Hartley News - Summer Edition 2013

Alumni Magazine | Summer Edition 2013

Pole position

Ambitions for F1 success Personalising cancer treatment More control over cancer for millions of patients Saving energy Towards sustainable energy usage In my own words A conversation with a valued, former Medicine professor Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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In this issue

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I am very pleased to introduce this issue of Hartley News, the magazine for University of Southampton alumni and friends. It provides a great opportunity to take stock of the University’s progress and show off the achievements of our people.

After the wonderful celebrations of last year to mark our 60th anniversary as a University, 2013 is a chance for all of us to look forward to the next 60 years and work together to achieve new successes. On page 18, find out about the University’s expansion overseas.

As a university in the top one per cent of global universities* we carry on creating more world-class research, work closer with global partners to provide a world-class experience for our students and continue to be proud of you, our fantastic alumni community that spans the globe.

On page four, you can read about our researchers in Medicine, who are saving people’s sight with groundbreaking stem cell technology and on page seven find out which alumni received deserved recognition from HM The Queen in the New Year’s Honours list.

Research at Southampton is tackling some of the most challenging issues facing society today. In Medicine, we are working to eliminate cancer using immunotherapy. Our researchers are using the human immune system to fight the disease and developing novel DNA vaccines to eliminate tumours; find out more on page eight.

The demand for energy from carbon neutral sources over the next 50 years is a significant challenge across the globe and our engineers and social scientists are finding innovative ways to help us save energy in our homes, as well as developing new technologies to enable solar and wind power to be safely integrated into existing energy systems in a sustainable way; read more on page 12.

As a university, we take pride in attracting the most ambitious and talented who go on to exciting careers in diverse professions. Read about Xiaoxu Zhou on page 16, an aerodynamics graduate, who has achieved his goal to work in an F1 team.

I hope you enjoy reading about your community’s achievements in this issue of Hartley News and that you will continue to stay involved. With your continued support we can carry on changing the lives of our students for years to come.

Professor Don Nutbeam (MA, 1983; PhD, 1988) Vice-Chancellor

* QS World University Rankings 2012

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1 Personalising cancer treatment More control over cancer for millions of patients.

Page 8

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2 Saving energy Towards sustainable energy usage.

Page 12 3 Strategic partnerships Strengthening business relationships in East Asia.

Page 18

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4 In my own words A conversation with a valued, former Medicine professor.

Page 26

More highlights Pole position Ambition for F1 success.

Page 16 Get involved Read how you can support our students in choosing the right career.

Page 22 Class notes Discover what your friends are up to.

Page 24

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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University Research

Saving people’s sight Eye experts and scientists at Southampton have discovered specific cells in the eye which could lead to a new procedure to treat and cure eye conditions that can lead to blindness.

Led by Professor Andrew Lotery, the study funded by the National Eye Research Centre, Gift of Sight and Rosetree Trust, found that cells called corneal limbal stromal cells, taken from the front surface of the eye have stem cell properties and could be cultured to create retinal cells.

This could lead to new treatments for eye conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa or wet age-related macular degeneration, a condition which is a common cause of loss

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of vision in older people and will affect around one in three people in the UK by the age of 70.

Andrew, who is also a Consultant Ophthalmologist at Southampton General Hospital, comments: “This is an important step for our research into the prevention and treatment of eye conditions and blindness.

“We were able to characterise the corneal limbal stromal cells found on the front surface of the eye and identify the precise layer in the cornea that they came from.

We were then successful in culturing them in a dish to take on some of the properties of retinal cells. We are now investigating

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

whether these cells could be taken from the front of the eye and be used to replace diseased cells in the back of the eye in the retina. If successful this would open up new and efficient ways of treating people who have blinding eye conditions.”

This is a promising discovery as the corneal limbus is one of the most accessible regions of the human eye and it represents 90 per cent of the thickness of the front eye wall.

Therefore cells could be easily obtainable from this area with little risk to the patient’s eye and sight.

To further support this work, please visit www.giftofsight.org.uk

Partners with GCHQ The future of cyber security research has been placed in the capable hands of experts at the University of Southampton following the opening of a new Academic Centre of Excellence.

Led by Professor Vladimiro Sassone, from the University’s Web and Internet Science Group, the Centre draws on expertise from across the University including Electronics and Computing Science, Mathematics, Law, Management and Psychology.

Each of the new Centres will benefit from closer collaboration with GCHQ and the UK Cyber Community and industry. The research conducted will support the drive for better cyber protection for the UK government and enable businesses and consumers to safely benefit from the huge opportunities offered in cyberspace.

“This places the University of Southampton in a unique position. Online activities underpin a growing range of day-to-day activities and there is a real need to ensure Southampton is one of eight UK universities that users are supported in their online identified to help make the country’s government, businesses and consumers more transactions and behaviours. Issues span the robustness of our national security and resilient to cyber-attack. The Academic economic processes, to the security of digital Centre of Excellence status was awarded by information held by government and public GCHQ as part of the government’s national bodies, and recognise the technical, legal, cyber security strategy in partnership with ethical and social responsibilities around our the Research Council UK’s Global own personal privacy,” says Vladimiro.

Uncertainties Programme, the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

New crops for water-stressed environments

Changing the colour of gold A University team has found a way of changing the colour of the world’s most iconic precious metal. By embossing tiny raised or indented patterns onto the metal’s surface, they can change the way it absorbs and reflects light – ensuring our eyes don’t see it as ‘golden’ at all.

Cracking old codes Researchers from Southampton and the University of Oxford have developed a system for examining some of the world’s most important historical documents in order to unearth never-seen-before details.

Triggering volcanic eruptions Scientists from the University have identified that pre-eruptive mixing within the volcanic magma chamber – where older cooler magma mixed with younger hotter magma – appears to be the repeating trigger in large-scale eruptions.

Combating climate change Lawyers from the Southampton Law School’s Institute of Maritime Law are working on the legal and regulatory aspects of new green technologies for the capture and storage of carbon (CCS) under our oceans.

Air quality and health The University of Southampton is to lead a new €11.6 million EU funded research project to develop new drought tolerant crops for bioenergy and bio-products.

Professor Gail Taylor, Director of Research for Biological Sciences, is leading a new 22 partner research consortium that has gathered experts from across Europe to address the issue of crop productivity in a future climate, where episodes of drought and water shortage become increasingly common.

Water availability and quality have already been identified as the main pressure on societies as they adapt to global climate change over the coming decades. Water plays a crucial role in determining crop yield and irrigation water is scarce and not an

option on much of Europe’s land, so we need crops that better withstand drought.

The project is concerned with non-food crops for energy use – poplar, miscanthus and giant reed – and the approach is to use the very latest technologies now available for DNA genome sequencing.

“Our primary aim is to characterise the vast amount of DNA variation in these underutilised crops and harness this to produce better crops. Even five years ago this project wouldn’t have been possible as DNA sequencing was relatively expensive.

Now we are sequencing the genome of more than 50 poplar trees, sampled from across contrasting sites in Europe.

From this we can identify small changes that might give us a clue to survival in stressful environments,” says Gail.

Air pollution has been estimated to reduce average UK life expectancy by around six months with annual costs of £19bn. Now, a major EPSRC-funded project investigating the links between air quality and health is being led by Dr Sujit Sahu from Mathematics and the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute.

Predicting environmental collapse Scientists in Geography and Environment are pioneering a technique to predict when an ecosystem is likely to collapse, which may also have potential for foretelling crises in agriculture, fisheries or even social systems.

To find out more about these stories visit www.southampton.ac.uk/research

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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University News

Students engineer future for African village

Our students are putting their engineering knowledge into action to transform the lives of the people in a village in Cameroon, Africa.

Cameroon Catalyst is a student-run project comprised of about 20 students studying Civil Engineering, French, Electrical Engineering and Energy. The team works with the Mosame Trust, which helps to transform the quality of life in rural communities in Cameroon.

The aim of the project is to design and construct an electrical substation in the severely underdeveloped village of Bambouti in Eastern Cameroon, the construction of which will be carried out by local labourers in Bambouti, rather than the students, to help the local economy.

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“The substation design is based on a hybrid system of diesel generators and solar panels and will power the village, but also act as an electrical hub where people can recharge lights and mobile phones,” says Charlotte McCarthy, a third year student involved in the project, studying an MSc Civil Engineering and Architecture degree.

This is the latest stage of the Cameroon Catalyst project, which previously built a school building, a medical community centre to provide a safe place for women to give birth and a central point for healthcare in the village, and a mechanical and carpentry workshop that provides the local community with new skills.

Each project is led by suggestions from the village and is entirely self-funded through

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

sponsorship and fundraising; the students come up with a design, cost it and fundraise to pay for the build, labour and materials.

“Part of the reason we are looking to electrify the village is because power is needed to work the lights in the medical community centre and the fridges that are used to store vaccinations,” says Charlotte.

“I got involved because I can use the skills I have learnt from my course, to design things that I can see built before I leave university, and we are also doing something useful and worthwhile to help people in Africa,” she adds.

New Pro Vice-Chancellor In October 2012, alumnus and Professor at Southampton, Alex Neill (BA English and Philosophy, 1983) started his new role as Pro Vice-Chancellor (Education).

Alex was previously Head of Philosophy and most recently Associate Dean for Education and Student Experience in Humanities.

He says: “At the same time as we’re embedding in the curriculum opportunities for students to broaden their studies beyond their particular degree programme, I’d like to see us maximise opportunities for our staff – all of our staff – to take advantage of the wide variety of intellectual activity that takes place across the University.”

Before moving back to Southampton, where he completed his undergraduate degree, Alex taught at Pennsylvania State University, Trinity University, San Antonio and the University of St Andrews. “In 1999, when the chance came to return to Southampton, I couldn’t turn it down,” says Alex. “The University is a very different place from what it was when I was an undergraduate, but it still has the feel of a real academic community that it did then.”

Physicist wins national award A Southampton physicist has been named as the Very Early Career Woman Physicist of the Year by the Institute of Physics.

Kate Sloyan, an EPSRC Doctoral Prize Fellow in the Optoelectronics Research Centre, was given the honour at a ceremony in London.

Student prize winner The Management School Grant Thornton prize for 2011–12 has been awarded to Adam Clark who is studying BSc Accounting and Finance. It is awarded to the first-year student with the best performance in the accounting papers (modules Financial Accounting 1 and Management Accounting 1).

National honour for Associate Dean

Alex takes up his new role at an important time for the Education agenda at the University and he is keen for Southampton to develop campuses that are intellectually and artistically alive, and to open up extra-curricular intellectual opportunities for the University community.

Michelle Lowe, Professor of Strategy and Innovation and Associate Dean of Business and Law has been elected an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences, in recognition of her contribution to the social sciences over the last 25 years.

Leading young Indian designer Winchester School of Art graduate Richa Aggarwal was chosen as one of India’s next generation of designers and was invited to exhibit her work at the prestigious Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai, in 2012.

New Year honours Alumnus and Professor of Photonics at Southampton, David Payne CBE, has been knighted in HM The Queen’s New Year Honours List for services to photonics, the science and application of light and electronics.

Sir David, Director of the world-renowned Optoelectronics Research Centre (ORC), is being recognised for his extensive contributions to harnessing light in telecommunications. His pioneering development of the world’s first practical optical fibre amplifier – the Erbium-Doped Fibre Amplifier forms the backbone of the internet.

University of Southampton Vice-Chancellor Professor Don Nutbeam comments: “I am delighted that the unique contribution David has made through his research is being recognised with this prestigious honour.”

National honour

Other notable alumni that have received recognition from The Queen are: Professor Richard Holdaway (BSc Aeronautics, 1970; PhD, 1974) received a CBE in recognition of his services to science and technology; Carolyn Miller (BSc Geography, 1973 was awarded a CBE for her humanitarian and development work around the world; Caroline Tapster (Social Science Diploma, 1980) was awarded a CBE in recognition of her services to local government; Professor David Hand (MSc Applied Statistics, 1974; PhD Science, 1977) was awarded an OBE for services to research and innovation; Dr Francis Crane (BSc Geography, 1975) was awarded an MBE in recognition for commitment to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme; and Susan Hart (BA Textiles Art, 1998) was awarded an MBE for services to disabled people in Tanzania.

The Head of Southampton Education School, Professor Tony Kelly, has been elected an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences, in recognition of his contribution to the social sciences.

Major international award Tim Leighton, Professor of Ultrasonics and Underwater Acoustics at Southampton, has won the Acoustical Society of America’s Helmholtz-Rayleigh Interdisciplinary Silver Medal, in recognition of his research into acoustics.

To find out more about these stories and more, visit www.southampton.ac.uk/ mediacentre

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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Feature

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Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

Personalising cancer treatment Cancer treatments researched and developed at the University of Southampton that harness the immune system are revolutionising treatment of the disease. They may someday allow millions of patients to personalise their care, to manage or even eliminate tumours.

Southampton has adopted a lifecourse approach to investigating healthy development and disease: from conception to old age. It has a strong science base from which new discoveries are made and world-renowned links into the clinical world where these can be put to use. By working across disciplines – including chemistry, engineering, electronics and computer sciences, mathematics and social sciences – researchers are pioneering new ways of approaching challenging health problems.

In recent years scientists in Southampton have made important advances in the development of vaccines and antibodies that stimulate certain cells of the immune system to attack cancerous tumours. “Our research focuses on trying to use the body’s immune system to fight cancer,” says Professor Martin Glennie, Head of Cancer Sciences. “We have much evidence that the immune system is critical in not only the development of cancer, but also in how we can overcome it.”

The team involved in cancer research – including Professor Christian Ottensmeier, Lead of the Southampton Cancer Research UK and National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre – is diverse and demonstrates how the University is able to combine expertise across Medicine, Biological Sciences, Health Sciences and Social Statistics and Demography.

Pioneering research Antibody research at the University dates back to the 1970s when the founders of the Immunochemistry Laboratory, Professor Freda Stevenson and Professor George Stevenson, described how

antibodies could be utilised as treatments. It was not until the 1980s that researchers were able to get special antibodies to attack cancer cells. Since then, researchers have been engineering and developing these antibodies so that they can actually be used for patient benefit.

Initially, antibody research at the University was focused on lymphoid cancers, but has now expanded to include many other cancers, such as those affecting the skin and pancreas.

A key goal of the University’s antibody research is to activate and recruit the body’s own immune system so that it may control and ultimately eliminate cancers. Oncologists know that the presence of large numbers of immune cells within a tumour means that the patient is more likely to do well, but without additional treatment, these immune cells cannot clear the disease.

In the late 1990s Southampton researchers started to investigate a group of antibodies known as immune-stimulating antibodies.

These don’t attack the cancer cell itself, but instead bind to cells of the immune system and stimulate them to make a strong response to the cancer, so boosting and revitalising a patient’s immune system.

Antibody cancer therapies can also activate the patient’s immune defences and alert them that there are cancerous cells to be destroyed.

At the same time that Southampton scientists were investigating immune-stimulating antibodies, a group of scientists in the USA were learning more about antibodies known as checkpoint blockers.

These also boost the body’s immune response against cancer, but rather than directly stimulating the immune cells they act by removing molecular brakes which the cancer applies to the immune response.

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Feature

Researchers at the University of Southampton Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre are developing new immunotherapeutic vaccines for cancer

Real promise The drug ipilimumab is an example of this type of antibody. After showing real promise in the treatment of melanoma in clinical trials, it has now been licensed and recently approved by National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) for use in the NHS. Ipilimumab, which is being developed by the pharmaceutical giant Bristol-Myers Squibb, allows many patients to survive who would otherwise have passed away from their cancer within a few months.

“For the first time, we are seeing a proportion of melanoma patients who receive ipilimumab surviving longer than expected,” says Martin. “With this, and other antibodies that boost anti-cancer immunity, we will soon be able to direct the body’s natural defences more effectively and hopefully trigger responses to a level where they can control cancer for the long-term.”

Margaret Warren, a patient participating in the ipilimumab treatment programme, was diagnosed with malignant melanoma in 2009.

After trying unsuccessfully to treat the tumour in her left lung with chemotherapy, Margaret’s doctor referred her to Christian and in February 2011 she began the first of her treatments.

“Before the ipilimumab treatment I was sleeping poorly, had a constant cough and was so breathless that I could not hold a conversation,” says Margaret, “After the second of four treatments, I was already

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Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

showing signs of improvement and began feeling better. Now I feel brilliant and can engage in mild exercise, like chasing my three-year-old grandson.”

Other members of ipilimumab’s family of checkpoint blocker antibodies may hold even greater promise in the treatment of a wide range of cancers. “The beauty of immune stimulating and checkpoint blocker antibody treatments is that they are not confined to one type of cancer,” says Martin. “They are able to stimulate immunity against a wide range of cancers.” Recent results even show some limited success in the treatment of lung cancer which is notoriously difficult to control.

Novel vaccines Successfully moving a cancer treatment into clinical trials with patients first requires extensive laboratory testing of its effectiveness, through a process known as regulated end-point assays. This is one of the most important roles of the University of Southampton Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC).

As one of only 15 Cancer Sciences Centres in the country funded by Cancer Research UK and the NIHR, the ECMC benefits from a close working relationship with Cancer Research UK to efficiently organise its infrastructure and run clinical trials to the highest standard.

A laboratory group in the ECMC develops new immunotherapeutic vaccines for cancer

and combines existing strategies, tests them in patients and measures their impact. ECMC researchers also measure whether tumours are being reduced and if the treatment strategy stimulated an immune response.

In the past 15 years, the team in Southampton has developed a number of novel vaccines for cancer treatment. This work, which has been conceived and developed in the laboratory by Professor Freda Stevenson, exploits the idea of using DNA to stimulate the immune system.

These approaches can be used in precancerous or cancerous conditions that are caused by viruses, such as Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). Equally, they can be used to target cancers of the bowel, breast or lung, which are not caused by viruses. The aim is to re-educate a patient’s immune system to reduce or eliminate the cancer. The team has completed a series of vaccine studies.

“In the process of conducting our trials we have learned a lot about how the human immune system responds to cancer,” says Christian. “The next big step for us is to show that, in a randomised study, these vaccines can make a difference.”

For more information visit: www.southampton.ac.uk/cancersciences

Cancer free Vemurafenib is another type of drug being trialed at the University. It is a non-immunotherapy treatment that exploits a gene mutation in 40 per cent of melanoma cells that makes cancer cells ‘addicted’ to a particular growth pathway. Vemurafenib blocks this pathway resulting in the cancer dying.

Michelle Amey, a patient on the trial was diagnosed with a melanoma in 2007. Subsequently, she has endured a series of operations to remove tumours from her skin, brain, lymph nodes and adrenal gland. But when the cancer spread to her liver, she was given the choice between taking vemurafenib, and having another operation.

“It was a leap of faith really and it was a difficult decision,” says Michelle. “With the support of my family I decided to do the trial. I was on the full dose originally with horrendous side effects – there will always be side-effects to the drug – but I adjusted my life; at the end of the day it is a small price to pay to be given the chance of life.”

Recent scans have shown that Michelle’s body is completely clear of cancer now, but due to the drug being so new, it is likely she will have to take vemurafenib long-term in order to make sure the cancer does not return.

“Without vemurafenib I might not be here, so research like this is so vital, not just for me, but for everybody else that is going through similar ordeals. I can’t stress how grateful I am to be given the chance to try this drug and it is all thanks to the research at Southampton,” says Michelle.

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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Feature

Behavioural changes in energy usage are needed to make homes more efficient

Saving energy Global energy challenges impact on our economy, environment and society.

At Southampton our researchers are tackling the issue of increasing demand for energy with technologies that minimise the production of harmful emissions.

“Over the next 50 years, human kind is going to be limited by three factors – energy, food and water,” says Professor Gail Taylor, Chair of the University’s Strategic Research Group (USRG) for Energy. She explains that it is predicted that there will be a 50 per cent rise in the demand for energy, 50–80 per cent increase in the demand for food, and a 50 per cent increase in the demand for water.

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Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

Supporting community groups

Influence behaviour

Working alongside partners in business and industry, our researchers are developing new technologies to ensure sustainability in energy consumption. Engineers in the Sustainable Energy Research Group and our social scientists are collaborating with the universities of Westminster, Exeter and Reading, to examine whether community action on climate change and energy security issues is likely to achieve significant savings through encouraging behaviour change and the establishment of new social practices.

In one area, our researchers are supporting a Greening Group by providing advice and support to help them set up activities in the community that educate people on energy use. The other area involved in the venture is not helped at all in order to provide a comparison group. “All the households are fitted with an AlertMe device that plugs into their broadband network,” says Patrick.

“These send over eight billion readings to us a year – we measure energy consumption, the temperature in the living room, the temperature on the boiler casing so we know when the boiler is running, and estimate the number of occupants in the home, to build a profile of the energy behaviour in each house.”

“We are looking to identify whether supporting a Greening Group – a community group interested in green and sustainable methods – by providing them with information and advice on energy use, has an impact on energy use at a household level,” explains Dr Patrick James, a Research Investigator from Southampton, on the Energy and Communities project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) led by Professor Graham Smith, formerly of the School of Social Sciences at Southampton.

At the beginning of the project that has been running for two and a half years, the team asked several thousand households in two areas of Southampton, whether they would be willing to have their energy usage monitored over a period of three years, in exchange for free cavity wall insulation and loft insulation (funded by the venture).

The aim was to understand people’s views on energy and sustainability and their response to an energy intervention in their home. Now 200 households are involved in the project and are split between the two separate areas.

In the UK, there is a housing stock heritage where energy consumption is a big issue. Patrick explains that it is relatively easy to build a new, low energy house, but most of the population live in older houses that will still be used in 50 years’ time. “In order to make these buildings efficient, we obviously need to improve insulation, but we also need behaviour to change,” he says.

“The aim of our research is to provide the UK Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) with evidence as to whether supporting Greening Groups could kick-start a new understanding of energy saving in the home. The study well help inform DECC of the potential impact of greening groups and make the case for future support of this sector,” says Patrick.

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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Renewable technologies

Decentralised energy

Patrick and the other researchers on the Energy and Communities project are helping people make their existing houses more energy efficient, but research at Southampton is also looking at the future of energy supply and renewable technologies.

Part of the research that Tom and his team carry out looks at how increased demand on energy supply will affect the use of renewable energy sources in the future. The UK power system was designed to optimise the use of electricity and is based on centralised generation from large coal power stations. Power stations were built near coal mines, because it was cheaper to transport the electricity around the country in cables, rather than the coal.

UK government policy states that in 2016 all new-build housing should be zero-carbon in operation. This means that technologies such as photovoltaic solar panels will have to be more efficient and fully integrated into energy infrastructure in order to be widely installed. Tom Markvart, Professor of Energy Conversion, at the University, and his team are looking at new ways to increase the efficiency of solar panels, how to integrate them safely into the low voltage grid and what future energy infrastructure may look like.

Solar panels convert light energy into electrical energy in order to generate and supply electricity in commercial and residential applications. A typical photovoltaic system includes an array of solar panels to capture the light and an inverter (and sometimes a battery) to convert this into electrical energy.

“At present solar panel efficiencies are between 10 and 20 per cent, and for high-end use – such as energy conversion on satellites – you could obtain solar cells with 30 per cent efficiency,” says Tom. “But thermodynamic calculations suggest that we should be able to reach efficiencies of 50 to 60 per cent and this is what we are working towards.”

Safety standards The team is looking to nature to try to develop new materials that might be able to convert light energy more efficiently. Photosynthesis, used by plants and other organisms to convert light into chemical energy that can be used to fuel the organism’s activities, is very difficult to mimic, explains Tom. “We are working with collaborators in UK and Europe to construct similar materials synthetically that could be used in our photovoltaic devices,” he says.

In addition to improving solar panel design, Tom and his team have been instrumental in integrating solar panels into the electricity network and other energy infrastructures around the world.

Solar generators are much smaller than the traditional power stations and produce DC (rather than AC) current. This is a major problem in terms of integrating this renewable energy source into our existing energy infrastructure.

“At Southampton, we worked with electricity suppliers to design a testing procedure that would satisfy them that photovoltaic devices were safe for the distribution network,” says Tom. “Working with colleagues in Electrical Engineering and industry we developed a test for the inverters, and we are still the only independent test facility in the UK to test inverters for solar panels.”

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Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

But now Tom is investigating the type of energy systems we could design now if the national grid didn’t exist. “We have been looking at what kind of energy system we would have if we started from scratch,” he says. “There is no reason why we should have large power stations anymore – renewable energy sources such as solar power and wind power could lead to decentralised smaller micro grid systems where districts as small as 100 houses could be powered by smaller energy systems,” he adds.

However, energy systems based on renewable sources have their own challenges in terms of reliability – in the future they will have to provide a steady supply of power even in periods when there is no wind or sun. “We will have different energy sources rising and falling with the weather. With a traditional power station, you can add more coal to produce more electricity or reduce the coal to decrease output – you can’t do this with weather-driven sources,” says alumnus Peter Boait (BSc Electronic Engineering, 1971), Senior Research Fellow at De Montfort University in Leicester.

Smart solutions Peter’s work focuses on how we will power our homes in the future, incorporating a large proportion of energy from wind and solar power.

At University Peter enjoyed his course and remembers setting up a motorcycle club along with friends. “It was great that we could start our own club – we would go all over the New Forest on our motor cycles,” he adds.

“As part of my job now, I use the electronics skills I learnt when I was at Southampton to develop devices that are essentially smart heating control units – we have about 100 in people’s homes as prototypes,” Peter explains.

“It is not surprising that a university like Southampton would be heavily involved in tackling global challenges such as future demand for energy. With our science and technology background, our researchers are actively finding technical solutions as well as social solutions so that we can become a more sustainable society integrating renewable energy easily with demand for power,” concludes Gail.

“At Southampton, we worked with electricity suppliers to design a testing procedure that would satisfy them that photovoltaic devices were safe for the distribution network.”

Tom Markvart Professor of Energy Conversion

Tom and his team developed one of the first photovoltaic arrays installed in UK, shown here on the roof of one of the University’s buildings Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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Feature

Pole position The University is dedicated to attracting the most talented students who have the drive to excel in fast-paced, exciting professions after graduating. Hartley News talks to Xiaoxu Zhou (MSc Aerodynamics and Computation, 2012) about what motivates him to succeed in his career in the Caterham F1 team.

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Why did you choose to study aerodynamics at Southampton?

To be honest, the University of Southampton was the only university that I applied to when I was in China. The reasons are very simple; Southampton has over five stars in aerodynamics, at an academic level and the University has a great track record when it comes to race car aerodynamics. I believed it could lead me in the right direction towards my dream career destination in F1.

When did you get interested in F1?

When I was five years old, I watched F1 racing on television. At the time, F1 was not very popular in China, but I was crazy about speed, the noise of the engine and the shape of the cars. I wanted to be a driver, but that seemed a world away from where I grew up and appeared impossible to me 20 years ago.

Since that first time when I watched the Grand Prix, I never stopped following F1 and decided to become an aerodynamicist in order to reach my goal – to work in the industry I loved. Even though back then, nobody could even tell me what F1 aerodynamics actually was.

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How did the University help you get ready for your career?

My MSc studies at the University helped me to understand cutting-edge aerodynamics theory and the advanced technologies that are used by F1 teams. The most important thing to me was that the course exposed me to the variety of race car aerodynamics resources that were available here, and this has definitely helped me get to where I am now.

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What does your job involve?

I can honestly say that I have always wanted to be part of an F1 team and now that I have achieved this goal, I can promise you that this will never change. I am a Junior Aerodynamicist in the Caterham F1 team and my main responsibilities are to carry out the wind tunnel tests, analyse the test data and come up with how we can change the high-performance aerodynamics to help the development of the car to continue.

Do you get to go to the Grands Prix?

At the moment, I don’t get to go to the races as my main focus is on the development based in the factory. When I was a student at Southampton though, I did go to the F1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone in 2011 and that was a fantastic experience for me.

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What motivates you?

As I mentioned previously, my dream was to be in an F1 team and this is what motivates me. I want to win the F1 world championship and with my team mates I want to create the fastest F1 car in the world.

I don’t give in to negativity, because I know my dreams are still there – all I need to do is to keep moving forwards.

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Who do you aspire to be like?

Personally, I only want to be myself.

However, there are a few good F1 role models that I look up to. In my opinion, on the technical side, Adrian Newey (BSc Aeronautics, 1980; Hon DSc, 2000), Chief Technical Officer of the Infiniti Red Bull Racing F1 team is absolutely the best. He created many world championship cars and he still is very successful – he has ‘black magic’ in the world of motorsport aerodynamics.

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

On the management side, there are four great gentlemen who are my idols. First of all is Enzo Ferrari, who not only created the Scuderia Ferrari racing team, but also generated the spirit of racing and the racing culture. Second is Sir Frank Williams CBE who created the Williams F1 team from small beginnings. Third is Ron Dennis CBE, who is Executive Chairman of McLaren Automotive and McLaren Group and is very experienced in the motorsport industry. And finally, I have a lot of respect for Martin Whitmarsh, Chief Executive of McLaren Racing, who I met at a symposium.

Q

What are your best memories of your time at Southampton?

I have many great memories of my time at Southampton and it was one of the important parts of my life. I would say that my best memory is of my graduation ceremony in the summer of 2012. I was already working for Caterham F1 team when I graduated and I can still remember how happy the Vice-Chancellor Professor Don Nutbeam was for me, when he heard that I was working for an F1 team. This also made my family very proud.

Q

What advice would you give current students who want to get into the F1 industry?

My advice to students would be to always remember what your dream is and never give up on that. Also you should trust yourself and always do your best.

Students should make the most of every opportunity for improvement. Try to join related motorsport organisations and try to attend their events and join in. Review your progress every so often and take every chance to learn more about F1. And in the end, always focus on your goal!

Xiaoxu Zhou has always wanted to work in an F1 team and thanks in part to his time at Southampton, he has achieved his goal Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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Feature

Strategic partnerships As an institution in the top one per cent of universities across the world*, Southampton is outwardly-focused with global ambitions and is committed to strengthening and developing strategic relationships with leading national and international organisations.

With over 8,000 alumni in East Asia and active alumni branches in China, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia (see Pursuing education overseas, Hartley News, Spring Edition 2012, p16), the University has had strong links in the region for over six decades.

have hi-tech companies setting up there; the area has been a hub for semiconductor manufacturing for over 20 years. There are also significant global companies in the marine engineering sector operating in both Singapore and Malaysia.”

Great reputation

Major partnerships

Singapore in particular has developed as a knowledge economy and higher education hub. It is a place that the world’s industry comes to, is politically and economically stable and has a favourable commercial environment, therefore it has a great reputation as a place to do business.

2012 saw the establishment of a major partnership to create a Photonics Institute with Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, with particular emphasis on fibre optics and innovative nanophotonics technologies. Since 2009 Southampton has been a partner in the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR) Research Attachment Programme (ARAP), where our PhD students studying chemistry, medicine or engineering, can spend two years at an A*STAR research institute.

“Given the demographic and technological growth in East Asia, carrying out research that has a presence there is highly attractive if we want our research to have an impact and to connect with commercialisation “We will also soon be delivering BSc and MSc opportunities,” says Professor Mark Spearing, Digital Marketing programmes at the Pro Vice-Chancellor, International.

Singapore Institute of Management (SIM).

“The region as a whole is very active in SIM has many established partners including engineering and electronics and is an ideal fit the universities of Manchester, Birmingham for us,” he says. “Malaysia and Singapore both and Sydney, and our academics will be

The world’s industries are drawn to Singapore, a knowledge economy and higher education hub; the University is strengthening and developing business relationships here to fulfill its global ambitions

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teaching the course to students based at SIM,” says Mark.

The University has links in the biomedical and public health areas with Singapore through the Worldwide Epigenetics Consortium. This partnership that investigates the epigenetic changes that occur before birth and in infancy which may affect a person’s likelihood of contracting diseases later in life, was formed by Southampton, the UK Medical Research Council and the Liggins Institute of University of Auckland. The Consortium has now expanded to include two major Singapore institutions, the A*STAR Singapore Institute for Clinical Science and the National University of Singapore.

Engineering presence In the Marine and Offshore sector, the Southampton Marine and Maritime Institute (SMMI) at the University is collaborating with Nanyang Technological University, the National University of Singapore and with A*STAR. “We hope to make an agreement with A*STAR to establish our maritime,

ocean and engineering presence in Singapore,” says Mark.

Southampton for the formal opening of its Malaysia Campus,” he said. “My degree from Southampton has certainly assisted me in my As our first overseas campus, the University career and helped me develop, which I believe of Southampton Malaysia Campus in South will also be true for Southampton’s future Johor represents a major strategic investment graduates in Malaysia and the UK.” in Malaysia and the region, by the University.

The University’s vision is to further develop the campus over a five to 10 year period and to Alumni that attended an event in Singapore form close, long-term links with other to mark the launch of the Malaysia Campus partners in the region. were very positive about the University’s “The official launch of the Malaysia Campus expansion into the East Asia region. on 21 March, represented a notable milestone, Karesma Calleara (LLB Maritime Law, 2011), signifying our commitment to the region,” who works in Singapore at a shipping law firm comments Mark. At present students can said: “It is definitely encouraging that the study two years of a four-year MEng University is planning to increase its Mechanical Engineering programme at the activities in Malaysia.” campus and it is also hoped that the While Yinrui Jonathan Goh (MSc Applied Southampton-based MEng Electrical and Geographical Information Systems and Electronic Engineering programme will Remote Sensing, 2012) commented: commence there this year.

“Southampton is very highly regarded in Adrian Newey (BSc Aeronautics and terms of engineering and I think the Astronautics, 1981), Chief Technical Officer University can definitely make an impact on of the Infiniti Red Bull Racing Formula One the educational landscape in the region. team, attended the launch celebration. “It is Demand for higher education in Malaysia and my great pleasure to support the University of Singapore is high and an institution like

Making an impact

Southampton can definitely meet those demands – there’s great potential for joint beneficial impact.”

Research excellence and collaboration are engrained in the ethos of the Malaysia Campus; the University has recently signed agreements to collaborate on research with the University of Technology Petronas (UTP), the University of Technology Malaysia (UTM) and the University of Malaya. “We have already applied for joint research grants with UTP and UTM,” says Mark.

As members of our alumni community, this is an ideal time for you to get involved and create a real buzz about the University in your communities across the world. For the first time, there is now a part of Southampton in Malaysia and as the University’s most important ambassadors; we hope that you are proud of your University as it takes this hugely confident global step forward. * QS World University Rankings 2012–13

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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Alumni News

Fantastic 10 per cent fee discount for alumni To complement the large number of benefits our graduates can take advantage of as members of our global alumni community including continued use of campus libraries and Students’ Union bars, reduced rates on sports membership and free careers advice, we now offer you the chance to experience further study at a special 10 per cent discounted price.

You might want to develop the next-generation of internet technology, formulate a future renewable fuel or find the cure for

Events on campus Our events calendar is continuously updated with opportunities to come back to campus.

From reunions to networking receptions, the arts on campus and a varied programme of part-time courses and cultural events, there is something for everyone.

Please keep an eye on our web page or email us at arevents@southampton.ac.uk Make sure you don’t miss out on our exclusive alumni offers. For more information, visit www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni/ alumnievents

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cancer. Our research-based postgraduate programmes can satisfy your curiosity and challenge you to change the world.

Or why not explore the archaeology of Rome and its Provinces, discover the intricacies of marine science or step into the world of global politics. Whatever your passion, we have the taught postgraduate programme for you.

For more information on this exciting offer, eligibility and entry requirements, visit www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni/postgraddiscount

University memorabilia Have you ever wanted a keep-sake to remind you of your time at Southampton? The University has a great selection of high-quality, official merchandise available from its online store.

We have a wide range of gifts from executive items such as silver cufflinks and silver-plated business card holders, to the University hoodie or T-shirt; all feature the University of Southampton logo or coat of arms.

We’ll also be attending The Reunion Experience 2013, so why not come and buy a souvenir for yourself or a friend, reminisce about your time here and advise us on merchandise that you may like to see on offer in the future. If you aren’t attending the alumni reunion and would like to give us your feedback, then please email unigifts@soton.ac.uk or visit http://go.soton.ac.uk/universitygiftstore

A little time goes a long way Building work is underway on the new Boldrewood Campus

A new era The redevelopment of Boldrewood Campus is progressing well and will soon be home to the Maritime Centre of Excellence (MCE) – a world-leading centre for innovation, business and education in maritime engineering, engineering sciences, and other relevant maritime disciplines.

The MCE will drive innovation through synergy with the University and a world-class knowledge intensive business, Lloyd’s Register, stimulating technology and knowledge transfer, and regeneration through high-quality jobs and inward investment; it is the biggest collaboration of its kind.

Boldrewood Campus used to be the home of Biomedical Sciences and the non-hospital base for the School of Medicine. The campus officially closed in October 2010 when staff relocated to the Life Sciences Building at Highfield Campus.

Artists impression of the new Boldrewood Campus

Would you like to give something back to Southampton and make a difference to the experience of current students? Take advantage of one of our many volunteering opportunities and you can do just that – give the gift of time.

Much of our volunteering is focused around our alumni giving careers advice or answering questions about their work, but there are also numerous other ways to give something back – you can now offer your professional skills to the University as a gift in kind by joining our register of Alumni Consultants, or if you enjoy working on vintage cars you could help with maintaining the Toastrack bus and even learn how to drive it!

This is just a taste of what’s on offer; we are developing new and exciting ways for you to get involved all the time and you can now sign up to our quarterly volunteering newsletter to stay informed of the latest opportunities and news.

We also have volunteering schemes for those who live further afield and even something for our alumni who live abroad.

If you live outside of the UK you can volunteer by becoming an International Representative for your country, or if there is an established branch you can help with the organisation of branch activities.

If you are in the UK but not living near the University there are still plenty of ways for you to get involved. For more information on current opportunities and to register your interest in volunteering, visit www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni/ volunteering You can also contact the Alumni Relations Officer – Volunteers and Student Engagement – Chloë Mahoney (C.Mahoney@southampton.ac.uk) – for more information and to sign up to the volunteering newsletter.

More ways to keep in touch To keep in touch and to view more photos of the events on this page, visit www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni Follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter www.facebook.com/universityofsouthamptonalumni www.linkedin.com (University of Southampton Alumni) twitter.com/UniSotonAlumni

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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Get involved Mentoring current students is a great way you can re-engage with the University and help the next generation of alumni get ready for their careers.

Hartley Circle member, Chris Richards (BSc Physics, 1979) (above, centre), uses his commercial experience and expertise to advise Southampton students who run social and commercial enterprises, in Enactus, from the University.

Enactus, formerly called Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE), is an international non-profit organisation that works with leaders in business and higher education to mobilise university students to make a difference in communities across the world, while developing the skills to become socially responsible business leaders.

“I have always made sure the projects I am involved in have a sustainability aspect and a community aspect,” says Chris. “So the Enactus model of caring for the environment and the community is something that I believe in,” he adds.

Offering guidance From Wisemind – an enterprise that teaches young people who are neither in education, employment or training, valuable business skills – to Right Light – a commercial venture to distribute solar-powered lamps in communities in Eastern Africa to replace polluting kerosene fuel – the student-run Enactus Southampton team applies business concepts to develop outreach projects that improve the quality of life and standard of living for people in need.

“As an experienced individual, it could be a temptation to dominate during discussion with the students, but my role is very much as a supporter and to offer guidance from time-to-time for the enterprises they are involved in,” explains Chris.

Chris started his career as a chartered accountant at PriceWaterhouseCooopers, but then became involved in the privatisation of the water industry in the 1980s. He became Head of Corporate Strategy of The Hyder Group – a major international utility and engineering group – and then later joined the Executive Board.

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“The company then focused on renewable energy and I initiated and headed up the new renewables business for Hyder,” he says. Twelve years later the business was sold for £100m and Chris became a founder member and investor of another renewable energy company, Eco2 – a company that has successfully developed renewable energy projects of value in excess of £500m and has become one of the largest independent renewable energy companies in the UK and around Europe.

Sound advice “I use my past experience to advise the students on their projects – I attend an Advisory Board meeting every month where we look at finance, training and any other way we can help,” explains Chris. “I also meet with the students who are project leads and the management team, in smaller groups in a more informal setting, to give them support.”

The Southampton team has won the Enactus national championships two years in a row and they have attended the world championships twice. “This is an incredible achievement for the University and the students. I feel really fortunate and privileged to be able to help. The energy and commitment from the students is staggering and it keeps me in touch with young minds,” says Chris.

“Students now face a very difficult economic environment when leaving university and getting involved in Enactus Southampton helps them differentiate themselves from the crowd.

They can demonstrate commitment, determination and enterprise as well as business skills, and I feel lucky to be able to help them achieve their goals in some small way.”

There are many ways you can support the University. You can get involved with events to share your expertise with students, become an ambassador for the University or even link your business with Southampton through our enterprise activities.

For more details on how you can contribute, visit www.southampton.ac. uk/alumni/getinvolved/

Make your comeback.

The Reunion Experience 2013 Make Saturday 13 July 2013 a day to remember and celebrate your Anniversary Class Reunion with friends from ‘63, ‘73, ‘83, ‘93 and ’03.

This is your opportunity to come back to Southampton for the weekend, take a trip down memory lane with your friends and experience first-hand everything that makes the University what it is today.

Explore the astrophysics of the universe in the Soton Astrodome, experience breath-taking optical engineering with the Light Express show, listen to live music and hear lectures on research that is currently taking place.

Have a go at experiments in our Chemistry labs, take a trip on the Toastrack bus or have a tour round our Avenue Campus. With a programme of exciting and interactive activities for you and your friends to enjoy, the only thing missing is you!

To find out more and to book your place at this event, please visit: www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni Or email: arevents@soton.ac.uk or call: + 44(0)23 8059 2747

Class notes Every issue we receive many more class notes than we have space to print, but you can view full updates and photos at www.southampton.ac.uk/graduatenews

Unique historic perspective Dr Edgar Feuchtwanger studied for his PhD at the University of Southampton in the 1950s and went on to become a history lecturer in 1959. He has contributed significantly to the volumes written about Hitler and the Third Reich, however his perspective on the subject is somewhat unique; at the age of five Edgar found himself neighbours with Hitler when the then politician moved into a nine-room apartment just 100 yards along the street from his family home.

Hitler was often seen at the apartment in Munich at the weekends. One of Edgar’s earliest memories was spotting Hitler while being taken for a walk in about 1933 – he was wearing a belted mac and a trilby hat which he lifted slightly in acknowledgement of the passers-by shouting ‘Heil Hitler’.

1950s

1960s

1980s

Brian Bunday (BSc Mathematics, 1957) and Joan Bunday née Urry (BA French, 1957) celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in September 2012, while enjoying a cruise on the river Elbe in Germany.

Clifford Longley (BSc Engineering, 1961) was awarded a Lambeth degree of Masters of Letters by the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Archbishop said the award was given in recognition of his “commitment and achievements as an author, broadcaster and journalist”. He also contributes regularly to BBC Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’ slot and has written books entitled, The Worlock Archive (1999) and Chosen People (2002).

James Taylor (BSc Geology, 1989) lives in Truro, Cornwall where in 2004 he set up an Asian Restaurant called Chantek. Having lived in South East Asia he is passionate about the food from that region.

1970s Jonathan Norden (BSc Chemistry, 1970) writes: “Eight members of chemistry and Mark Callingham from the class of 1970 had their 5th reunion in October 2012. A good time was had by one and all. Further reunions this year and 2014 are planned.”

Brian and Joan Bunday

Philip Michael Pugh’s (PhD Oceanography, 1977) nephew James Pugh, has won a place to study chemistry at Southampton and will be living in Glen Eyre halls just like he did.

His daughter, Marcela has just graduated from the University of the West of England.

Peter Emery (BSc Physiology and Pharmacology, 1979) writes: “My daughter is following in my footsteps by going to Southampton to study history”.

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Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

1990s Margaret Jones Williams (PhD Science, 1998) writes: “My fellow international graduate friends inspired me a lot as we were all together learning, living, studying and achieving at a superb institution in a wonderful country.

I have lost touch with friends from Brazil, Mexico, Spain, Israel, Iraq and Germany. I am living in Jamaica and working for the United Nations Development Programme. Please contact me and thank you for your friendship during my year at Southampton!”

2000s Anna Chesterman (BSc Physiotherapy, 2008) and her sister are participating in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival in memory of their brother, the late Lieutenant Andrew Chesterman (MEng Mechanical Engineering, 2008), from 3rd Battalion The Rifles. They are raising money for The Rifles Regimental Trust and would welcome any sponsorship. For more information, visit www.justgiving.com/chesterman

Marriages Christopher Deal (BA History, Politics and Economics, 2006) and Katherine Deal née Robbins (BA Archaeology, 2006; MSc Archaeological Computing, 2007; PhD Archaeology, 2012) got married in 2012.

Richard Madgwick (BA Archaeology, 2004; MA Osteoarchaeology, 2006) and Sian Iles (BA Archaeology and History, 2004) got married in High Ham, Somerset on 18 August 2012.

Ian Edmunds (BSc Computer Science, 2003) and Claire Edmunds married on 8 September 2012. There were many alumni in attendance including a best man – James Lofting, ushers – Stuart Taylor and Jonathan Davies (all BSc Computer Science, 2003) and guests James May (BSc Electromechanical Engineering, 2003).

Stephanie Holloway and Matthew Ellison

Dr Ian Thomas (BSc Electrical Engineering, 1985; PhD Electrical Engineering, 1990) Ashley Cooper (BM Medicine, 1997) Jeremy Lambert (BSc Physiology & Biochemistry, 1980) Peter Hall (BSc Mechanical Engineering, 1944) Roger Fitzer (BSc Economics, 1969)

Jonathan Mead (MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics, 2010) married Rosanna Mead on 3 June 2012. Many Southampton alumni attended and the Best Man was – Alistair Ward (MEng Aeronautics and Astronautics 2010).

Stephanie Ellison née Holloway (BA French and German, 2006) married Matthew Ellison (Bsc Environmental Science 2005).

We are sorry to announce the deaths of the following alumni:

Richard Madwick and Sian Iles

Jo Firth née Hardwick (BSc Geography, 2005) married James Firth (BA Geography, 2005) on 25 August 2012. Many Southampton alumni attended the wedding, including Ellen Doughty (BSc Biological Science, 2005) who was a bridesmaid.

Christopher Thomas Watts (BSc Chemistry, 1963; PhD Organic Chemistry, 1966) Emmanuel Okai Laryea (BSc Economics, 1951) Dr Laurance Herold (PhD Arts, 1968) Michele Dellafield Boyce (PhD English, 2002) Flight Lieutenant Frances Capps (BSc Biology, 2001)

Katy Brooks née Hooper (BSc Geology and Oceanography 2006) married Tom Brooks (BSc Geology and Oceanography, 2006) on 21 July 2012. Many Southampton alumni attended, including Amy Fisher (BSc Geology and Oceanography, 2006) who was a bridesmaid.

Jo Hardwick and James Firth

If you would like to get back in touch with a former friend from Southampton, take advantage of our ‘Find a friend’ service. Contact the Office of Development and Alumni Relations with a message for your friend and we will send it on to them if we have their current contact details. If they choose, they will then get in touch with you.

For further details and a form, visit the Services section of our website, www.southampton.ac.uk/alumni or write to us at: Office of Development and Alumni Relations, University of Southampton, Highfield Campus, Southampton, SO17 1BJ.

Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

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Alumni Profile

In my own words Sir Charles George, Honorary DM, 2004 Sir Charles George has had a distinguished career in medical education and in public health, most notably at the University’s Faculty of Medicine. He talks to Hartley News about his experiences at Southampton.

Q

Why did you choose to work at Southampton?

I chose to work at Southampton, because it had a new medical school that taught students in a different way from the traditional way of thinking about medical education. Traditionally students were prevented from interacting with patients for about two years while they received a more theoretical grounding.

At Southampton, there was a novel curriculum where the students actually met patients in their first term of their first year. Instead of having separate courses for subjects like anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, the modules were centred on patients’ problems.

They also were shown how things could go wrong and how pharmacology – which was my subject – could help to correct some of those problems.

Q

and Good Medical Practice. This was a revolutionary document that outlined, for the first time how you were expected to behave as a doctor. In 1986 I also became Chairman of the Joint Formulary Committee which is responsible for overseeing the production of the British National Formulary, the prescribers and dispensers ‘bible’ which is used widely by medical practitioners.

Q

How did you feel when you received your Honorary Doctorate?

I was delighted because I am immensely proud of the University of Southampton and its Medical School. Relatively few people that have worked in the University, as I have, actually receive an honorary degree. It was just a lovely reward for continued interest in the University during my time at the British Heart Foundation and for the work that I had done in the University.

What were the highlights of your time at the University?

Graduation of the first cohort of students from the Medical School in 1976 was definitely a highlight and becoming a professor at a youthful age in 1975 was an achievement for me. Other good memories include becoming Deputy Dean to Professor Dame Barbara Clayton in 1984 and then becoming Dean of Medicine in 1986.

I was Dean of Medicine at Southampton twice, from 1986 to 1990 and then again in 1993. In 1993 I worked on bringing the new schools of Nursing and Midwifery, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy into the medical faculty, and became the foundation dean of this large faculty which was then Medicine, Health and Biological Sciences.

Q

Q

Q

What are you proud of from your career?

I spent 13 years on the General Medical Council (GMC) and subsequently became the Chairman of the Education Committee.

We wrote the blueprint for undergraduate medical education called Tomorrow’s Doctors, to be followed by all UK medical schools.

I was also on the Professional Standards Committee that developed a blueprint of good practice for doctors called Duties of a Doctor

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Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton

What motivates you?

I made up my mind to be a doctor at the age of 10 and never wavered from that. I thought it was a great career that you could do something for your fellow man – it was a vocational calling.

Q

What do you think has improved at the University since you worked here?

The Highfield Campus is so much better than when I was there.

The great new buildings, such as the Life Sciences Building, are fantastic. The integration of disciplines in Life Sciences means truly global issues can be researched and solved at the University.

Do you have any tips for graduates?

1) It’s good to be polite when greeting people, in order to make a good first impression; 2) Working as a team is very important and good communications are vital to being successful in any walk of life; 3) And finally, do remember that life is a continual process of learning.

The Atlantides are statues in the image of Atlas. Originally from the Hartley Institution’s High Street façade, they are now positioned outside the Hartley Library on the Highfield Campus

Make a lasting difference.

Leave a legacy By leaving a legacy to the University, you can help us change the world for the better through our research and offer life-changing opportunities to our students.

If you feel you could help make that difference, and would like to discuss leaving a gift in your will, please contact The Office of Development and Alumni Relations on Throughout our history, legacy gifts +44(0) 23 8059 9077 or email supportus@southampton.ac.uk have helped support and inspire our excellence in research and Thank you. education, making the University of Southampton the world-leading institution it is today.

www.southampton.ac.uk/hartleynews alumni@southampton.ac.uk +44 (0)23 8059 2747

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Hartley News | Summer 2013 | University of Southampton