Reporter

Imperial signs up to strategic partnership with BBSRC

9 March 2012

Imperial scientists hope to deliver advances in biosciences – including food security, bioenergy, ageing and synthetic biology – faster and more cost-effectively, thanks to a new highlevel partnership between the College and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

BBSRC’s strategic partnerships, of which there are seven currently, encourage scientists to work more closely with those who share the same research goals, and give universities the opportunity to take a coordinated approach to investing funds awarded by BBSRC for research activities and facilities. The partnerships recognise the longstanding record of excellent research that the universities have in biological sciences.

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Tags: Faculty of Natural Sciences, News
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Meet the reader: Bob Cummins, Faculty Operating Officer for Natural Sciences

26 January 2012

What are you doing in the picture?

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Tags: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Humanities, Mathematics
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Rooted in research

3 November 2011

Reporter speaks to Professor Donal Bradley CBE, FRS, one of the most highly cited scientists in the fields of physics and materials science, about his hopes for his new role as Pro Rector (Research), his ideas on technology transfer and why he doesn’t intend to give up on his own research any time soon.

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Tags: Centre for Plastic Electronics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Physics
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Media Mentions

31 October 2011

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Tags: Business School, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Physics, Public Health
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New deputy principals appointed

17 October 2011

The Faculties of Natural Sciences and Engineering have announced new senior appointments.

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Tags: Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Institute of Shock Physics, Plasma Physics
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A bold biomedical venture

13 October 2011

On 11 October, Imperial celebrated officially joining The Francis Crick Institute at an event in King’s Cross. The Institute – a £650 million world class interdisciplinary biomedical research institute set to open in 2015 – was founded by the Medical Research Council, Cancer Research UK, the Wellcome Trust and UCL. Reporter speaks to Professor Maggie Dallman, Principal of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, about her involvement in the project and what it means to Imperial.

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Tags: Business School, Cancer Research UK, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Medical Research Council, Rector, The Francis Crick Institute, the Wellcome Trust
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Pro Rector (Research) and Chief Financial Officer

23 September 2011

Two new appointments to Imperial’s Management Board were announced over the summer. Professor Donal Bradley FRS was named as the next Pro Rector (Research), with effect from 1 October 2011, and Mr Muir Sanderson will become the College’s new Chief Financial Officer on 1 November 2011.

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Tags: Faculty of Natural Sciences
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Election of Deans

23 September 2011

Professor Richard Thompson (pictured left), Professor of Experimental Physics and Head of the Quantum Optics and the Laser Science Research Group in the Department of Physics, has been elected to succeed Professor Chris Phillips as one of the Deans for the Faculty of Natural Sciences from 1 September 2011 to 31 August 2014. (more…)

Tags: Department of Computing, Department of Physics, Faculty of Natural Sciences
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Nature project needs your vote

12 September 2011

An ambitious nature project is currently taking place all over England, with an Imperial team at its head. The project has now made it through to the final of the National Lottery Awards as Best Environment Project, and needs your votes to win.

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Tags: Biology, Centre for Environmental Policy, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Outreach, Public
Posted in College, Research | 1 Comment »

FONS research staff awards

29 July 2011

Three members of staff from the Faculty of Natural Science have been rewarded for their outstanding contributions to promoting a positive working culture within their Department by the Faculty Academic Opportunities Committee for the Faculty of Natural Sciences.

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Tags: Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Life Sciences, Physics
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Athena Lecture – Insights into an Academic Career

15 June 2011

Professor Maggie Dallman, Principal of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, will give Imperial’s annual Athena Lecture, celebrating the achievements of women in science, technology and medicine, on 21 June. She tells Reporter about her research career and what has inspired her.

What led you into an academic career?

I always enjoyed science at school and became more interested when I did my first degree in Cellular Pathology at Bristol. In my final year, there were only 10 of us and we were linked to a sizeable Immunology Unit. We were completely immersed in different areas of live research and I was absolutely gripped by designing experiments, getting results and proving things.

At that stage, though, I wasn’t sure about doing a PhD so I took a job in industry, with the Wellcome Research Labs in Beckenham. While there, I had my first paper published in Nature and realised that if I was serious about a career in research, I would have to take a PhD. I applied to Oxford and the rest is history.

What do you hope to achieve in your research into immune responses?

A functioning immune system is critical for our survival. My research focuses on the negative side of immunity – looking at diseases caused by unregulated or inappropriate immune responses. I am particularly interested in chronic inflammatory responses which, in the field of organ transplantation, now cause the majority of organ graft loss.

My aims are to have an increased understanding of these immune responses and to find new therapeutic responses that bring benefits to patients.

You’ve studied zebrafish as part of your research – what’s so special about them?

Most importantly, their immune system is very similar to those of mammals. In evolutionary terms, they are the earliest organisms and have all the components that are critical for immunity among mammals including ourselves. At embryonic stages, zebrafish are very easy to visualise using sophisticated microscopy. We can track cells moving around the body in response to different stimuli, giving us an insight into how cells interact, both within the immune system and with the rest of the body.

How do you juggle your research with your role as Principal of the Faculty of Natural Sciences?

These days, I have much less time to spend on research. I still have a research group – in the Immunology and Infection Section (within Cell and Molecular Biology) – but it’s more about seeing the ‘big picture’ than day-to-day management. That’s also what I particularly enjoy about my role as Faculty Principal – being able to draw together different strands of research and building links between groups, leading to interesting new initiatives.

What achievements as Faculty Principal are you most proud of?

I’m delighted about the College’s decision to fully integrate with the Francis Crick Institute – a world-class biomedical research institute planned for central London (originally known as the UKCMRI). I’ve no doubt that the new Institute will open up many new doors for biomedical research that wouldn’t have been imaginable if the partners were operating in isolation.

As Principal, I’ve also tried very hard to put into place mechanisms which recognise and value early-career scientists. That’s something I feel very passionate about. Science is a tough career and the early days of an academic career are especially hard.  At Imperial, we’re lucky to have a lot of support available now including Junior Research Fellowships. I was very fortunate to be supported throughout my own career – the head of department during my undergraduate days in Bristol still comes to listen to my lectures!

Hear more about Maggie Dallman’s research and career in the Athena Lecture from 17.00-18.00 on 21 June.

Tags: Athena Lecture, Faculty of Natural Sciences
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David Abbott – Starter profile

9 June 2011

David Abbott, Admissions Administrator, joined the Registry in early May from the University of Exeter, where he had worked in student funding. His position at Imperial involves assessing applications for courses in the Faculty of Natural Sciences which includes looking at applicants’ academic credentials and checking they meet the College’s English language requirements. He says: “I was attracted to the job by Imperial’s reputation as a great place to work. I’ve especially enjoyed the buzz and hive of activity within the Registry.”

Tags: Faculty of Natural Sciences, Registry
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Fellows Forum kicks off

2 June 2011

Earlier this year, the Faculty of Natural Sciences’ Fellows Forum held its first event at 170 Queen’s Gate on the South Kensington Campus. Dr Jonathan Eastwood (Physics), a research fellow and a member of the Forum’s working group, attended together with approximately 40 research fellows from all corners of the Faculty:

“The event started with an informal talk by Professor Maggie Dallman, Principal of the Faculty. She outlined the overarching aims of the forum, which are to improve the experience of being a fellow in the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Imperial, and to provide opportunities for fellows to interact across the Faculty, so as to foster interdisciplinary research. This was followed by a speed networking event.

“I was somewhat nervous at having to talk to lots of people I didn’t know, but in the end it was great fun meeting lots of new people. As a physicist, it was refreshing to meet chemists, mathematicians and biologists – all people I don’t normally get the chance to interact with ¬– especially because it allowed me to learn a bit more about the wider research world at Imperial.

“The final part of the event was an informal talk, with plenty of questions and candid answers, given by Professor Tom Welton, Head of the Department of Chemistry, which was followed by a drinks reception. Everyone left having made new contacts, envisaging new ideas for research and collaboration.

It was great fun meeting lots of new people

“Overall, the afternoon was a great success thanks to the organisers, particularly Chris Bird and Becky Nadal from the Faculty. It is the first of what is expected to be a continuing series of Fellows Forum events, supported by a website and online discussion forum.”

Find out more about the Forum here

Tags: 170, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Physics
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Future Simon Singh sought in Science Challenge 2011

1 June 2011

The deadline for this year’s Science Challenge competition, organised by the Royal College of Science Union, is 18.00 on Friday 10 June. The science writing contest, supported by the Faculty of Natural Sciences, aims to promote scientific communication and creative thinking amongst students and school pupils.

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Tags: Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Rector
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Fellowships for Dallman and Hoskins

24 May 2011

Professor Maggie Dallman, Principal of the Faculty of Natural Sciences, and Professor Sir Brian Hoskins, Director of the Grantham Institute for Climate Change, were appointed Fellows of the City and Guilds Institute in the most recent round of elections in March.

Tags: Awards and Honours, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Grantham Institute for Climate Change
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