SwanSea UniverSity’S alUmni

magazine 2010

www.swansea.ac.uk/alumni

The Alumni OfficeSingleton AbbeySwansea UniversitySingleton ParkSwanseaSA2 8PP

sail | www.alumni.swansea.ac.uk

welcome

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+44 (0) 1792 295156

www.swansea.ac.uk/alumni

To mark our 90th anniversary the centre pages take a step back in time with photos and memories sent in from alumni across the globe.

This is also the first year that Swansea University has awarded its own degrees. Congratulations to all new 2010 graduates reading Sail for the first time!

We would be grateful if you could spare some time to complete the enclosed Alumni Survey to ensure we continue to enhance our services to you.

And please don’t forget to inform us of any change in address so we can keep you up-to-date with all the news from Swansea.

We hope you enjoy reading your magazine.

Welcome to this year’s edition of Sail, your alumni magazine.

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06 13

08Lifesaving to rowingAn interview with the talented Dani Perks

Postgraduate studyand Alumni memorabilia

News in briefWorld-leading research at Swansea

A life less ordinary Alumnus Jonny Owen tells of bands, bust-ups and BAFTAs

Alumni memories Alumni reflect on their time at Swansea

Branching outSwansea Alumni help Swansea students branch out in India

A project led by Professor Tariq Butt, who heads one of the leading insect mycopathology (insect pest control) teams in the UK at Swansea University, has developed a naturally occurring, sustainable alternative to pesticides.

This development could not only help to preserve the environment, but could also dramatically reduce costs for farmers.

The project, completed last year, was funded by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) under the Horticulture LINK programme, the main government vehicle for sponsoring industry academic applied research in horticulture. The project involved a variety of partners from different sectors, and focused on the problem of vine weevils and western flower thrips, insect pests that destroy numerous important crops worldwide, causing damage that could potentially run into hundreds of millions of pounds per annum.

The new approach would significantly reduce the impact on human health, the environment and pesticide resistance.

Professor Butt’s team’s development of the fungal biological control agent (BCA) Metarhizium anisopliae – for the control of vine weevils and western flower thrips in horticultural growing media has yielded highly successful results.

Professor Butt, who is based at Swansea University’s School of the Environment and Society, said: “We concentrated our efforts on identifying a fungus that occurs naturally in soil, and that is a natural pathogen to the pests.

“The team discovered that a certain strain of the fungus, Metarhizium, is deadly to vine weevils and western flower thrips. Applying the fungus to the crop’s growing media, such as peat, coir or bark, we discovered that we could control the

subterranean stages of these pests, and thus contribute significantly to the overall pest control strategy.”

The team used Metarhizium combined with only 1% of a conventional chemical pesticide achieving control comparable to the chemical used at the full rate, therefore reducing chemical inputs by 99%. By combining the Metarhizium with a species of nematode (or roundworm), which is also parasitic to vine weevil larvae, they achieved almost total control equalling a huge environmental success.

Metarhizium has now been registered in Europe with Novozymes, the world leader in bio-innovations.

Swansea alumnus Dr Paul Sopp, of Fargro Ltd, a company that markets specialist horticultural products across the UK, said: “The potential of Metarhizium to control thrips and vine weevils is a significant step forward in the control of both pests.”

Professor Butt added: “The success of the project is great, and will potentially change the nature of vine weevil and western flower thrips pest control. The benefits are far reaching – not just for those with organic farms or nurseries but also for conventional growers, offering an effective, environmentally friendly alternative to chemicals.”

sail | www.alumni.swansea.ac.uk

news

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“I graduated with a BSc in Zoology from Swansea in 1982, having chosen the University because of the applied entomological content of the course.

I completed my PhD at Southampton University before joining the Glasshouse Crops Research Institute to work on the application of entomopathogenic fungi, including Metarhizium for pest control. Twenty-five years since I first worked with Metarhizium we will finally see it available to UK growers as a biopesticide. It is great to be able to work with my former University in developing this product, first as Chair of the LINK consortium that funded some of the development and now in commercialising the product.

I joined Fargro Ltd in 1990 to establish an integrated pest management business within, what was then, a general horticultural supplies business. I am now Managing Director of a £16m horticultural business supplying crop protection, fertilisers, composts and even energy to UK horticulture, although my first love is still the biological pest control business.”

Dr Paul Sopp

Swansea University researchers develop all-natural alternative to pesticides

the richard Burton Centre for the Study of walesThe Centre’s research agenda recognises and respects the ways in which Wales can be regarded, understood and valued withinthe UK and within global contexts. In 2005 Richard Burton’s personal papers were donated to the University, and now form a central part of the Richard Burton Archive.

world first as newborn receives xenon gasSt Michael’s Hospital, Bristol, became the first hospital in the world to successfully deliver xenon gas to a newborn baby (pictured top left) in a bid to prevent brain injury following a lack of oxygen at birth. The pioneering technique was developed by Dr John Dingley, consultant anaesthetist and Reader in Anaesthetics at Swansea University’s School of Medicine, and Marianne Thoresen, Professor of Neonatal Neuroscience at the University of Bristol.

glaciology The University’s internationally renowned Glaciology Group specialises in understanding the processes that regulateglacier dynamics, flow instabilities andsurging, and glacier fast flow. Outcomesof the Group’s GLIMPSE research projectwill lead to better predictions of the futureof the Greenland ice sheet, and the rateof sea level rise.

Centre for nanoHealthSwansea’s Centre for NanoHealth (CNH)is a unique European facility that willenable the transfer of nanotechnologyinto healthcare for early intervention andscreening of diseases: from laboratoryto bedside. CNH is a multidisciplinarycollaboration between the University’sSchools of Engineering and Medicine.It seeks to make significant breakthroughsin the early detection and treatment ofdiseases such as cancer, heart diseaseand diabetes.

Bridging the gaps grant brings researchers togetherFunding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is enabling Swansea academics to work together across six major research areas to build a programme of activities that will stimulate creative thinking, across disciplines. The grant, worth £790,239, is the largest award from the EPSRC Bridging the Gaps scheme in 2010. The programme aims to dismantle institutional and cultural barriers to cross-disciplinary research, to deliver high-quality projects directed towards the physical, economic and social challenges that face us.

If you would like further information please visit our website: www.swansea.ac.uk/research

in brief

Building for the future: research highlights

Black Vine Weevil

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“ The support I received from my lecturers was fantastic and I owe a lot of my success to them.”

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a life less ordinary

Hi Jonny, you were in the 90’s band the Pocket Devils, what made you go from musician to actor? I still love music and continue to write songs as well as acting. Our band was offered a record deal while I was studying History at Swansea. I took a year out to go to New York but the band members fell out so I returned to University to finish my degree. A director had seen me in the band and invited me to audition for a Welsh drama series called Nuts and Bolts. I got the part and it all went from there! My lecturers were so supportive and let me take my finals as re-sits; I took ten exams in five days but just managed to get a 2:1.

what is your greatest achievement? My proudest moment was being given a “Sons of the Coalfield” honour in 2008; it’s an engraved Tower Colliery miner’s lamp in honour of my grandfather’s work in the 1960s and has pride of place on my mantelpiece.

you’ve worked with some big name actors, have you ever been star-struck? I have worked with some great actors but I think I get more tongue-tied meeting my sporting heroes. I interviewed Ryan Giggs for ITV Wales and met Diego Maradona at SportAid which was amazing.

the film A Bit of Tom Jones? recently won a welsh BaFta. Can you tell us about that? It was incredible to win the award and very surreal at the same time. When we made the film we had no idea it would be so popular. The DVD recently went on general release and has sold thousands of copies; we could not be happier about the response it’s had.

How did the internet comedy series Svengali come about? is it true it’s based on your own experiences in the music industry? It is personal; my manager was called Dixie although not quite the same as the character in Svengali! We came up with the idea of doing a series on YouTube with the aim that it would be commissioned for television, so we’re working on that at the moment. The next episode stars Martin Freeman and Boy George so keep an eye out for that!

what has been the highlight of your career so far? It has to be winning the Welsh BAFTA for Best Film.

who is your biggest inspiration in life, and why? It was my grandfather who sparked my interest in history, which is why I decided to study it at University, but he was also a very modern man and loved music and film. He bought me a guitar and really encouraged me to be creative and live ‘a life less ordinary’; he told me “the man that loves his job never works” and that’s been with me ever since.

Besides your home town of merthyr tydfil, what is your favourite part of wales? The Gower beaches without a doubt, especially Llangennith.

when you’re not acting or producing, what do you enjoy doing? I love sport and am a big Cardiff City fan. I also enjoy travelling and am off on a cycling holiday in France very soon.

what is your favourite memory of Swansea University? I once got my timetable confused and ended up in the wrong lecture but I enjoyed it so much I decided to stay. I spoke to the lecturer afterwards and he told me I was welcome anytime! The support I received from my lecturers was fantastic and I owe a lot of my success to them.

what advice would you give to young people considering a career in acting or music? Just keep at it! Do as much as you can and don’t focus on one thing, the more you get involved in the better. The Internet is a very powerful tool so get your stuff out there; you never know who could be watching!

what are your plans for the future? I am continuing my role as Ady in Shameless and I’m also filming for Being Human, George Gently and My Family this year, so lots going on!

Photo: Huw John and BAFTA Cymru

Actor, Producer and Swansea alumnus, Jonny Owen spoke to Gemma Williamson about bands, bust-ups and BAFTAs

Jonathan Owen graduated from Swansea University with a BA History in 2000.

Professor Shahnor Basri Fasc BSc mech engineering 1986 PhD 1990 It was October, 1984 and I was in a lecture hall filled with total strangers waiting for our lecturer... I had just started as an undergraduate at Swansea University. I liked Professor R T Griffiths instantly and I grew to love his lectures in fluid mechanics and aerodynamics; he had such an inventive way of teaching and he would always make us laugh in the classroom with his wry humour; I remember once he said that his grandmother was going to prepare our final exam questions! We were shocked.I graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Mechanical Engineering

in 1986 and went on to do a PhD in 1990. I’m currently Professor in Computational Mechanics at University Putra Malaysia where I’m also teaching Fluid Mechanics and Aerodynamics.I’ll never forget my early days at Swansea though; some of my fondest memories are of being taught by Professor Griffiths; in fact I wanted my first semester to last forever!

elizabeth Sserunkuma

in Social Development

and Social administration 1968

While at Swansea Universit

y, I stayed

in the Neuadd Mary Wil liams Halls

of

Residence, and I rememb

er my time

there with nostalgia. Eve

ry evening we

would al l come down to the co

mmon room to watch TV

and listen to The Beatle

s, the Tremeloes, Tom J

ones,

Sandy Shaw and Engelbe

rt Humperdink.

Rag Week was a real highlight

; what a crazy week

this used to be! Student

s dressed in rags raising

funds

for the needy! It was g

reat fun, and was fol lowe

d by

the selection of a Rag

Queen and a Rag bal l which

crowned the week.

On my return to Uganda in

1968 I was posted to

the

Ministry of Labour as an In

dustrial Relations Officer and

promoted to Senior Indust

rial Relations Officer in 19

75.

I acted as Assistant Labo

ur Commissioner (Head of

Industrial Relations Depar

tment) until 1981 when I went

into private business.

I returned to Public Ser

vice in 1993 where I now

serve as one of the Priv

ate Secretaries to His

Excellency, President M

useveni of Uganda.

The University receives its Royal Charter; King George V lays the foundation stone at Singleton Abbey1920

Coat of arms granted by the college of Heralds1921

The library, designed byVernon Owen Rees, isopened by the Duke of Kent1937

Kinglsey Amis writes Lucky Jim whilst lecturing at Swansea1954

Professor Olek Zienkiewiczrevolutionises engineering with the publication of ‘The Finite Element Method for Solid and Structural Mechanics’1967

First campus halls of residence and College House (Fulton House) opened1961

Taliesin Theatreopens on campus1984

Richard Burton collectioncomes to Swansea2005

£50 million Instituteof Life Science opens2007

Swansea celebratesits 90th anniversary2010

University College ofSwansea becomes Universityof Wales Swansea1996

1921Professor Mary Williams becomes the first woman in the UK to be appointed to a university chair

1948J S Fulton outlines his vision of a “completeuniversity community”, paving the way for Swansea to become the first campus university in the UK

Mathematics and Physics building (Vivian Tower) opened1965

2001Establishment of the School ofMedicine (initially a clinical school)

2007Swansea University gains independence from the University of Wales

1925Beck Hall opened as the first hall of residence

1962The University receives its first digital computer, an IBM1620

1971Work starts on a new student village at Hendrefoelan

1985Former Prime Minister, Lord Callaghan, appointed President

2006University’s owndegree-awardingpowers granted

From: ahmad azrai

BSc in economics and

Politics 1997

to: Swansea University

alumni association

It has been almost 15 years since I first

set foot in Swansea in September 1995 to study Economics and

Politics, and I’ve never stopped missing my time there.

As I was schooled in English by my late mother, I was able to

help my housemates and friends, and I gained insight into their

degrees in chemical engineering, electrical engineering and

law. I was part of the Malaysian Students’ Society at Swansea

and I produced our first ever quarterly newsletter, Warta Citra.

I also volunteered at the Recording Centre for the Blind (twice a

week since it was such fun!)

My most vivid memory of Swansea University was when I

played Bohemian Rhapsody on the piano in the hall behind

the Taliesin Building, where a jumble sale was being held.

My friends pestered me into playing; what surprised me was

that suddenly everyone in the hall stopped and started singing

along. When I continued playing the ‘opera’ bits in the middle,

they cheered, and when I finished, I got a standing ovation!

A week later, someone actually came up to me while I was

waiting for the Hendrefoelan bus and said, “You’re the guy

who played Bohemian Rhapsody!” Fame may be fleeting, but

my memories of Swansea will certainly last forever!

Colin C H Card BSc (Hons) Chemical engineering) 1963 PhD 1968

I am nearly 70 now, and looking back at my years at Swansea University, I can honestly say they were some of the best of my life. Nothing can equal the enjoyment of those days of freedom, the good friends I made, and the beautiful surroundings with which Swansea is blessed.I started in Swansea as an undergraduate in Chemical Engineering in 1959. I was fortunate to be resident at Clyne Castle, a more beautiful place you couldn’t imagine, in bluebell strewn woods overlooking Mumbles and the Bay.I was at the University during the sixties, a period of much change at the University and I was there when College House, the Maths and Science buildings and the new Halls of Residence were all under construction.I graduated in 1963 and before long I was working towards a PhD in Chemical Engineering under the supervision of Dr Bernard Atkinson. I found I had more flexibility as a postgraduate student and I enjoyed studying for my PhD at Swansea immensely.I moved to West Canada in early 1968 to work with Imperial Oil; and that’s where I am still, though I return to Swansea when I can as I feel a part of me never left!

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alumni memoriesThe Alumni Office is always delighted to hear from its alumni and in particular discover what you are doing now. This year, as the University marks its 90th anniversary, the Alumni Office was also keen to receive memories of your time spent at Swansea over the years. Here are just a few of the responses. Thank you to all alumni who contacted us with their story.

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Dr Thanga Prabhu studied for an MSc in Health Informatics at Swansea University from 2003 to 2005. He is now Clinical Director at GE Healthcare IT India, based in Bangalore. Last year he greatly assisted the University’s International Office in establishing their international internship programme, offering a three-month placement at GE Healthcare.

Third year student Ramya Mohan Raj, studying for an MEng in Computer Science, was selected as the first Swansea University GE Healthcare intern and spent June-August last year working with the company in Bangalore.

During the placement, Dr Prabhu acted as Ramya’s mentor, helping and advising her. Ramya is now hoping she will have the opportunity to continue to work for GE when she graduates this summer.

As a result of the success of Ramya’s placement, Dr Prabhu has organised four more internships to be offered this summer to Swansea students. Word has spread throughout the University about the programme and there is great demand for places this year, from both Indian and British students.

Initially open to students studying Health Informatics and Computer Science who it was felt would have the compatible skill sets to complete the work experience, Dr Prabhu has now facilitated internships

with GE Energy and GE Global Research for students from other disciplines. He is also working with Aviation and GE Transportation investigating further possible internship opportunities.

Dr Prabhu said: “Initially as an Ambassador for Swansea University I talked to prospective students in India, sharing my experiences as a student in the UK and answering their questions truthfully about studying in the UK and Swansea particularly.

Gradually I have been able to help Swansea University connect with GE at an official level. We have hosted groups of Swansea students and staff from the University at our world-class facility in Bangalore. Internships are an important part of building one’s employability as I learnt early on as a regular user of the Careers Centre at the University.

Swansea is the first UK University to send interns to GE India. We have increased the number of student placements from one in 2009 to four in 2010 through our introduction of the University to GE Energy, GRC (Global Research Centre) and GE Healthcare.

These internships give students immeasurable work experience and the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder on global projects thereby enhancing their employability.”

The organisation of the wider Bangalore internship programme has been undertaken in collaboration with Swansea alumna Priti Unadkat, the University’s Regional Representative in Banaglore.

Priti graduated from Swansea with a BSc in Management Science in 1988. As well as working with Dr Prabhu on the GE Healthcare link, Priti has also been instrumental in developing links with other global companies including Thomson Reuters. She said: “With the support of Swansea’s fantastic International Office we are working with global MNC’s to provide valuable work experience to Swansea University students.

“Today’s competitive job market requires applicants to distinguish themselves, and international education experience is the perfect way to do so. Having international work experience is an incredible résumé booster, as it shows prospective employers that you are motivated, independent, and generally more qualified.”

Swansea alumni help students branch out in india

If you would like to become a Swansea University Alumni Ambassador contact the Alumni Office for further details or visit our website: www.swansea.ac.uk/alumni

“ …internships give students immeasurable work experience and the opportunity to work shoulder to shoulder on global projects thereby enhancing their employability.”

Two Swansea University alumni are sharing their success by helping current Swansea students with internship opportunities to enhance their employability prospects.

Ramya Mohan Raj and Dr Thanga Prabhu Priti Unadkat

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lifesaving Dani’s Olympic potential

Following a UK Sport-led nationwide search for talented athletes, Dani has beaten several hundred other candidates to be chosen to train in an elite women’s squad as part of the GB Rowing Team Start programme, sponsored by Siemens, in the lead-up to the 2016 Olympics.

We caught up with Dani to find out more about this amazing opportunity.

Hi Dani, congratulations on your graduation and rowing squad success! what is the story behind you being chosen to train with the gB rowing Start programme ahead of the 2016 Olympics? The selectors for the GB Rowing Start programme have a wealth of experience, and with data from current and previous successful athletes they are confident they know what components make a successful athlete.

We were assessed physiologically and physically as well as tested on our psychological ability to perform in a highly competitive environment. When going through testing we were all blind to what ticked the selectors’ boxes so I just had to be myself and give 110% in any physical assessment.

why do you think you were chosen? I have a strong background in competitive sport, and I am a very determined person and I think this came across well at each phase of testing.

when do you start your training? I am moving to London in August, where I will begin with straight training for three weeks, to get me into a good routine. After that we get a weekend off before settling into a training routine of around four to five hours a day for six or seven days a week under the watchful eye of a full-time coach.

what previous sport/training have you been involved with? Before coming to University I had been a competitive track and field athlete at national level for several years and was actually national cross country champion in my school days. In addition to this, I swam competitively from a young age which proved to be good cross training for my other sporting events. In 2006 I started competing in surf life saving, a sport not many know much about; it consists of ocean, beach and pool events. A large proportion of my training was done in the swimming pool with the University performance squad. In addition to this I would run and do weight sessions, and I would get out in the surf as often as I could when back home in Cornwall. My training was very varied throughout my three years at University!

“ I have made some great friends and have so many funny and fond memories”

if you can fit anything else in around all that training (!) do you have other plans as a new graduate? I will most definitely make use of my degree, and I intend to do further study and professional training in psychology in the future, but for the next two years I want to focus on giving myself the best possible chance in rowing, and that means devoting as much time as possible to training and recovery. Perhaps a part-time job a few hours a week to give me a break away from training, maybe I’ll even find myself a hobby!

what about the financial implications of spending all your time training? It will definitely be a financial struggle to start with and I won’t have any spare money! My parents have been very supportive in these early stages with my living allowance, but I can’t live off them forever so it’s just another incentive to get as good as possible as fast as possible to be eligible for lottery funding and grants.

How have you enjoyed your time at Swansea? what memories will you take away with you? My University years have been the best years of my life to date. University is like the school of life, you’re only 18 when you first arrive and you think you’re so grown up but now I look back on my three years at Swansea and I have learnt so much; I am a completely different person to when I arrived. I have made some great friends and have so many funny and fond memories, the list is endless. Yes, University at Swansea has been pretty amazing!

Dani Perks, originally from Perranporth, Cornwall, is a 2010 Swansea University Psychology graduate, and member of the Great Britain Surf Life Saving team.

The University would love to see Dani achieve her dream of reaching the Olympics. If you would be interested in supporting Dani, please contact her: danielle.perks@hotmail.co.uk

For the academic year 2009/10 the University awarded nine alumni bursaries, each to the value of £3,390 to offset tuition fees for Taught Masters degrees, the full Legal Practice Course (taught entirely at Swansea University) and the Graduate Diploma in Law.

One recipient of the Alumni bursary is Mark Chorlton, 25, from Stockport.

Mark heard about the alumni bursary scheme at a postgraduate open day held on campus and decided to apply in order to fulfil his goal of doing an MA in Translation.

Mark said “I already had substantial debts due to my undergraduate student loan so to receive this bursary was fantastic!”

Having spent a year in Germany, Mark was able to improve his language skills considerably, enabling him to tackle the two 8,000 word translations he is required to do as part of the course. Mark said “it’s going to be a real test but I’m really looking forward to it!

I am visually impaired but haven’t let that get in the way of my ambitions. I loved taking on the challenge of living and working abroad and can’t wait to go again. The lecturers and staff at Swansea have been so helpful; there is great support here for students with disabilities.”

After completing his Master’s degree, Mark hopes to gain more work experience abroad as a translator.

“ The lecturers and staff at Swansea have been so helpful; there is great support here for students with disabilities.” mark Chorlton

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If you would like further information on the Alumni Fund, or if you would like to make a donation or leave a legacy, please contact the Alumni Office.

If the answer is yes, then have you considered postgraduate study at Swansea University?

ready for a new challenge?

Swansea alumni are already aware of our award-winning student experience and unrivalled location. As a postgraduate student you will gain personally and professionally from the vibrant and creative atmosphere on campus.

We offer dedicated bursaries for Swansea Alumni which can be used to fund any of our 150 Master’s schemes. If you prefer the freedom and flexibility offered by a research degree, we welcome research proposals across all of our subject areas, and can offer scholarships worth £13,290 per year.

Conversion courses are available in areas such as Law, Business Management, Engineering and Computer Science, and we offer many multidisciplinary programmes which allow you to follow courses outside your first degree subject.

Our Master’s programmes include an MBA and Executive MBA taught exclusively at weekends (and both accredited by the Association of MBAs); Environmental Management; Translation with Language Technology; Health Care Management; and Marketing, and many of our schemes are available on a part-time basis designed to fit around work or family commitments.

For a postgraduate prospectus, or to receive more information, contact the Postgraduate Admissions Office by email at: postgraduate.admissions@swansea.ac.uk or visit our website: www.swansea.ac.uk/postgraduate

Swansea University memorabilia The Alumni Office has teamed up with Campus Clothing to enhance our merchandise range. We’ve kept a lot of the old favourites and, following a number of requests, you can now purchase hoodies and t-shirts. Visit our web pages – www.swansea.ac.uk/alumni – for the full range and details on how to order.

what will be your legacy?

making a differenceSwansea University’s Alumni Fund was set up in November 2004 with the generous contributions of Alumni across the UK.

Throughout its history, Swansea University has been fortunate to receive many bequests from graduates, friends and former staff of the institution. According to the wishes of the benefactors, these bequests have been used in different ways, such as, to support specific scholarships and prizes, or to finance the development of new infrastructures and equipment.

Whatever your age or circumstances, making a Will is important and means that your estate will be distributed according to your wishes rather than decisions being made on your behalf. By writing a Will, you can make provision for individuals and support causes or institutions that are important to you. As well as monetary donations, bequests can be made in the form of property or other valuables.