The Chinese Year of the Rabbit will be celebrated in the city, culminating with a spectacular street party and parade in London’s China Town.
June
Trooping the Colour City of London Festival London Literature Festival Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships
London Festival of Architecture Taste of London Camden Green Fair 18
www.studylondon.ac.uk
Source: James O’Jenkins
The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition
EVENTS
Go online to read more about events taking place in London www.studylondon.ac.uk MARCH St Patrick’s Day Parade
JULY
Wireless Music Festival BBC Proms Classical Music Festival Pride London
Enjoy a free carnival of marching bands, community groups, sports clubs, schools and street theatre from the UK, Ireland and USA. The streets of central London become alive with all things Irish - food, dance, crafts, culture and music.
August
APRIL London Marathon
Trafalgar Square Festival Carnaval del Pueblo Notting Hill Carnival London Triathlon London Mela
Cheer the dedicated 36,000 runners who take to London’s streets for the largest annual fundraising event in the world. Over £50 million will be raised for charity as athletes and fun runners run 26.2 miles past some of London’s most famous landmarks including the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, the Tower of London and the Houses of Parliament. After much sweat and energy, they will cross the finish line in front of Buckingham Palace.
september
Regent Street Festival Open House London Design Festival Thames Festival London Fashion Week The Great River Race Brick Lane Festival october
Source: World Wide Images
APRIL The Camden Crawl Source: Camden Crawl
Over two days, more than 50 venues and 250 new and renowned live music acts, this popular festival showcases the hottest talent in music.
London Film Festival Eid Celebrations Frieze Art Fair Bloomsbury Festival Diwali Celebrations London Games Festival november
Lord Mayor’s Show London Jazz Festival State Opening of Parliament december
Carols in Trafalgar Square New Year’s Eve Fireworks Royal Institution Christmas Lectures
to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk
19
LONDON’s hidden gems
In each edition we explore london’s unique treasures, specialist collectionS and resources. IN this edition we focus on TATE GALLERIES.
TATE GALLERIES
Artist impression of the new extension planned for Tate Modern
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www.studylondon.ac.uk
Source: Herzog de Meuron and Hayes Davidson 2009
T
ate Modern’s current installation, Sunflower Seeds, is the latest in a long line of huge works of art that have graced its monumental Turbine Hall. The ambitious artwork, by Chinese artist Ai Weiwei, consists of 100 million hand-crafted porcelain sunflower seeds that fill the gallery’s ground floor. These large scale modern works of art have helped Tate Modern, which opened in 2000, to become the most-visited modern art gallery in the world with nearly five million people visiting each year. Tate Modern is much younger than its sister gallery, Tate Britain, which
originally opened in 1897 and houses British art from 1500 onwards. In total, Tate has almost 60,000 works of art in its collection. Students can take advantage of regular internships and volunteering opportunities at Tate as well as a large portfolio of study days, run in partnership with the Open University exploring key themes in 20th century art history. The lectures are often closely related to major exhibitions at Tate Modern or to key aspects of the curriculum taught at the Open University. Anybody can join the courses thanks to free online lectures on the Tate Channel. An ambitious extension to Tate
Modern is underway on the south bank of the Thames, which will massively increase the exhibition space. The new building (pictured) will also house Tate Exchange, a dedicated suite of learning and research spaces for creative art students. Students can also watch and download hundreds of free Tate videos and podcasts on iTunes U, an educationfocused section of the iTunes music store. Containing over 400 videos and audio files, you can browse thematically by artist or exhibition. Whether online or in its collections, Tate’s free galleries and lectures are helping to inspire and educate tomorrow’s artists.
EVENTS
Find your university course in London at: www.studylondon.ac.uk
Printed on recycled paper
Carlos Escoto
ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT STU DENT FROM MEX ICO
rant “London is a vib n city, ta oli and cosmop best e th rs fe which of e, along ibl ss po ion at educ citing with the most ex e world.” th in e student lif
out st ab not ju is g, e “Lif lannin and p g t u in o t sit going bout a . is g in it nt pleme in and im study o t e s am o h I Ic ause n bec ring o d lo n p o x e L ed in t s e ing r inte d look rld an o w .” s e th nitie portu for op
Diana Rossikhina INTERNATIONAL MASTER IN ECONOMY, STATE AND SOCIETY STUDENT FROM RUSSIA