Annual Report - University of Leicester · trayed in a regional report from EMUA enti-tled The...

Annual Report2000 • 2001

Annual Report 2000 – 2001

The University of Leicester re-affirms the commitment in its Charter to the advancement of

knowledge, the diffusion and extension of arts, sciences and learning and the provision of

liberal, professional and technological education and:

will strive to enhance its position as a leading research and teaching institution,

cultivating the synergy between research and teaching;

will strive to enhance and fully utilise its physical resources and develop and nurture

its human resources in order to further these academic purposes;

will offer an education of the highest quality to its undergraduate and graduate

students, encouraging and stimulating critical intellectual development through

guided learning in a research environment;

will develop and enhance its international reputation for research at the cutting edge

of a range of disciplines through the encouragement of centres of excellence and

individual scholars;

will make available the University’s knowledge and expertise to the international,

national and local communities and to industry and commerce through publication,

technology transfer and other ways of disseminating knowledge;

will develop its role as a significant resource to enrich the local community and

provide continuing professional, vocational and adult education to the surrounding

region, collaborating with nearby educational institutions in order to maximise the

benefits to the community.

Mission Statement

2

Law Quadrangle, Fielding Johnson Building.

VisitorHER MAJESTY THE QUEEN

OFFICERS 2000-2001

ChancellorSIR MICHAEL ATIYAH, O.M., F.R.S., M.A., Ph.D., D.Sc.

Pro-ChancellorsJ. C. FOSTER, O.B.E., M.A., Dip.Ed.T. F. M. McKILLOP, B.Sc., Ph.D., D.Sc.

Vice-ChancellorPROFESSOR R. G. BURGESS, B.A., Ph.D. AcSS.

TreasurerM. A. CHAMBERLAIN, LL.D., F.C.A.

Pro-Vice-ChancellorsPROFESSOR J. L. BEEBY, M.A., Ph.D.PROFESSOR P. S. FEARON, B.A.PROFESSOR J. H. HOLLOWAY, O.B.E., Ph.D., D.Sc.,C.Chem., F.R.S.C.

Dean of the Faculty of ArtsPROFESSOR S. M. PEARCE, M.A., Ph.D., F.S.A., F.M.A.

Dean of the Faculty of SciencePROFESSOR W. A. LIGHT, B.Sc., M.A., Ph.D.

Dean of the Faculty of the Social SciencesR. M. NEGRINE, B.A., Ph.D.

Dean of the Faculty of LawPROFESSOR R. C. A. WHITE, M.A., LL.M., Solicitor of theSupreme Court

Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Biological SciencesPROFESSOR W. J. BRAMMAR, B.Sc., Ph.D.

Dean of the Faculty of Education and Continuing StudiesPROFESSOR K. R. FOGELMAN, B.A., C.Psychol., F.B.Ps.S.

Dean of the Leicester Warwick Medical SchoolPROFESSOR I. LAUDER, M.B., B.S., F.R.C.Path., F.Med.Sci.

Graduate DeanPROFESSOR G. W. BARKER, M.A., Ph.D., F.B.A., M.I.F.A.

Registrar and SecretaryK. J. JULIAN, M.A.

LibrarianT. D. HOBBS, M.A., Ph.D., Dip.Lib., A.L.A.

COVER PICTURES

Front cover: (left to right) Students on campus by the his-toric Fielding Johnson Building – the original building ofthe University of Leicester; The Engineering Building, alandmark of modern architecture, designed by architectsGowan and Stirling; A graduate of the Department ofChemistry – part of the Faculty of Science, which has aninternational reputation gained through the pioneeringwork of its departments.

Back cover: (left to right) Students with an interest indrama find an outlet in the activities of the UniversityTheatre – the University generates an attractive pro-gramme of arts events, all of which are open to the public;The £52 million National Space Centre – brainchild of theUniversity – which welcomed its first visitors in June 2001;Graduates celebrate their success following the University’sdegree congregations.

There is one companion volume to this report:

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2000/2001: Contains Treasurer’sReport, statements on corporate governance and theresponsibilities of Council, and detailed accounts for theyear ended July 31 2001.

Available fromPress & Public Relations OfficeUniversity of LeicesterUniversity RoadLeicester LE1 7RHTel: 0116 252 2415Email: [email protected]

Annual Report 2000/2001 is available on the Universityof Leicester’s web pages via http://www.le.ac.uk/press/

© University of Leicester

3


Vice-Chancellor’s Report ....04

Progressive ......................06

Distinctive ........................08

Pioneering ........................10

Inclusive ..........................12

Beneficial ........................14

Influential ........................16

Innovative ........................18

Distinguished ....................20

Tributes ............................21

Accolades ........................22

Statistics ..........................23

ContentsA University College was established in Leicester in 1921 and the independentUniversity of Leicester was created by Royal Charter in 1957. The University marks its80th Anniversary in the academic year 2001-2002.

The University is world-renowned for the discovery of the revolutionary technique of DNA

genetic fingerprinting.

Leicester houses one of the biggest University-based space research groups in Europeand is a co-founder of, and a principal participant in, the National Space Centre – theMillennium Commission’s £52 million Landmark Project.

The University was awarded the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Higher and Further

Education in 1994 for ‘world-class teaching, research and consultancy programme in

astronomy, space and planetary science; practical results from advanced thinking.’

Leicester has over 40 departments in six faculties. An extensive programme ofcontinuing education and professional development is offered and there are over 140undergraduate degree programmes and more than 100 postgraduate programmes.

Leicester is among the largest providers of postgraduate distance learning courses in the

country, offering many vocationally relevant courses and, in particular, a wide range of

management courses. Of the total of more than 17,000 registered students, nearly 5,000

students read for their degrees by this method. In 2001, the University of Leicester was ranked

as the biggest provider of taught postgraduate courses in the UK. (Financial Times, 2001)

The University is a prominent member of the international academic community andhas world-wide links in teaching and research. Students from more than 100 countriesstudy courses run by the University.

The University is reputed for its teaching quality and has been graded as Excellent by the

Quality Assurance Agency in 18 subject areas, including 12 successive scores of Excellent

(22 points or above out of 24). These subject areas are: American Studies, Ancient History,

Archaeology, Chemistry, Economics, Education, English, History (including Economic and

Social History and English Local History), History of Art, Law, Mathematics and Statistics,

Medicine, Molecular Biosciences, Museum Studies, Organismal Biosciences, Physics and

Astronomy, Politics, and Psychology.

The University has a very strong research base. In the latest national ResearchAssessment Exercise (2001), the University gained 13 top grades of 5 and 5* – and 84%of staff were rated as conducting research of a national and international calibre. Thetotal value of grants and contracts during the year 2000-01 was nearly £33 million.

Leicester houses more than 45 specialist divisions and centres studying, inter alia, sport

and society, crime and public order, the labour market, ethnicity, forensic psychology,

pluralism, the Holocaust and community care.

Leicester is home to the unique Richard Attenborough Centre, and the pioneeringCentre for English Local History and Department of Museum Studies are the onlypostgraduate course providers of their kind in the world. The Centre for MassCommunication Research is one of the oldest centres in the field. The School ofHistorical Studies, comprising History, Economic and Social History, Urban History andEnglish Local History, is one of the largest in England and Wales.

The University works closely with business and industry and, particularly in the fields of

Medicine, Biological Sciences, Physical Sciences, Social Sciences and Engineering, has many

established links with company research and development programmes.

The University

The pages of this report indicate that the

academic year 2000-2001 involved a rich range

of activities in the University of Leicester. The

national press carried numerous reports and

reviews of the University’s work and placed

Leicester among Britain’s top twenty universi-

ties – an accolade that was given by both the

Financial Times and The Sunday Times. The

University achieved a high profile for many of

its activities and developed strategies that will

have a far reaching influence over its work in

the coming years.

Members of the University continued to

play a significant role in the region through

work with City and County Councils, the

East Midlands Development Agency and the

East Midlands Universities Association

(EMUA). It is through many of these organi-

sations that the University has contributed

to the social, cultural, political and econom-

ic life of the region. Much of this work is

conducted in conjunction with other higher

education institutions and is effectively por-

trayed in a regional report from EMUA enti-

tled The Regional Mission: East Midlands:

Innovation Through Diversity.

One way in which the University con-

tributed to higher education in the region

is through the newly developed two year

Foundation Degree. The University of

Leicester was the only institution in the

East Midlands to win support for prototype

programmes which were on Educational

Studies for Classroom Teaching Assistants

(with Bishop Grosseteste College in

Lincoln) and Security and Risk

Management (with the national profession-

al body). It is programmes such as these

which will help Leicester play its part to

increase participation in higher education.

Student numbers are important to the

academic, social and financial well being of

the institution. The University completely

overhauled its approach to student recruit-

ment at undergraduate level with the

result that the admissions programme in

summer 2001 saw the University achieve

and exceed its recruitment targets. This

was a splendid achievement that was the

result of co-ordinated activity between all

members of the academic and administra-

tive staff. Similarly at postgraduate level,

increases in student registrations were

recorded in the distance learning pro-

grammes and on some of the campus

based courses. Many departments are to

be congratulated on their recruitment of

home and overseas students and the

award of scholarships in national competi-

tions. It was this record that resulted in the

Financial Times naming Leicester as the

University with the largest number of

taught postgraduate students. This pro-

vides a good base from which to recruit

more research postgraduates – a major

challenge for all parts of the higher educa-

tion community.

The research activities in the University

increased in importance with more

research grant and contract income being

generated compared with previous years.

Much of this income is essential to employ

contract researchers who play an essential

role and whose career development needs

to be carefully nurtured.

However, all researchers need support.

In this respect, Leicester has excelled

through awards received from the Joint

Infrastructure Fund, the Wellcome Trust

and the Science Research Infrastructure

Fund. Resources obtained through these

schemes will result in two new buildings

being planned for biomedical research,

space science and mathematical modelling;

the latter being an interdisciplinary centre

that is being developed by staff from math-

ematics, engineering, physics and chem-

istry. Alongside these projects, some build-

ings will be refurbished for chemistry and

archaeology. These subject areas join a

growing list whose facilities need upgrad-

ing if we are to meet the challenge of pro-

viding high quality research infrastructure

in the twenty-first century.

The University needs to plan boldly so

that Leicester can be developed over the

next fifty years. This process began when a

series of architectural practices were invit-

It is members of the University of Leicester staff, students, parents, alumni and

many other supporters who add to the richness of our institution.

Vice-Chancellor’s ForewordThe University achieved a high profile for many of itsactivities and developed strategies that will have a farreaching influence over its work in the coming years.

4


ed to tender to become the development

plan architects for the University. The

result was a programme of discussion and

consultation with Shepheard Epstein

Hunter who will bring forward a develop-

ment plan to match the research and

teaching aspirations of the institution.

Throughout this year, members of the

University continued to play significant

roles – many of which are discussed else-

where in this report. At the start of the

academic year we established link meet-

ings with parents of new students which

were widely reported in the national press

and the subject of a special feature in The

Guardian that suggested Leicester had

developed a unique programme for par-

ents and new students. In turn, we also

developed a series of events with our

alumni who have organised special meet-

ings in different parts of the country.

It is members of the University of

Leicester staff, students, parents, alumni

and many other supporters who add to

the richness of our institution and to

whom I wish to record my thanks for their

work and their support. As we enter the

80th year since higher education was pro-

vided on University Road in Leicester, it is

apparent that the institution is well placed

to develop its role regionally, nationally

and internationally.

Professor Robert Burgess

Vice-Chancellor

5

Vice-Chancellor Professor Robert Burgess.

A U G U S T S E P T E M B E R O C T O B E R N O V E M B E R D E C E M B E

The University has beenrated among the Top 20universities in the UK byThe Financial Times (April2001). The FT 100 LeagueTable, which covers 16 cat-egories, provides an employ-er-orientated snapshot ofuniversity performance,

showing that the Universityhad risen from 26th to 19thplace in one year.

The University was alsocited in the first division forteaching by The DailyTelegraph, which was fur-ther reinforced by the latestedition of the Sunday

Times (September 2001)where the University wasplaced in the nation’s top20 universities.

The University startedpreparations to mark its80th Anniversary duringthe academic year 2001-

2002, with the AnniversaryDay on October 4, 2001.An anniversary committeewas established to co-ordi-nate the year-long pro-gramme of activities whichincluded the naming of thehall in the RichardAttenborough Centre after

Diana, Princess of Wales.Civic receptions, an

anniversary dinner, specialmedia coverage, art exhibi-tions and concerts, anniver-sary lectures and sportschallenges were among theproposals for the pro-gramme.

The University of Leicester continuesto grow in size and stature,

providing the impetus for developmentsof international significance.

Rocket science: inside the tower of the National Space Centre.

6

a star attraction

The £52 million National Space CentreMillennium Project, the UK’s only visitorattraction dedicated to space science andastronomy, opened on June 30, 2001.Scientific themes covering launchers andspace missions, astronomy, planetary scienceand Earth remote sensing are covered in sep-arate zones. These themes reflect the rangeof space science programmes that are carriedout in the University’s Space ResearchCentre, embracing cross-departmentalresearch in atmospheric chemistry and plane-tary geology as well as the main spaceresearch activities of the Department ofPhysics and Astronomy.

The University is a founding partner ofthe National Space Centre which is spon-sored by the Millennium Commission. TheUniversity is a member of the governingcharity, the National Space Science Centre,and appoints members to its board oftrustees. It also appoints a scientific directorto the operating company and participatesin various advisory groups.

initiatives for a new era

The start of the academic year saw theestablishment of a new Graduate School atthe University. Throughout the UK, participa-tion in postgraduate education and training isgrowing more rapidly than in any other sectorof Higher Education.

The University has one of the largest post-graduate populations in the UK, with 54% ofstudents registered for postgraduate degrees.The creation of a single Graduate School is animportant development, allowing the Universityto build on existing strengths and expand post-graduate provision. The over-arching mission ofthe Graduate School is to ensure that all post-

graduate students, whatever their course ormode of study, receive the same high quality ofeducation and support.

The University also created an Institute ofLifelong Learning – reflecting Governmentinitiatives highlighting the importance of life-long learning to the individual, the labourmarket and the life of the community as awhole. The Vice-Chancellor established theInstitute to broaden provision for adults inline with the needs of the 21st century.

The Institute was created to embrace allactivities in every department and centreacross the University, providing continuingprofessional development, part-time degrees,social and cultural activities, traditional liberaladult education, day schools, certificatecourses and diplomas. Its serves private andpublic sector needs as well as the futuretraining needs of its own graduates.

growth and development

During the year major work was undertak-en in a number of areas of the University toenhance and upgrade existing accommoda-tion – over £5.6m was spent during the peri-od. The most notable projects were:• Engineering Building South Block refur-

bishment, £728,000. This project providedrefurbished accommodation in the grade2* listed James Stirling-designedEngineering Building for a new researchgroup specialising in electrical and elec-tronic power engineering.

• Maurice Shock Medical Sciences Buildingupgrading, £350,000. Teaching in theLeicester Warwick Medical School dependsheavily on the simultaneous presentationof lectures at Leicester and Warwick. Themain lecture theatre in the Maurice ShockBuilding was upgraded and equipped toprovide the principal lecture theatre for

the presentation of lectures via a new elec-tronic link to Warwick. The University’sAudio Visual Services Unit was a finalist inthe AV Magazine Awards for Installation ofthe Year for 2001 in respect of its work onthis project. The first phase of upgradingof the anatomy suite was also completedas part of this work.

• Adrian Building refurbishment, £2.4m. Amajor reorganisation of space and refur-bishment of laboratories commenced inearly 2001 which enabled departmentswith cognate research activities to belocated adjacent to each other andreleased the former BioCentre building forother research activities.

• Gilbert Murray Hall, £2.15m. During therefurbishment, S and L blocks of the hall ofresidence and Stoughton Leys were rewiredand upgraded (including the provision ofwash hand basins) and Clivedon House wasconverted to en-suite bedrooms.

• The Coppice hall of residence in ManorRoad, Oadby, purchased for £1 million justbefore the start of the academic year, wasbrought into use and provided accommo-dation for 66 students.

Preparation work commenced on the designfor the new Biomedical Sciences Building(£20m) to be constructed adjacent to theMaurice Shock Building. The building, to becompleted in 2003, will provide state of theart laboratories for biomedical research. Theproject is part-funded by a grant of £10mfrom the Wellcome Trust.

The University was able to commencedesign work on the second phase of theSpace Research Centre (£3.7m). The buildingwill contain clean room facilities for theDepartment of Physics and Astronomy andform the base for the University’sMathematical Modelling Centre.

Progressive

A survey at theUniversity has charted theemergence of a new type ofstudent – the e-student.The Faculty of Medicineand Biological Sciencesconducts annual surveys ofstudents on many differentcourses – and from these

has emerged evidence of aseismic shift in students’attitudes to the use ofinformation and communi-cations technology.

Dr Alan Cann, of theDepartment of Microbiologyand Immunology, saidthere was now almost uni-

versal acceptance of learn-ing technology as an inte-gral part of teaching.

A study carried out by aUniversity psychologistrevealed for the first timethat babies remembersounds they heard in the

womb – and recognisethem well into later life.The study carried out in theMusic Research Groupdemonstrated how one-year-old babies recognisedmusic they were exposedto up to three monthsbefore birth.

The discovery explodedthe theory that babies canonly remember things for amonth or two – and suggest-ed that memory could last agreat deal longer than that.

Research conducted inthe University’s


7

E R J A N U A R Y F E B R U A R Y M A R C H A P R I L M A Y J U N E J U L Y


Department of Child Healthrevealed that the number ofpre-school children withwheezing disorders hasdoubled over the past 10years. Asthma has reachedepidemic proportions withone in seven children nowhaving the disease.

Professor MikeSilverman, Head of ChildHealth at the University,said the increase covered alltypes of wheeze – frominsignificant wheezing tosevere asthma. He said fac-tors unrelated to allergieswere to blame for the rise

which could be ascribed tochanges in diet, hygiene,medications or road traffic.

In the School ofArchaeology and AncientHistory, Dr Eberhard Sauer’sexcavations of the Romanfortress at Alchester has

revealed timbers dating fromAD44, making it the earliestdated timber from theRoman period ever recov-ered in Britain and indicat-ing the speed of the Romanadvance into the interior.

Distinguished sculptors

from across the UK con-tributed to an exhibition,With the Body in Mind, atthe Richard AttenboroughCentre. A total of 23 artiststook part in the exhibition,including HelaineBlumenfeld whose sculp-ture, Souls, has adorned

The University of Leicester’sinitiatives and achievements

in a variety of fields broughtit national recognition.

Strategy: a model of ‘The Leicester Graduate’, drawn up by the University, has been commended by the Higher Education Funding Council (England).

8

assessors perceive excellence

Economics and Museum Studies at theUniversity were graded excellent for theirteaching by the Quality Assurance Agency.They join Psychology in gaining a maximumscore of 24.

The University has gained a result ofExcellent in 18 subject areas including 12 suc-cessive scores of 22 or above – equating withExcellent – with Education and Archaeologyand Ancient History recently adding to therun of successes during the past year withscores of 24. Leicester also has the rare dis-tinction of achieving five successive maxi-mum scores.

a model of success

A model of ‘The Leicester Graduate’ hasbeen drawn up by the University. TheUniversity has reviewed the qualities itexpects in all its graduates and has developeda Teaching and Learning Strategy to producegraduates who not only have subject specificskills, but also the essential generic skills tosucceed in the workplace.

The strategy, which is being implementedover a three-year period, has been commend-ed by the Higher Education Funding Council(England) which believes that the University’sprogramme ‘may provide an exemplar for thesector.’ The result of the demanding newstrategy will be graduates who can demon-strate not only an appropriate body of knowl-edge in their subject, but also an understand-ing of key concepts and techniques and theirapplication; the ability to analyse key issues

and form a critical appraisal of evidence andthe skills to give clear and concise presenta-tions of material.

Graduates will be able to communicateeffectively, both orally and in writing, and willbe proficient in IT and numeracy. A Leicestergraduate will adopt a critical, careful and objec-tive approach to complex problems, and willbe a good team member, appreciating his/herown and others’ strengths and weaknesses.

initiative to boost interestin science

Children as young as eight years old mayhave made up their minds not to become sci-entists – because they believe scientists are‘middle aged white males who never have fun!’

As a result, educationalists at the Universityhave devised support materials targeting12,000 new primary school teachers whichbreak down these stereotypes and providestimulating projects of interest to children.

The activities include using the ThreeLittle Pigs nursery rhyme and a YoungSherlock Holmes role play. The project isbeing spearheaded by the SCIcentre – theNational Centre for Initial Teacher Training inPrimary School Science.

chief medical officerpraises project

The Government’s Chief Medical OfficerProfessor Liam Donaldson – a former mem-ber of academic staff in the University – visit-ed a pioneering project that has beenpraised in Parliament. He met withUniversity representatives at Prince PhilipHouse, a health centre which has beendescribed as a ‘super surgery’ – providing amodel for healthcare in the future.

Dr Angela Lennox, Director of the Centre forStudies in Community Health Care at the

University, has pioneered a programme of prac-tical learning in which medical, nursing andsocial work students work together to learnfrom the everyday experiences of patients.

Professor Donaldson said: “TheGovernment is very keen to learn from thisgood practice, targeting health inequalitiesand tackling the root causes of inequality.One of the most important and impressiveaspects of this centre is that medical stu-dents from the University spend time here.When I was here 20 years ago, the tradition-al medical curriculum was based aroundhospitals – now students have an under-standing of the full background to life whichmakes a difference to health.”

medical school set to be thebiggest in england

The Leicester Warwick Medical School is setto become one of the biggest in England by2003, according to figures revealed in a Houseof Commons Written Answer. The Schoolreceived funding for an extra 100 medicalplaces accompanied by some £4.26 million ofinvestment in new buildings and facilities.

The Medical School had an intake of 175and it will have more than doubled in sizewhen its intake reaches 403 from 2003-4.

Distinctive

the lawn in front of theUniversity’s FieldingJohnson Building since1990. The broad range ofwork in the exhibition alsoincluded works by artistswith disabilities. A numberof works by staff and stu-dents of the Centre were

exhibited and local art stu-dents also contributed.

Scientists from organisa-tions in 11 countries,including the University ofLeicester, announced thefounding of an internationalconsortium to sequence

the banana genome withinfive years.

The scientists from gov-ernmental, university andnon-profit organisations willuse the genetic date toenable developing worldfarmers to grow bananasthat are able to resist the

fungus Black Sigatoka, aswell as other diseases andpests. Bananas are a sta-ple food for nearly half abillion people world-wide,but their crops are increas-ingly lost to disease.Developing a crop that isresistant to disease will

help lift millions of peopleout of poverty.

Researchers in theUniversity’s ScarmanCentre received £186,000from the Economic andSocial Research Council toinvestigate retail crime. The


9



Business Intelligence CrimeSystem programme seeksto secure the development,implementation and suc-cessful use of an electronicsystem for collecting andcollating and disseminatinginformation about knownand suspected retail offend-

ers across a wide geo-graphical area.

The aim is to share datafor the purposes of the pre-vention and detection ofcrime, and the apprehen-sion and prosecution ofoffenders or suspectedoffenders, with particular

emphasis on high-volume,high-value travelling thieves.

Dairy cows produce moremilk when listening toREM’s Everybody Hurts orBeethoven’s PastoralSymphony than when sub-jected to Wonderstuff’s Size

of a Cow or the Beatles’Back In the USSR, aLeicester study discovered.

Music Research Groupscientists from theDepartment of Psychologyfound the cows’ milk yieldrose by 0.73 litres per cowper day when they were

exposed to slow musicrather than fast music.

Geologists from Leicesterformed part of a team ofscientists which found fos-sils providing evidence forthe earliest known occur-rence of crustaceans, the

Medical and scientificadvances at the University

of Leicester continue tohave an enormous impact.

Star struck: a computer simulation of two merging neutron stars by Stephan Rosswog, University of Leicester. Visualisation by Richard West, UKAFF.

10

new discoveries

Scientists from Leicester and Switzerlandreported to the UK National AstronomyMeeting about a new way in which gold, plat-inum and other heavy elements are made inNature. Dr Stephan Rosswog and colleaguesexplored the idea that these heavy elementswere formed in the violent collisions ofsuper-dense neutron stars. These stars – thedead cores of old stars – weigh a milliontimes more than the Earth, but are only thesize of London.

Neutron stars are sometimes found closetogether in pairs and Dr Rosswog has calculat-ed what happened when these binary stars areclose enough to collide. He has found that, inaddition to a huge amount of energy released– enough to fuel the most powerful explosionsin the Universe (known as gamma-ray bursts)– a large quantity of gold and platinum is madeand thrown out into space.

first evidence of pollutiondamage to children’s lungs

Researchers from the Department of ChildHealth and the Centre for the Mechanisms ofHuman Toxicity at the University uncoveredthe first evidence that carbon particles inexhaust fumes are getting into children’slungs and causing disease.

Medical scientists discovered pollution parti-cles in the lungs being attacked by the body’sdefence system, the white cells. This, in turn,can trigger inflammation in the lungs – leading

to wheezing, bronchitis and asthma.Harmful particles were found in the lungs

of all 22 Leicester children examined in thetwo-year study, including babies as young asthree months old. Children living beside busymain roads were found to have twice asmany cells containing the particles as chil-dren from quieter side streets.

world’s largest study intofamily heart disease

The British Heart Foundation launched its40th anniversary celebrations by announcingthe launch of the world’s largest study intofamily heart disease. The research project,called the BHF Family Heart Study, aims topinpoint the rogue genes which contributeto coronary heart disease.

The £2.5 million project, carried out bythe Universities of Leicester and Leeds,involves families across the UK who have ahistory of hereditary heart disease and areprepared to give a small blood sample to theproject. Through a special DNA library,researchers will be able to match genesacross family groups in order to identify andisolate the problem genes.

first for new technology

The University won funding to establish aGene Microarray Facility –- the first academicinstitution in the UK to possess this newlydeveloped technology.

Professor Joe Lunec, Head of the Divisionof Chemical Pathology, said the new facility,developed in Silicon Valley in California –home of the computer chip – allows theexpression of 60,000 genes simultaneouslyon one chip.

The technology will be used in the firstinstance to investigate diet-gene interactionsin colon cancer, particularly looking at fats.

On the basis of this new technology, theUniversity also won an award to investigatethe genetic basis of cardiovascular disease inrheumatoid arthritis.

lung disease gene discovery

Scientists from Leicester were among aninternational group which succeeded in iden-tifying the gene for primary pulmonaryhypertension (PPH). The approach was tosearch for the location of the gene within thehuman genome and then to use the recently-mapped human genome sequence.

Professor Richard Trembath said PPH is adevastating disorder of blood vessels in thelungs, with heart lung transplants being thefinal option for selected patients. The findinghas immediate implications for families withthe disorder, providing a tool for testing at-risk members.

In the long term, new drug treatmentscould emerge through studies looking at thenormal and altered function of the gene.Recent studies indicate that the same genecauses 25% of apparent single cases. Thesestudies represent a major breakthrough inthis condition and also identify one of themost important mechanisms by which bloodvessels communicate with the outside.

Pioneering

major group that includescrabs, lobsters, shrimpsand barnacles.

The fossils are also theoldest known find of an ani-mal with its body comple-ment of limbs preserved inthree dimensions. The dis-covery helps build up the

picture of the early evolutionof life. The tiny crustaceanfossils, less than a millime-tre in size, were recoveredwith acid techniques fromlimestone rocks belonging tothe Cambrian period of geo-logical time and are about511 million years old.

The Management Centreat the University wasawarded a grant of£160,000 by theEngineering and PhysicalSciences Research Councilto investigate KnowledgeManagement for Project-based Learning.

The two-year projectundertaken in collaborationwith the Inter-UniversityIKON (Innovation,Knowledge andOrganisational NetworksUnit) involves a number ofmajor organisations from arange of sectors and aims

to improve the way inwhich organisations cap-ture the learning generatedduring projects.

Women working at homewho do higher grade workare paid more on averagethan their equivalent office-


11



bound colleagues, accord-ing to new Leicesterresearch funded by theESRC as part of its £4mFuture of Work programme.

This is one of the severalsurprise findings from theCentre for Labour MarketStudies at the University

which explodes some ofthe popular perceptionsthat home working is allliberation or all drudgery.

The headquarters of anational organisation,based at the University,which combats child can-

cer moved into expandednew premises. The UnitedKingdom Children’s CancerStudy Group, which co-ordinates specialist treat-ment and management ofchildhood cancers in 22centres across the UK,opened its new headquar-

ters in the city.The Group is dedicated to

advancing the study of child-hood cancer, and improvingsurvival rates for childrenand young people with can-cer. In the 24 years sincethe Group’s creation, therehas been a steady increase

in overall survival for chil-dren with cancer, so thatnow approximately 70% arecured of their disease.

Students of English LocalHistory at the Universityhave begun unravellingsome of the mysteries of

Outreach activities by theUniversity of Leicester

involve diverse communitiesin higher education.

Reaching out: the University held a careers fair targeting ethnic minorities.

12

Inclusive

‘Dark Age’ Leicester. Theyput the plan of the city asit was 1,000 years ago‘under the microscope’ inan effort to date the variousphases of the city’s growth.

By measuring propertyplots, studying anomaliesin the pattern of streets and

boundaries, and identifyingblocks of land which seemto have been laid out atparticular periods, unsus-pected features of themedieval town have cometo light. This has beendone successfully in his-toric towns elsewhere in

Britain and on the conti-nent, but never before in asystematic way in Leicester.

For the first time, theUniversity held a careers fairtargeting ethnic minorities. Atotal of 24 exhibitors attend-ed the event which attracted

some 800 students. Threeworkshops were delivered byemployers to help studentswith the selection process.Approximately 30% of stu-dents attending were fromethnic minorities.

The University’s Sports

Association donated£3,892 to the LordMayor’s chosen charitywhich aims to providesports equipment andopportunities for disadvan-taged children in the city.

The University SportsAssociation has its own


13


new accord signed at university

School and college students in Leicester andLeicestershire are to be given recognition fortheir achievements outside of areas that can betested by formal exams - for example the skills,attributes and achievements that can be gainedfrom a good careers education programme,curriculum enrichment such as HE tastercourses and wider key skills.

The New Progression Accord, signed at theUniversity, brings together the county’sschools, colleges and universities in a partner-ship that will provide real benefits for students.Under the terms of the new Accord, studentsat Key Stage 4 and at Advanced level gainaccreditation for units they undertake. TheUniversity of Leicester, along with De Montfortand Loughborough universities, have agreed torecognise the achievements of students suc-cessfully completing units by granting anenhanced offer of 30 points under the newUCAS points tariff – or a one A-Level gradereduction – for applicants who have completedthree Accord Units at advanced level, Level 3.

widening participation

The Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutlandwidening participation project has devised anumber of programmes in order to broadenthe educational opportunities and aspirationsof local school and college students. One ofthe many activities involving the University isthe Aiming for a College Education (ACE) days.

For the first time, the University invitedparents/guardians of those school and collegestudents who have already attended an ACEday to visit the University to see for them-selves what University life can offer.

The University has been running successfulACE Days for five years, along with other widen-ing participation activities. For example, a suc-

cessful Summer School attracted about 50GCSE students from across the country whowere given a foretaste of undergraduate life atthe University. The aim was to remove the mys-tique about higher education and give supportand encouragement to school students who areexpected to gain above average A-Levels.

new educational links

Plans were laid for a Colleges-University ofLeicester Network, designed to promotegreater collaboration, particularly in terms ofthe contemporary lifelong learning agendaand widening access. Principals from educa-tion and sixth-form colleges in the region dis-cussed initiatives that the University is devel-oping in the field of lifelong learning, andways in which closer links might be estab-lished with colleges.

Ways of working together include collabora-tion on lifelong learning courses, continuingprofessional development, staff developmentand the exchange of information and ideas oninitiatives by the government and others, suchas the East Midlands Development Agency andthe Learning and Skills Councils.

space school takes off

The University hosted Space School UK forstudents aged 14-18, exposing them to disci-plines ranging from physics, astronomy, engi-neering and astronautics to geology, the envi-ronment and the humanities.

The ‘five days in space’ that students enjoyat the University are aimed primarily at thosepreparing for GCSEs and post-16 education,with an interest in space or space science andtechnology. Students meet with space scien-tists, academics and employers, while theirperceptions and understanding is stretchedthrough lectures and supervised work.

Children also flocked to the University for a

number of Science Week events held on cam-pus. Staff engaged in activities in the communi-ty and a Science Day saw activities in archaeolo-gy, biology, chemistry, the computer centre,geography, mathematics, physics and astronomyand pre-clinical sciences.

innovative programme

Reception and information sessions for par-ents were held at the start of term when thenew students arrived. More than 1,000 par-ents heard addresses from the Vice-Chancellor and other senior representativesof the University and were told about howthey can stay in touch with the Universitythrough its Family Programme.

This is a new dimension to the innovativeprogramme at the University acknowledging theincreasingly influential role that parents have inthe decision making, financial and other sup-port that they provide for their children.

celebrating cultural diversity

The University’s Richard AttenboroughCentre received funding from the Foundationfor Sport and the Arts and the University foran innovative and multicultural music educa-tion project.

Mexican percussionist Alonso Mendoza leda series of workshops dealing with Latinrhythms and performance based onCuban/Salsa percussion techniques. He alsoexplored 20th century percussion repertoirein demonstration lectures and encouragedstudent composers to write new music forpercussion ensembles to perform.

The project was designed to meet themusical needs of the multicultural popula-tion of Leicester as well as the internationalpopulation of the University. Open to all,the project particularly welcomed peoplewith disabilities.


charity with similar aimscalled Sports Kids in Needwhich was due to closedown, so both it and theAssociation were pleased tomake the donation.

Medical experts at theUniversity are investigating

a new blood test techniquewhich could help GPs todiagnose heart failure andmay obviate the need forpatients to join a hospitalwaiting list to check for thecondition. The new tech-nique will provide enor-mous benefits to patients

and the medical profession.The new test offers GPs

the potential to diagnoseheart failure in their ownpractice without having tosend patients for anechocardiogram at a hospi-tal for which there are longwaiting lists.

The Chemistry teachingbuilding was named theGeorge Porter Building inhonour of the formerChancellor of the University.Lord Porter, Chancellorbetween 1985-1995 wasthe University’s thirdChancellor and shared the

Nobel Prize for Chemistry in1967. A former President ofthe Royal Society, he wasawarded the Order of Meritin 1989 and made a LifePeer in 1990.

The discovery of a hye-nas’ den in Rutland which

Health investigations andrecommendations from the

University of Leicester are shapingmedical policy and practice.

Medical knowledge: Leicester research provides direct health benefits.

14

leicester report offers guidancefor NHS

A University of Leicester professor wasasked by the Chief Medical Officer to exam-ine the problem of intrathecal injectionerrors in the NHS and to make recommenda-tions on preventive measures.

Professor Kent Woods examined the worldliterature on intrathecal injection errors andthe circumstances surrounding 11 recordedcases in the UK. His report recommended spe-cific steps which should be immediately imple-mented in staff education and training, in thedispensing of drugs and in ward procedures.

As a further level of protection, urgentwork was proposed to create a design barrierto injection errors – an equipment modifica-tion which would make it physically impossi-ble for a drug intended for intravenous injec-tion to be accidentally injected through aspinal needle.

diabetes breakthrough

The University is to receive the major shareof funding allocated by Diabetes UK to sevencentres across the UK, leading to a new tech-nique to conquer diabetes. Following suc-cessful tests by Dr James Shapiro in Canada,in which pancreatic islets have been injectedinto the livers of diabetes sufferers, 13 out of15 patients no longer needed insulin injec-tions. The process took only half a day andrequired a local anaesthetic.

Further trials in the UK, costing £300,000will carry out 10 islet transplants during thecourse of the year. Leicester was chosen asone of the principal centres for this

research because of its long-standing inter-est in islet transplantation research and thefact that there is an active programme ofhuman islet isolation.

birth study hope

Professor David Taylor and Sara Kenyon inthe University Department of Obstetrics andGynaecology reported the results of a majorMRC funded trial – ORACLE – which showedthat giving an inexpensive antibiotic,Erythromycin, to women in preterm labourrupture of the membranes prolongs andimproves the health of babies. The babies hadless respiratory, infectious and brain morbidity.

Approximately 13 million babies world-wide are born preterm every year. Thesebabies are at risk from many problemsincluding short term breathing and feedingdifficulties, infection and long term disabili-ties. 11,050 women took part in the trialwhich took place in 161 centres across theworld, constituting the largest perinatal trialto date.

scale of Shipman’skillings revealed

Investigations carried out by ProfessorRichard Baker, Director of the University’sClinical Governance Research andDevelopment Unit, at the request of theChief Medical Officer revealed the likely scaleof convicted GP Harold Shipman’s killings.

In the 145 pages of his audit of Shipman’scareer from 1974-98, Professor Baker calculat-ed that as many as 236 people may havebeen victims of the GP. By investigating thepatterns in deaths certified by HaroldShipman, cremation forms and medicalrecords, and comparing those deaths withthose recorded by similar GP practices in thesame area, Professor Baker was able to esti-

mate the scale of murders over the 24 yearsof the doctor’s career.

Government measures have been in placeover the last two years to minimise the riskof similar tragedies in the future. ButProfessor Baker concluded these measureswere not enough. He recommended themonitoring of GPs’ death rates, more infor-mation on death certificates, more rigorousrecord keeping by GPs and more accounta-bility over the administration and distribu-tion of drugs such as diamorphine.

new institute for lunghealth launched

Honorary graduate Dame ProfessorMargaret Turner-Warwick, ex-President of theRoyal College of Physicians, formally launchedthe Leicester Institute for Lung Health.

The Institute, which brings together scien-tists in Leicester active in the field of respira-tory research, aims to establish Leicester asan international centre of excellence forresearch into lung diseases such as asthma,COPD, TB, pneumonia and lung cancer.

The new Institute has been founded on apartnership between NHS practitioners inadult and paediatric respiratory medicine inthe county and scientists in the Departmentof Immunology and Microbiology within theMedical School.

Beneficial

was also used as a huntingpost by early humans – pos-sibly Neanderthal – provideda rare snapshot of daily lifeon an English Ice Agesteppe, 30 to 40 thousandyears ago. The discovery byUniversity of Leicesterarchaeologists brought fund-

ing from English Heritageand specialist support bythe British Museum and theNatural History Museum sothat the excavation could beextended.

The School of Education,which achieved maximum

marks for its teaching qual-ity from the QualityAssurance Agency, alsoscored top marks in all fivecategories in SocialSciences PGCE secondarytraining during an OFSTEDinspection. The School alsoscored top marks in three

out of five categories inGeography, with theremaining two beingappraised as good.

The School also receiveda high score in its modernlanguages training at sec-ondary level which alsoreceived a rating of good.

Geneticists at Leicester,working with internationalcolleagues in Switzerland,found that the mutationrates in plants exposed toionising radiation after theChernobyl disaster of 1986is unusually high.

Researcher Dr Yuri


15



Dubrova found evidence fora remarkably strong induc-tion of germline mutation inwheat upon chronic expo-sure to ionising radiationfrom the Chernobyl acci-dent. The results of thestudy point to as yetunknown effects of low-

dose chronic exposure toionising radiation, whichmake this type of radiationsubstantially more muta-genic than previouslythought.

As part of its expandinginternational activities, the

Centre for Labour MarketStudies established officiallinks with the SingaporeGovernment’s Productivityand Standards Board. Thisinvolves collaboration onworkforce developmentresearch projects, co-ordi-nation of seminars to share

the expertise of the twoorganisations and staffattachments to CLMS.

Approximately half thesecondary teachers inEngland and Wales arewomen, but under a quarterof secondary head teachers

are women. Dr MarianneColeman, of the School ofEducation, carried outresearch covering the careerprogress of these successfulwomen, looking at the barri-ers to progress that they per-ceived, and at their own per-ceptions of the ways in

Significant commercial, educational,governmental and industrial

partnership placed the Universityof Leicester at the fore of activities.

On the ball: football researchers at the University advised the Home Office.

16

promoting business partnerships

The University is involved in an innovativebusiness partnership project as part of agovernment scheme which links small andmedium-sized businesses with the latestresearch and expertise in the HE sector.TCS, formerly known as the TeachingCompany Scheme, helps companies to drawon the expertise of the knowledge basedsector to carry forward key developmentprojects within the company.

At Leicester, Professor Charles Pollock, ofthe Department of Engineering, is GrantHolder for a TCS with Stebon Ltd, manufac-turers of industrial stepping motors used forhigh accuracy positioning applications inmanufacturing machinery and processes.

The TCS involves the design and manufac-ture of a new power electronic controller forindustrial stepping motors, which will besmaller and lighter, and will offer significantperformance improvements over the con-trollers manufactured by other companies.The TCS is the culmination of six years offundamental research carried out involvingStebon Ltd and Professor Pollock.

money laundering probe

Research into the response of the financialservices industry to the threat of money laun-dering has been launched at the University. Acall to firms to participate came fromAndersen’s Fraud and Integrity Risk groupand the University’s Scarman Centre which iscarrying out the study.

The scale of money laundering is stagger-ing – the Office for National Statistics esti-

mates that the UK drugs market equates to1% of GDP or £8.5 billion – these funds needto be hidden somehow. The United NationsHuman Development Report 1999 stated thatorganised crime generated $1,500 trillion perannum – laundering the money avoids therisk of confiscation.

The Leicester study will include an indus-try-wide survey and will seek the views of arange of regulatory and law enforcementagencies which will aid in the developmentof a comprehensive study of the issues.

new link between universities

A Memorandum of Understanding wassigned between Leicester and a new universityin Jordan. Al-Hussein Bin Talal University is anew public university with a substantial budg-et to provide for its rapid development. Aspart of the process, new staff will be trainedoverseas and the agreement provides for staffto come to Leicester for Master’s courses andstudy for PhDs in three areas – archaeology,education and engineering.

There is also provision for the develop-ment of academic and research links in otherareas of common interest.

university involved in newhome office working group

John Williams, of the University’s SirNorman Chester Centre for FootballResearch, was invited by the Home OfficeMinister Lord Bassam to sit on the HomeOffice’s new Working Group on FootballDisorder. The group has been convened toreview the sometimes xenophobic and racistbehaviour of football supporters who followEngland’s international matches at home andabroad.

The Home Office has been impressed bythe anti-racist work involving the Centre

which has been undertaken in Leicester, andis also keen to draw upon the University’sexpertise in analysing football hooliganism.As well as looking at issues of ticketing andmanaging supporters, the group will alsoexamine ideas for reconfiguring the collectiveidentity of fans when they follow the Englandteam. Education and community initiativesare also on the agenda.

Among the first evidence considered bythe Working Group was a Leicester survey onanti-racism and policies of inclusion at pro-fessional English clubs.

key contribution to regionaldevelopment

Higher education institutions in the EastMidlands are playing an increasingly impor-tant role in the economic development ofthe region through innovation, knowledgeand technology transfer.

A conference, Innovation ThroughDiversity: Higher Education’s Role in the EastMidlands, highlighted how universities con-tribute to regional development and improvecompetitiveness. Activities include knowl-edge transfer, the education of high qualitygraduates, economic regeneration throughdirectly relevant training, business re-engi-neering and lifelong learning.

The university sector in the East Midlandsprovides direct employment for some 20,000people and generates income in excess of£750 million through direct governmentfunding, research, commercial contracts andexport income from students outside the EU.

Influential

which they led and man-aged their schools.

The survey of 670female head teachers inEngland and Walesreceived a 70% responserate. Over 60% of thoseresponding reported experi-ences of sexism at the

time of appointment andover 50% reported thatthey had experienced sex-ism in dealings with peersand colleagues.

Businesses inLeicestershire that havemade an exemplary effort

in providing part-timeemployment opportunitiesfor students while they arestill studying were hon-oured at annual awardsceremonies at theUniversity.

The Employer AwardScheme judges employers

on the opportunities theyoffer based on an under-standing of present andfuture student needs.

The discovery of a newtype of Black Hole wasannounced at NASA byMartin Ward, Professor of

Astronomy at theUniversity. He was part ofan international team thatmade the discovery usingthe X-ray telescopeChandra. Until now, scien-tists have observed onlytwo types of black hole –those that are about the


17



same mass as stars andthose that are a million to abillion times more massive.

Using Chandra, the teamof scientists probed deepinto the galaxy called M82where they have observed agiant binary system – twostars orbiting around each

other. The more massive ofthe two stars is around 500times that of the Sun.Finding this ‘middle weight’black hole will meanastronomers have to rethinksome of their ideas abouthow stars form and the roleof black holes in the cosmos.

University geneticists areexploring the link betweengenes and genealogy, inresearch which could helppolice catch criminals byrevealing their surnamesfrom traces of DNA left atcrime scenes.

Dr Mark Jobling is using

information in the Y chro-mosome, a piece of DNApassed down from father toson, to ask whether mensharing Y chromosomesalso share a surname. Byexploiting regional sur-names, this research canalso bypass the problems

of the population move-ments that have occurredsince the industrial revolu-tion, and help us to under-stand the history of thepeople of the British Isles.

Music researchers at theUniversity have concluded

Novel techniques and theoriesput forward by the University

of Leicester helped to advancethe frontiers of knowledge.

A virtual fossil: a 425 million year old, 5mm long, distant ancestor of today’s king crab.

18

back to the future

The first ever detailed computerised 3-Dimages of soft-bodied fossils have been devel-oped by scientists at Leicester, Oxford andBristol. The images are of 425-million-yearold fossils from the Silurian rocks inHerefordshire.

The new technique which has been devel-oped involves micro-grinding of the fossilscombined with computer regeneration tech-niques, which project the fossils in 3-Dimagery and show their anatomy in unprece-dented detail, including their soft parts.

The detail in which the fossils have beenrendered will assist scientists as they buildup a more complete record of the diversityand ecology of life hundreds of millions ofyears ago, which will now – for the firsttime – be fleshed out by high fidelity mod-els of the distant ancestors of many oftoday’s invertebrate animals, such as mol-luscs and anthropods.

new project sounds good

Forget pills and potions – ‘sound vitamins’may soon be the latest thing to put the pepback into old age. An innovative internationalproject co-ordinated from the UniversityDepartment of Psychology, funded by the EU,may transform the quality of life for olderpeople. It will use IT speech and music chan-nels to provide older people with the stimula-tion they need to keep healthy, alert and intouch with the outside world.

Researchers have long argued that theright physical and psychological stimulationcan slow down mental and physical decline inolder people and a Finnish company, AudioRiders, has recently developed a system thatcan achieve this cheaply.

The system uses global digital networks to

provide elderly people with six sound chan-nels. The combination of quizzes, stories,spiritual discussions, music, news and keep-fitexercises is designed to improve physicalmobility, mental agility and connectednesswith friends, relatives and the outside world.

there are no flies on us!

Flies are buzzing to the aid of insomniacs,night shift workers and victims of jet lag. Theflies’ body clocks are surprisingly similar tothose of humans and Leicester biologists aretrying to find ways of controlling the flies’time switches – as a means of tackling sleepdisorders among humans.

Already 500-strong clouds of flies have set-tled into the rhythm of rising at 8am and nod-ding off at lights-out, 12 hours later. When thelaboratory lights are turned off at differenttimes, the flies suffer the equivalent of jet lag.Greater understanding of the ‘fly clock’ will bedirectly applicable to the human system.

the language of leicester

The role of Leicester and the East Midlandsas ‘the birthplace of English’ was much citedin the national media. Dr Elaine Treharne,Head of the Department of English,explained that the origins of the EastMidlands dialect derive from the Anglo-Saxons, who settled in the Mercian regionfrom approximately 500AD. They spoke aGermanic dialect similar to that preserved inthe Old English poem Beowulf. This form oflanguage was complicated in the ninth centu-ry by the arrival and settlement of the Vikingsin and around Leicestershire.

The emergence of the East Midlandsdialect in the post-Conquest period demon-strates clearly the eventual intermingling ofthe two peoples. In the 14th and 15th cen-turies, when English was in the process of

being re-established as a prestigious mediumfor writing, it became clear that a Standardform of the language was essential. The obvi-ous choice was a dialect from the middle ofthe country, intelligible to all.

The immigration of many East Midlandersto London influenced the emergence ofStandard English as they worked in crucialareas of trade and administration. Theirdialect merged with a form of the Londondialect, giving rise in succeeding generationsto Standard English.

centres of excellence

The University houses a number of special-ist centres and research groups. During theyear, the University of Leicester launched theCentre for European Law and Integration. Itsinterests range from commercial, competitionand intellectual property law, human rights,the economic law of the single market, socialand labour law, and immigration and migra-tion law issues.

In the Faculty of Science, a Centre forMathematical Modelling was establishedlinking researchers in Physics, Chemistry,Mathematics and Engineering. A new£350,000 supercomputer provided the tech-nical base for the new Centre. This, linkedto the UKAFF computer facilities in Physicsand Astronomy provides Leicester withcomputational facility that is among thebest in the world.

The United Kingdom AstrophysicalFluids Facility (UKAFF) is a £5.9million proj-ect funded mainly by the DTI and the com-puter company Silicon Graphics, with fur-ther support from the Particle Physics andAstronomy Research Council and theLeverhulme Trust. It was formally openedby Dr John Taylor, Director General of theUK Research Councils.

Innovative

that the pop charts couldprovide a barometer to eco-nomic performance.Psychologist Dr AdrianNorth analysed 1,400songs making the top 5since 1960 and found alink between the lyrics andthe economic outlook.

Using a computer modelto analyse lyrics, Dr Northclassified them into 31 cat-egories such as optimism,pessimism and certainty.He found the optimisticlyrics turned to pessimisticones just before an eco-nomic recession.

How quickly cervicalcancer grows is moreimportant in predictingcure rates than a delay inpresentation or diagnosis,researchers from Leicesterand other colleagues havefound. They establishedthat women with

advanced cervicalcancer tend to have aparticularly fast growingand aggressive kind oftumour.

They also warned thatpoorer women tend to bemore at risk of sufferingfrom these tumours

because of life-style fac-tors. Regular smear testsare crucial for reducingthe risk of developingadvanced cervical cancer,said lead author Dr PaulSymonds of theDepartment of Oncologyat the University.


19


Distinguished

Spring ceremony:

Professor SusanGreenfield (DSc) CBE,Professor ofPharmacology andFellow of LincolnCollege, Oxford.Professor Greenfield hasbeen Director of theRoyal Institution since1998 and is a memberof the National AdvisoryCommittee on Culturaland Creative Educationand a Trustee of theScience Museum. Muchof her work hasinvolved publicising sci-ence. Her husband,Professor Peter Atkins, aLeicester graduate andProfessor of Chemistryat Oxford, is a memberof the University ofLeicester Court.

Dr Bruce Smith(DSc) CBE, Chairmanof the Smith Institutefor IndustrialMathematics andSystems Engineering,Chairman of theEconomic and SocialResearch Council andChairman of theNational Space ScienceCentre. Dr Smith is agraduate of ChristChurch, Oxford, andhas a wealth of experi-ence in scientific indus-try. He is Chairman ofIndustrial TechnologySecurities Ltd and hasserved on the executivecommittee of theParliamentary SpaceCommittee.

Summer ceremonies:

Mrs Jean Humphreys,(MA), honoured for hercontributions to thedevelopment of theUniversity of Leicesterfor over 50 years

Sir John Robertson(Sir Rob) Young, KCMG,(LLD), British HighCommissioner to Indiaand graduate of theUniversity of Leicester

Dr Hugh Greenwood,OBE, (LLD), business-man, honoured for hiscontributions to childhealth worldwide

Professor ColinHumphreys, FREng,(DSc), Professor ofMaterials Science at theUniversity of Cambridge

Dr John Taylor, OBE,FRS, FEng, (DSc),Director General of theResearch Councils, andformer Director ofHewlett PackardLaboratories

Mrs Elvy Morton,(LLM), who has con-tributed to communityrelations in Leicester andhas organised theAfrican-CaribbeanCarnival for 17 years

Mr Gerry Cinderby,(LLD), Member of theUniversity's Council whoserved as Treasurer from1995 to 1999

Professor Jack Spence,(DLitt), Director ofStudies at the RoyalInstitute of InternationalAffairs (Chatham House)from 1991-97, and for-mer Professor of Politicsand Pro-Vice-Chancellorof the University ofLeicester

Mr Richard Pearson,(DLitt), distinguishedeconomist, Director ofthe Institute forEmployment Studies anda graduate of theUniversity of Leicester

Professor LiamDonaldson, (DSc), ChiefMedical Officer in theDepartment of Health,and former Lecturer inCommunity Health andSenior Lecturer inEpidemiology at theUniversity of Leicester

Professor Sir BrianFollett, FRS, (DSc), for-mer Vice-Chancellor,University of Warwick,honoured for his contri-bution to BiologicalSciences.


20

More than 4,400 students celebrated degree success at the University of Leicester andhonorary degrees were awarded to a number of distinguished people in recognition oftheir sterling contribution to various fields.

Tributes

21

Joy: celebrating success at the University of Leicester graduation ceremony.

The University of Leicester has had a very

formative influence on my life and career. I

feel deeply privileged to be receiving an

Honorary LLD. It will strengthen my links with

and affection for the University.

Sir John Robertson (Sir Rob) Young, KCMG

I am pleased to return to Leicester and to

see it play its role as a major university, helping

the community and the economy.

Dr Richard Pearson

I am delighted to receive an honorary

degree from the University of Leicester where I

spent 18 very happy years.

Professor Jack Spence

I am delighted that the University has cho-

sen to recognise my contribution to its gover-

nance by this award of an honorary degree.

The University is continually improving its per-

formance and thus gaining recognition as one

of the top academic institutions in the UK.

Dr Gerry Cinderby

It has been a rare pleasure and privilege to

be in at the birth of a university and to see it

grow through succeeding stages to the large

and flourishing institution it is today. I have

known some of the people whose generosity

and vision created the University College, and

all of the Principals and Vice-Chancellors who

guided it on its way from 1947 to this day.

Mrs Jean Humphreys

I am delighted to be receiving this honorary

degree from the University of Leicester for my

work in materials science. My research has

involved using a beam of electrons for ultra-

small writing so that the entire contents of

Encyclopaedia Britannica can be written on a

pinhead. My current work involves new mate-

rials which emit brilliant light of all colours. It

may be possible to make a light-bulb which

consumes much less energy than at present

and which lasts for 60 years.

Professor Colin Humphreys, FREng

It is a great pleasure and privilege to receive

the Honorary Degree of DSc from the

University of Leicester. I am delighted to be

able to strengthen the link with the University

that I have already made through the National

Space Science Centre.

Dr Bruce Smith CBE

Accolades

22


Staff, students, graduates and other mem-bers of the University were honoured invarious ways through the year by a range oflearned and distinguished bodies. A full listappears in the Official Record on theUniversity website.

Professor Richard Baker (General Practiceand Primary Health Care) was invited to deliverthe James Mackenzie Lecture in 2003 – this isthe highest honour the Royal College of GeneralPractitioners can bestow bar the presidency.

The Archaeological Institute of Americaawarded the James R Wiseman book award toGraeme Barker, David Gilbertson, BarriJones and David Mattingly for Farming theDesert: the UNESCO Libyan ValleysArcheological Survey; Vol. 1 : Synthesis editedby Graeme Barker and Vol 2 Gazetteer andPottery, edited by David Mattingly.

A talent for teaching helped Dr Alan Cannbecome the first recipient of the Society forGeneral Microbiology Peter Wildy Prize forMicrobiology Education, awarded in recogni-tion of his distinguished contribution tomicrobiology teaching.

Professor David Critchley (Biochemistry)was appointed Chairman of the Molecular andCell Grants Committee of the Wellcome Trust.

Professor Lin Foxhall (Archaeology andAncient History) was awarded an honoraryMBE in recognition of her contribution to theMillennium celebrations. Professor Foxhallsecured National Lottery funding to supportthe ‘Ringing in the Millennium’ Project,through which a national network of churchesand town bells were installed or restored inorder to ring in the New Year in January 2000.

Professor Martin Gill (Scarman Centre) wasinstalled as a Freeman of the City of London.

Philip Herbert (Richard AttenboroughCentre) received high commendation for hismusic following the first Stephen LawrenceCharitable Trust annual memorial lecture.HRH Prince Charles, who gave the lecture,described Philip’s composition as a ‘wonder-ful piece of music’.

The House of Lords AppointmentsCommission announced that former Leicesterstudent Valerie Howarth OBE is to be one ofthe new People’s Peers. Ms Howarth hadbeen Chief Executive of ChildLine.

Professor Peter Jackson (ManagementCentre) was appointed a specialist adviser tothe Financial Committee of the ScottishParliament.

Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys received TheEduard Buchner Prize from the GermanSociety for Biochemistry and MolecularBiology for his fundamental work on min-isatellite DNA and DNA fingerprinting, as wellas for the application of the findings that hepioneered in basic research, forensic science,medicine, human and population geneticsand human evolution.

Dr Kamlesh Khunti (General Practice andPrimary Health Care) was chosen for the JohnFry Award from the Royal College of GeneralPractitioners for outstanding research conduct-ed by a practitioner under the age of 45.

Professor Ian Lauder (Dean of the LeicesterWarwick Medical School) was elected Treasurerof the Council of Heads of Medical Schools.

Dr Angela Lennox (Medical Education) wasappointed Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

Dr Patricia McKeever (Pathology) receivedan award from Leicestershire’s Chief Constablefor outstanding service. As one of a team, shewas the consultant paediatric pathologist inves-tigating the death of a four-year-old boy. Sheplayed a full part in the investigating team’swork, which led to the conclusion about thecause of death. She also gave medical postmortem evidence at the trial.

Dr Roger Merry (School of Education) wona major award for communication, the HCIAward for Communication. Nominated bypast and present students of the University,Dr Merry received a Category 1 Award whichrecognises contributions to research or prac-tice in this field.

Professor Vince Newey (English) was elect-ed a Fellow of the English Association and aFellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

Professor Marilyn Palmer (Archaeology andAncient History) was invited by the RoyalArcheological Institute to give the Annual YoungPeople’s Lecture. Professor Clive Ruggles(Archaeology and Ancient History) was the co-author of a paper which was chosen for theAntiquity Prize 2000 as the Best and MostEnjoyable Contribution in the Year.

Professor Gordon Roberts (Biochemistry)

was elected a Fellow of the Academy ofMedical Science.

Professor Nick Standen (Cell Physiology andPharmacology) was elected to a Fellowship ofthe Academy of Medical Sciences.

Professor Iain Stewart (Mathematics andComputer Science) was appointed as MathFITCo-ordinator by the EPSRC. This is an initiativeto encourage research at the interface betweenmathematics and computer science.

The work of Leicester scientists was fea-tured in a national newspaper, the THES,under the heading ‘Would-be Wonders.’ In areport on ‘potential blockbuster genepatents’, the THES identified research byProfessor Richard Trembath (MedicalGenetics), Professor of Medical Genetics, whois carrying out research on therapy for psoria-sis. Also cited was Wilhelm Schwaeble(Microbiology and Immunology) who is inves-tigating the innate immune system.

Professor Martin Ward (Physics andAstronomy) was invited to serve as a DeputyChair of PPARC’s new Science Committee.

Jacky Wetzig, Schools and Colleges LiaisonOfficer was appointed a Section Judge for thecanoe/kayak events at the Sydney Olympics2000 by the International Canoe Federation.

A prestigious award, judged by an interna-tional panel of experts, went to ProfessorBryan Williams (Medicine). The InternationalInvestigator Award is given each year to a clin-ical scientist who has made an outstandingcontribution to the field of hypertension.

The University’s Audio Visual Services wasrecognised for the excellent University pro-motional video produced by Jon Shears andCarl Vivian winning the national Learning onScreen Award for Best Camera Work and arunners up place for Best Editing.

The Scarman Centre received officialrecognition as an Investor in People by theLeicestershire Training and EnterpriseCouncil, joining a number of other areas inthe University with this accolade –Residential Services, Catering Services andthe Centre for Labour Market Studies. TheManagement Centre, Sports and Recreationand the Staff Development Centre have alsoformally committed themselves to achievingthe Investor in People Award.

Statistics 2000/2001

Endowment Income and InterestReceivable ....................1.1% (1.1%)

Grants from the HEFCE................................30.8% (32.1%)

Academic Fees and SupportGrants......................21.1% (20.9%)

Research Grants and Contracts ..................................25.3% (25.1%)

Other Operating Income........................................21.7% (20.8%)

Total Income 2000/2001: £130.87m

Total Registered Students ............................................16,909

Undergraduate ....................7,656 (7,879) Postgraduate ........................9,253 (9,050)

Distribution of Full-time StudentsHome/EU ............................7,627 (7,678) Overseas ..............................870 (762)

Full-time undergraduates over 21 on admission ....................................................7.9% (9%)

Taught Postgraduate Students ..................................................................................3,335 (3,081)

Total postgraduate research students ......................................................................1,142 (1,129)

Total Registered Distance Learning Students..........................................................4,776 (4,840)

Full-time Student Numbers Staff Numbers

Total Full-time Students: ..................................................................................8,279 (8,440)

First Degree Graduates entering employment/training/research ......................................89%First Degree Graduates not available for employment........................................................6% Full-time Higher Degree Graduates entering employment/further training ....................94%Full-time Higher Degree Graduates not available for employment ..................................3%

(These figures relate to year 2000)

23

Honoured: Professor Sir Alec Jeffreys.

Science 1,977

Arts 1,795 Full-time AcademicStaff 575

Social Sciences 1,605

Law 764

Full-time Academic-Related Staff 591

21.3% (22.1%)

21.3% (22.1%)

9.2% (8.5%)

23.9% (25.3%)

21.3% (21.2%)

Education 374 4.5% (4.1%)

Medicine & Biological Sciences 1,764

Full-time Non Teaching Staff769

Part-time NonTeaching Staff 441

(All figures in brackets relate to1999/2000)

University of Leicester · University Road · Leicester LE1 7RH

Telephone: 0116 252 2522 · Facsimile: 0116 252 2200

World Wide Web Address: http://www.le.ac.uk/

Annual Report - University of Leicester · trayed in a regional report from EMUA enti-tled The...

Documents

Transcript of Annual Report - University of Leicester · trayed in a regional report from EMUA enti-tled The...