Insight Magazine (15) - London's university courses and news

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Business courses Read why London is the world’s business and financial capital

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Arts courses Find out how London’s creative arts schools inspire and showcase talent

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insight Issue fifteen

Science courses

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Discover how London is pushing the boundaries of science and technology

Health courses Explore why London is the global centre for health and public policy

The latest news and courses from London’s universities www.studylondon.ac.uk

Students win top advertising award

Study in London A city of opportunities

Carnival time Dance in the streets with one million people at the Notting Hill Carnival

WELCOME

To subscribe for free, visit www.studylondon.ac.uk London is fast becoming the world’s knowledge capital.

Already 105,000 international students from 120 countries study in this vibrant and cosmopolitan city. In addition to this, 40,000 academic staff teach courses from accountancy to zoology, in

our many universities.

London is making multi-million pound investments - a huge expression of confidence in the city’s future.

The sheer variety of universities that are setting up and investing in London’s knowledge network is fantastic. No other city in the world is so attractive to the world’s biggest brains.

In recent years, top universities from the USA, such as University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business, and India, such as Amity Business School, have established a campus in our great city, teaching courses in business, finance and even luxury retail.

London excels in all of these areas.

It’s not just universities moving to London. In the east, a new ‘Tech City’ cluster of high-tech companies is emerging. The area is home to one of the largest concentrations of small, fast-growing digital technology companies in Europe, such as Tweetdeck and Last.fm. Companies, large and small, are moving to London, and my aim is nothing less than for London to become the digital capital of Europe.

In this edition of insight you can read about all these brilliant developments, and find out why this city has become the academic capital of the world.

Boris Johnson, Mayor of London August 2011

Issue 15

CONTENTS news 02 Read about the latest courses, research and student successes from London’s universities

business & finance 10 AT HOME IN LONDON Universities from around the UK and the world are setting up campuses in London 11 Olympic interviews • Prince of business • Business summer school

creative ARTS 12 SUSTAINABLE FASHION Clothes designers must consider the environment in their design and production methods 13 Student Photographer of the Year • Japanese summer school • Art in Venice • Television awards • Music stars

science & TECHNOLOGY 14 COMPUTER CITY London is a magnet for the world’s computer programmers and software engineers 15 Protective sunglasses • Dolphin technology • Cancer discovery • Dental training award

health & public policy 16 INFLUENCING THE GOVERNMENT A new public policy student society aims to influence future government strategies 17 Humanitarian course • Caring card • Heart disorder project • Diplomacy stars

regular features 18 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Discover London’s diverse festivals and celebrations 20 London’s hidden gems The Estorick Collection Take a look at one of the finest collections of early 20th century Italian art anywhere in the world

insight is produced by London & Partners four times a year. The editorial content of insight is produced by the Study London team. London & Partners Limited is registered in England and Wales under No: 7493460. Registered office at City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, London SE1 2AA. For editorial enquiries please email press@studylondon.ac.uk For advertising enquiries please email advertising@studylondon.ac.uk.

Credits: Some facts have been supplied by HESA data.

Cover image: Middlesex University Inset: London & Partners. insight is designed and printed by Fatpipe Limited www.fatpipe.co.uk The views in insight are not necessarily those of London & Partners. Although every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in insight, London & Partners does not accept responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributors or the advertisers. All material is strictly copyright and all rights are reserved.

NEWS

in the news the LATEST NEWS FROM LONDON’s UNIVERSITIES

Geography medal award

TWO University of Westminster journalism students recently put their skills into practice on the biggest news story of the year: the royal wedding.

Anna Zhikhareva and Marie Chaudet filmed two news reports that were aired on Sky News. This exceptional work experience opportunity gave them the chance to prove themselves at the highest level of journalism whilst also having their work aired to a national and international audience.

The two aspiring reporters are studying Westminster’s MA (International) Journalism. The course has close links with the journalism industry and regularly has guest speakers and editors visiting the University.

PROFESSOR John Lowe from Royal Holloway, University of London has been awarded the prestigious Victoria Medal by the Royal Geographical Society.

The 2011 medal was awarded in recognition of Professor Lowe’s achievements in Quaternary Science.

Quaternary is the name given to the most recent period of the Earth’s history, covering the last 2.6 million years. The period is one of dramatic climatic change and also covers the time in which modern humans evolved and came to dominate the world.

The professor’s studies help us understand our environment and how we can best respond.

2 www.studylondon.ac.uk

Professor John Lowe

Source: RGS-IBG-Howard Sayer

Royal wedding

NEWS

Tony Blair’s unique seminar

Theatre stars Source: Queen Mary, University of London

ALUMNI from Rose Bruford College of Theatre and Performance were celebrated at the Tony Awards for their part in the popular play War Horse. The play won a variety of Tony Awards, including Best Play, Best Scenic Design and Best Lighting Design.

Alumnus Nick Stafford adapted the play, which has been shown in London’s West End and New York’s Broadway theatres. Honorary Fellow Paule Constable was responsible for stage lighting while alumnus Richard Crawford was a part of the New York cast. The Tony Awards recognise achievements in live Broadway theatre.

Online lectures Tony Blair meeting students

TONY Blair recently hosted history students from Queen Mary, University of London to present the final instalment of the ‘Blair Government’ seminar. Undergraduates and postgraduates were invited to the

former British Prime Minister’s offices in Grosvenor Square.

The seminar gave students the chance to ask Tony Blair questions about his 10 years running the country.

Islamic banking and finance UNIVERSITY of East London (UEL) has opened its Islamic Banking and Finance Centre to teach students about one of the fastest growing financial sectors.

The Centre will offer PhD and Master’s programmes, short courses and consultancy in the areas of Islamic finance, plus other specialist short courses. All courses are available to start in September 2011.

Academics at the centre will also explore how Western and Islamic financial institutions can work more effectively together.

UEL is situated in an area of

London where the population is nearly 40 percent Muslim and it is also located within minutes of London’s banking district at Canary Wharf.

London has become the largest international centre for Islamic finance outside the Muslim world.

The city’s financial district is a key international centre for Middle Eastern and Asian banking.

It is currently estimated that Islamic banks’ assets are worth between $250 billion and $800 billion and that there are nearly 300 Islamic financial institutions worldwide.

UNIVERSITY of London lectures are now available for free online at iTunes U. Researchers, students and the public can download lectures covering a range of subjects from IT and history, to music and politics.

As well as listening to lectures, students can also visit YouTube EDU to watch videos. The lectures are provided by the University of London International Programmes, which delivers distance learning degrees to over 50,000 students in more than 190 countries.

World University Games TWO psychology students at Middlesex University will travel to China to compete in the World University Games. James Davis and Lutalo Muhammad will represent Great Britain in fencing and taekwondo respectively. Training for competitions and completing a degree is keeping the students busy and university staff are doing everything they can to ensure the two scholars are able to complete their studies.

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk 3

NEWS

Top conducting job

Greek appointment

Source: Chris Christodoulou

Michael Francis

ROYAL Academy of Music graduate Michael Francis was recently appointed as the chief conductor of Sweden’s Norrköping Symphony Orchestra. The former double bass student first began conducting with the London Symphony Orchestra.

He has made great progress since

conducting his first orchestra in 2010.

Since then, Michael has conducted a variety of orchestras including the New York Philharmonic. He has also worked with the Münchner Symphoniker, the Orchestra of the Komische Oper Berlin and the Netherlands Philharmonic.

Bone healing Journalism prize A MEDICAL materials engineer at Queen Mary, University of London has won a top award for her bone healing research which resulted in the sale of her company for more than £200 million.

Dr Karin Hing won the Silver Medal award from the Royal Academy of Engineering. She pioneered a form of technology that helps boost healing in bone repair operations.

The award is the result of over ten years research.

In that time, Dr Hing’s company ApaTech grew to employ 160 people in nine countries, with annual revenues of £40 million. Thanks to the company’s scientific advances, more than 120,000 patients have been treated with ApaTech products.

DR David Hendy, a media historian at the University of Westminster, has won an international prize for outstanding journalism.

Dr Hendy received the prize in recognition of Rewiring the Mind, a series of five essays that explore the way in which the internet is impacting on our brains and our mental capacities. Written and presented by Dr Hendy, the programmes were broadcast on BBC Radio 3 earlier this year.

It is the first time the award has been given to anyone outside North America. The James W. Carey Award is named after the leading American professor of journalism at Columbia University who died in 2006.

PROFESSOR Elias Mossialos, director of health at the London School of Economics, has been appointed state minister and government spokesman in the new Greek parliament. His first task is to lead a reform of the Greek health system, working with the European Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the European Central Bank.

Professor Mossialos’s research concentrates on areas such as health care funding, pharmaceutical policies and medicine in developing countries. He was recently awarded the 2010 Andrija Stampar Medal for distinguished services to public health.

Animated comedy film ROYAL College of Art graduate Mike Please has won Best Postgraduate Animation at the Royal Television Society Student Awards for his stop-motion short film The Eagleman Stag.

The story is a dark comedy about a man’s obsession with time. Nine minutes long, the film took five months to create. It has since been praised for its well-crafted script.

Mike’s animation also won a BAFTA for Best Short Animation earlier this year and next month the film will screen at the Annecy International Film Festival.

Did you know?

eleven

universities in London offer animation courses (Source: www.studylondon.ac.uk)

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk 5

NEWS

Animal hospital

The Queen at McDonalds

THE Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has opened the newly refurbished Beaumont Sainsbury Animal Hospital in the centre of London.

The hospital has been upgraded to create an animal care practice offering high quality treatment for pets, which ranges from dental health care to life-saving operations.

State-of-the-art facilities will be used by RVC students and staff, including new consultation rooms, a digital radiography suite, surgical facilities and a dedicated ward for exotic pets.

Food research

Did you know?

There are almost

eighty food and nutrition courses available at London’s universities (Source: www.studylondon.ac.uk)

6 www.studylondon.ac.uk

Egle de Vilutyte and Alexander Hernesten

FINAL year BA Creative Advertising students from University of the Arts London, Egle de Vilutyte and Alexander Hernesten, have won a coveted D&AD Yellow Pencil for their advertising campaign, ‘McRoyal’.

Their inventive advertising

campaign encouraged people to invite Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II to dinner at McDonald’s. The imaginative students have now been rewarded with a work placement with the creative team at the Leo Burnett advertising agency.

London Eye audio tour STUDENTS from Goldsmiths, University of London have created an alternative audio tour of central London, using an audio commentary given by artists and CCTV operators.

The art project was made specifically for the London Eye, a popular tourist attraction and the tallest observation wheel in Europe.

Created by MA Art and Politics students Jennifer Maksymetz and Henry Procter, the audio tour lasts for one rotation of the giant wheel. Visitors listen to poetry and the opinions of artists and CCTV operators, giving them an insight into the observation and surveillance of a global city.

Source: D&AD

KING’S College London has been awarded an Industry Interchange Award to work with the food company Nestlé to understand how food ingredients can affect human health.

The research will focus on the interactions between human genes and food, to find out how we digest different foods and how our bodies detoxify to protect us from potentially harmful ingredients. The main research aim is to understand how certain ingredients can benefit our health.

Researchers from King’s will work at the Nestlé Research Centre with access the state-of-the-art bioinformatics facilities. Industry Interchange Awards are given by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council to encourage collaboration between academia and the business world.

NEWS

Social design

Radio work

Source: University of the Arts London

The winning students

group’s knowledge of how much food is thrown away at the end of each day by food retailers.

The project was a part of the students’ BA Graphic and Media Design course and was completed during their work placement. The UnLtd Social Entrepreneurship Awards provide practical and financial support to social entrepreneurs in the UK.

THREE graphic design students from University of the Arts London have won prizes at the UnLtd Social Entrepreneurship Awards 2011.

Chiara Astuti, Anna Cennamo and Martina Giulianelli wrote a proposal to use their design skills to produce promotional materials that raise awareness of food waste.

The campaign was inspired by the

Midwife of the year

Source: University of Greenwich

Jade Rankine (centre)

JADE Rankine from University of Greenwich has been named Student Midwife of the Year by the British Journal of Midwifery.

The prize was awarded for Jade’s achievements during her work placement on the maternity ward at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. This practical placement is part of the BSc Midwifery at Greenwich, a professional qualification that is essential for a career as a midwife.

Jade was praised as being incredibly kind, caring and helpful to her patients whilst also being recognised for helping new students adjust to life working at the hospital.

ADAM Billington, an acting graduate from Rose Bruford College, has won the highly celebrated Carleton Hobbs competition, winning a five-month work placement with the BBC Radio Drama Company.

Rose Bruford College has an outstanding track record of producing drama talent. Students from the College have won the Carleton Hobbs competition six times in the last seven years.

The competition has been running since 1953 and is named after Carleton Hobbs, a great advocate of radio drama.

New medicine courses ST GEORGE’S University of London has teamed up with INTO University Partnerships to give international students a choice of four new degreelevel and pre-university courses in medicine and biomedical sciences.

The new biomedical science courses begin in September 2011 and the two medical courses will begin a year later in September 2012. Students will receive a qualification from St George’s, University of London and they will be based in London.

In a unique development for the UK, students on the courses will work towards the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE), which leads directly to medical registration in the USA. This will give graduates the chance to practice medicine in a wide variety of countries around the world.

Did you know?

There are over

140

medicine courses in London (Source: www.studylondon.ac.uk)

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk 7

NEWS

Human rights

Architecture awards

EXPERTS from Middlesex University are helping to create Iraq’s first-ever human rights law course to deter human rights abuses from happening in the future.

With a law system in a state of transition, human rights violations are an ongoing problem in Iraq.

However, training Iraqis in human rights law will help them re-build their society.

Delivered in partnership with the University of Duhok, the LLM in Human Rights Law will accept its first students in September 2012 and there are also plans to offer the course online.

THE UK’s first voicebox transplant may be less than a year away after the project was given approval to begin clinical trials. Led by Martin Birchall, professor of laryngology at University College London, the pioneering surgery could help people who have had cancer of the larynx to speak and breathe normally again.

Professor Birchall was the lead scientist for the ground-breaking 18hour voicebox transplant in the US last year. Previously, the US patient Brenda Charett Jensen had only been able to communicate with a handheld electronic device for 11 years. Two weeks after the operation, she was able to speak her first words and she can now talk normally.

Did you know?

There are over

900

bookshops in London - twice as many as in New York (Source: www.studylondon.ac.uk)

8 www.studylondon.ac.uk

Winning students and lecturers from London South Bank University

TWO London South Bank University (LSBU) graduates have won prizes at the 2011 Worshipful Company of Constructors annual awards.

Architectural technology graduate Laura Closs was awarded the esteemed David Tong Cup for her excellent

Source: London South Bank University

Voicebox transplant

achievements during her studies.

Luke Meyers, a graduate from the RICS accredited BSc Quantity Surveying, was awarded the prestigious Constructors’ Prize for his outstanding work and exam results throughout his studies.

London bursary scheme REGENTS College London has launched a student bursary scheme for undergraduate and postgraduate degree courses.

UK students can apply for one of the 40 full fee bursaries available at the country’s largest private college for higher education. Worth up to £13,500 per student per year, the bursaries are available beginning in September and October 2011.

The funding will be available for the full duration of a student’s chosen course. The scheme may also be extended to international students in future years.

Located in Regent’s Park in central London, the College is a not-for-profit organisation offering a wide range of courses, including British and American degrees at undergraduate and postgraduate level.

NEWS

Paris fashion invite Fashion exhibition at the Tate

Genetic link to depression RESEARCH led by King’s College London has revealed the first evidence that depression can be linked to a person’s genetics.

Family studies have long indicated that depression has a genetic link. Until now, few regions of the genome have been shown to contribute to depression.

The study is the result of 10 years work. Major depression affects approximately 20 percent of people and is forecast to become the disorder with the highest disease burden in the world by 2020.

Undergraduate of the year

Source: Richard Eaton

FASHION students from the University of the Arts London who recently curated an event for Tate Britain have been invited to take their exhibition to the Pompidou Centre in Paris.

The London event at the Tate

attracted 9,000 visitors, making it the second largest late night event in the gallery’s history. The exhibition features clothing and jewellery that explore the themes of space, time, location, gender, sexuality and nationality.

UNIVERSITY College London students have won two awards at this year’s TARGETjobs Undergraduate of the Year awards.

Civil engineering student Omar Nabeel won the Low Carbon award for his idea to reduce carbon emissions during the 2012 Olympic Games. He won a six–week summer internship with EDF Energy and a place at their International Leadership conference in the United States.

Asif Chowdhury, an economics undergraduate from Bangladesh, was the joint winner of an award for first year students, which recognises a combination of academic performance and extra-curricular activities.

To win the prize, Asif led a team of 13 students to run a business for four months. When he graduates he wants to work for a leading professional services team.

The enterprising student has won a work placement at Ernst & Young and he will also travel to Florida to meet the CEO of the global consultancy organisation.

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business & FINANCE NEWS AND COURSES

At home in London Universities who have moved to London • American InterContinental University London • Amity University • Coventry University London • GCU London • Limkokwing University of Creative Technology Professor Karen Stanton Source: Glasgow Caledonian University

• Richmond American International University

Universities from around the UK and the world are setting up campuses in London.

W

hen the University of Chicago moved their Booth Business School from Barcelona to London it was the beginning of a trend that has attracted a wide variety of UK and international universities seeking to take advantage of being based in a global city.

Home to some of the world’s best universities and almost half a million students, London is an ideal base for overseas and British universities who can benefit from the city’s status as one of the world’s preeminent centres for global business and finance.

Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) opened its London campus to strengthen its links with the city’s businesses. Located in the city’s fashionable east end, GCU London 10

www.studylondon.ac.uk

• UEA London • University of Chicago Booth School of Business • Webster Graduate School London students have the opportunity to complete a work placement as part of their course.

Professor Karen Stanton, the Scottish university’s pro-vice chancellor, says, “The proximity that London offers to the corporate world, businesses and professions is second to none.”

Over a number of years, GCU has built a strong offering in Finance, Banking and Risk Management courses. Professor Stanton says, “Given the profile of these programmes nationally and internationally, London was an excellent proposition for GCU to be able to offer these programmes to a wider community.”

Another new arrival to London is Amity Business School. Ranked as one of the top business schools in India, Amity offers both an MBA and an MSc in Management at its new central London campus.

As the number of international students, universities and businesses

continues to grow, London is fast becoming the world’s knowledge capital - a city of creativity, connections and opportunities where anything is possible.

Professor Stanton agrees, “London is a world city with global accessibility, a hub of business and commerce within the UK, Europe and further afield.”

Only in London

The city’s first university was University College London (UCL) which was founded in 1826.

(Source: www.ucl.ac.uk)

Did you know?

London has

five

of the top ten Executive MBA courses in the world (Source: FT 2010)

business & FINANCE

Olympic interviews STUDENTS studying human resource management at Kingston University London have been given the job of interviewing volunteers for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Final year undergraduate and Master’s students will help conduct some of the 100,000 Olympic interviews. Each student will conduct around 60 half-hour interviews,

giving them invaluable experience of conducting real job interviews with applicants. The interviewing process to select 70,000 volunteers will take 8 months.

Thousands of volunteers will welcome Olympic visitors to London next year, helping them with transport, language, medical care and hundreds of other vital tasks.

Source: Kingston University London Source: London Business School

Kingston University students

Business summer school THE London School of Economics (LSE) celebrates its expanded Summer School this year, making it the largest summer school programme in the UK. The programme welcomes over 4,000 students on 70 intensively taught three-week courses in subjects such as management, law, economics, international relations, and global communications.

US student Chase Gilbert is a recent alumnus from the Leadership in Organisations programme. The programme helps students develop the skills necessary to become future international business leaders.

“My specific interest in the Leadership programme came from my desire to dive deeper into understanding what makes a great leader and how I could employ these tactics in my own career as an entrepreneur,” says Chase. “I hope to ultimately run a company that has a strong international presence.”

Over 26,000 students have completed the LSE’s Summer School since it was founded 21 years ago.

Many choose London because of the international perspective and networks they can establish while studying in the city.

PRINCE Charles has been awarded an honorary degree from London Business School for his dedication and commitment to business and corporate responsibility. Both London Business School and the Prince of Wales are active supporters of ethical business. At the ceremony, the Prince encouraged business leaders to develop business models that will help tackle social and economic problems.

Source: London Business School

Prince of business

Prince Charles

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11

CREATIVE ARTS NEWS AND COURSES

Sustainable fashion Course highlights LONDON METROPOLITAN UNIVERSITY Fashion Marketing BA UNIVERSITY OF WEST LONDON Fashion and Textiles BA UNIVERSITY OF WESTMINSTER Fashion Merchandise Management BA KINGSTON UNIVERSITY LONDON Fashion and the Creative Economy MA LONDON COLLEGE OF FASHION Fashion and the Environment MA

Clothes designers must consider the environment in their design and production methods.

F

ashion and ethics are not always a perfect match, but Dilys Williams, Director of the Centre for Sustainable Fashion at London College of Fashion (LCF), is training the next generation of designers to consider the ethical impact of their work.

Dilys is responsible for creating and managing the groundbreaking MA Fashion and the Environment at LCF. “It has been quite a journey,” she explains. “We have expanded really quickly and have taken on some amazing projects including working with the government.”

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www.studylondon.ac.uk

Source: London College of Fashion

Dilys Williams

She joined the College after building an impressive CV in the fashion industry. Her work includes designing fashion collections with Katharine Hamnett, setting up the Women’s Collection at Liberty, the famous department store, as well as leading the design team at fashion retailer, Whistles.

The talented fashion leader has now created a course that will help today’s designers take a proactive approach to sustainability and to consider the environment in both their design and production methods. Dilys says, “We are educating fashion industry professionals who will be capable of tackling ecological, social and cultural considerations.”

In addition to innovative teaching, London has a lot more to offer aspiring designers. “London is

ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART Fashion Womenswear MA RAVENSBOURNE Fashion MA Find more courses at www.studylondon.ac.uk a student’s campus, it is a truly international city offering unrivalled opportunities,” says Dilys. “The rich and varied culture and heritage offers design students a fabulous research source.”

Only in London

The city’s fashion industry employs 80,000 people and is worth around £21 billion to the UK economy.

(Source: Mayor of London)

Did you know?

There are over

130

fashion courses available in London (Source: Study London)

CREATIVE ARTS

Student Photographer of the Year A MIDDLESEX University student who travelled to Africa for a university project has been named Student Photographer of the Year by the Association of Photographers.

AJ Hamilton was presented with the award for his series of striking fashion photos taken in northern Uganda.

Whilst in Uganda, the student sourced clothing from designers and

Music stars STUDENTS from the Royal Academy of Music have won three prizes at the 2011 Kathleen Ferrier Awards. The awards provide talented singers with funding to help support them in the early stages of their career.

Opera students Jonathan McGovern and Marcus Farnsworth won second prize (£5,000) and the Song Prize (£2,500) respectively.

Academy piano accompaniment graduate Timothy End was awarded the Accompanist’s Prize (£2,000).

used local contacts in the country to help him find a location and suitable models.

The judges praised the Middlesex student’s work for its unique quality and sensitivity to detail.

AJ has been rewarded with £250 worth of Fujifilm products and six one-to-one mentoring sessions with a professional photographer.

Japanese summer school ROSE Bruford College of Theatre and Performance recently welcomed the first students from Ariake College in Japan. The new partnership with the Tokyo school gives Japanese students the opportunity to study British theatre techniques. The visit included tours of London theatres and cultural institutions.

Source: Middlesex University

Hamilton with his photographs

Art in Venice A MAJOR international exhibition has been organised by the Courtauld Institute of Art for the Venice Biennale of Contemporary Art - the world’s oldest and most prestigious art festival.

The show features monumental new works by four of the most exciting

artists working today: Alexander Ponomarev (Russia), Hans Op de Beeck (Belgium), Adrian Ghenie (Romania) and Ryoichi Kurokawa (Japan). One of a Thousand Ways to Defeat Entropy is a joint project with the AVC Charity Foundation. The exhibition runs until November 2011.

Television awards CENTRAL School of Speech and Drama alumni Martin Freeman and Graham Norton both won awards at this year’s BAFTA Television Awards.

Martin Freeman won Best Supporting Actor for his role as Dr Watson in the BBC’s television programme, Sherlock. He is also starring in next year’s The Hobbit alongside Cate Blanchett, Orlando Bloom and Stephen Fry. Graham Norton, the host of this year’s award ceremony, won Best Entertainment Performance for his work on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One.

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk

13

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY NEWS AND COURSES

Computer city

Source: Arian Popalyar

Source: London & Partners

Course highlights KINGSTON UNIVERSITY LONDON Cyber Security and Computer Forensics BSc ROYAL HOLLOWAY, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Computer Science with Management BSc

Arian Popalyar

UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON Computer Games Design with Animation BSc GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Computational Arts MA IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON Mathematics and Computer Science MA

London is a magnet for the world’s computer programmers and software engineers.

I

t is hard to imagine a life without computers. They manage our transport systems, they make global communications easy, they count the world’s money - they even helped fly us to the moon. But who is controlling the computers?

Arian Popalyar, a software engineering student at London Metropolitan University, is one of the 20,000 computer science students in London who will help ensure modern life remains online. “I consider myself a computer worm,” she says. “In programming, the programmer writes the commands and the computer works accordingly. That for me is like magic… and I want to be the magician.”

Studying in London, Arian knew her learning experience would not be

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confined to the classroom. She says, “I wanted to spend time with myself, to discover myself and prove that I am capable of doing everything. To have the experience of independent life was my goal.”

The course was challenging too, introducing Arian to a different way of studying. “I enjoyed Java programming and report writing. The coursework system of study was new for me, which I found very interesting and knowledgeable.” Coursework encourages students to research on their own, giving them the time to explore subjects in greater detail.

Living and studying in London has also been a rewarding experience for Arian. “London is a dream city, it’s the world’s capital city. It’s so rich in culture and history. And it would be a great honour for me to get my degree in London,” she says. “The culture is so versatile. I now have British, Spanish, Iranian, African, Greek, Bulgarian, Turkish, Pakistani, Indian and Albanian friends!”

KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Advanced Software Engineering MSc UNIVERSITY OF GREENWICH Network and Computer Systems MSc Find more courses at www.studylondon.ac.uk

Only in London

You can choose from more than 400 computer courses - everything from games technology to cyber security.

(Source: www.studylondon.ac.uk)

Did you know?

London is home to the largest concentration of IT software and services companies in Europe, which generates a turnover of

$7.8 billion (Source: London & Partners)

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

Protective sunglasses

Cancer discovery

BRUNEL University design student Bradley Wherry has created a pair of sunglasses with a built-in ultra-violet indicator as part of a sun awareness campaign to help prevent skin cancer.

The sunglasses’ frames change colour

A TEAM of scientists at the Institute of Cancer Research has won a prestigious Royal Society of Chemistry award for the discovery and clinical development of a new prostate cancer drug.

The drug, Abiraterone, is one of a small number of drugs that have been shown to extend life for men with late-stage prostate cancer. It blocks the production of testosterone, which prostate cancer cells need to grow.

The US recently approved the drug for use by men with prostate cancer who are no longer responding to chemotherapy.

to indicate the strength of the sun’s ultra-violet rays, an idea Bradley hopes will be popular with parents with young children. The innovative design will help raise awareness of the dangers involved in overexposure to the sun.

Dental training award

Source: Brunel University / Bradley Wherry

Bradley Wherry

Dolphin technology RESEARCHERS from Imperial College London and University College London are working together to develop a new material that mimics dolphin skin. The material will be used to enable water to flow more efficiently down pipes.

This is just one of the innovative projects that form part of the Kick-

Start scheme, which aims to advance engineering research and promote collaborations between the two universities. Over £100,000 of funding has been given to projects, including research into how power stations can use waste to produce energy using more sustainable techniques.

THE Dental Institute at King’s College London is celebrating after winning three awards at the Medical Futures Innovation Awards. The Institute was praised by judges for its research and for addressing major needs in dental treatment and training.

HapTEL, a new virtual-reality ‘dental chair’, won the ‘Best Educational Innovation’. The tool allows students to use a virtual dental drill and mirror to operate on virtual teeth while watching 3-Dimensional pictures on a television screen.

Other developments include a gel that is placed on teeth to prevent dental decay. The team are now developing the gel product into a toothpaste, which they hope will be sold in shops across the world.

Did you know?

The King’s Dental Institute opened in

1923 (Source: www.kcl.ac.uk)

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HEALTH & PUBLIC POLICY NEWS AND COURSES

Influencing the government Course highlights BRUNEL UNIVERSITY International Politics BSc GOLDSMITHS, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Economics, Politics and Public Policy BA UNIVERSITY OF EAST LONDON International Politics with Third World Development BA BIRKBECK, UNIVERSITY OF LONDON Public Policy and Management MSc KING’S COLLEGE LONDON Public Services Policy and Management MSc

Source: Ben Counsell

Ben Counsell

A new public policy student society aims to influence future government strategies.

C

hanges to government policy affect everyone, whether the changes are to the healthcare system, the deregulation of trade or via a rise in taxation.

To influence such important policies, students from King’s College London have created a new student society called Think Tank. Members of the society will be able to discuss and make their voices heard by senior policy makers in government.

Using the knowledge of students from different academic disciplines within the College, the society aims to solve problems on a wide variety of issues such as immigration, defence, foreign policy and education.

Students can also express their 16

www.studylondon.ac.uk

opinions in a student-run annual journal, The Spectrum, as well as in a series of lectures given by prestigious guest speakers.

Ben Counsell, the society’s president says, “Combined with the presence of some of the world’s experts at King’s and the detailed subject knowledge our students possess, we are in a powerful position to solve problems on the world stage.”

Think Tank has been formed with the assistance of the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR), one of the most influential think tanks in the UK. The IPPR is also offering students the chance to undertake internships and gain practical work experience on how to influence government policy as it is being developed.

There are already a number of other high profile policy institutes in London, including the Royal Institute of International Affairs, or Chatham House as it is more widely known, whose influence spans the globe.

LONDON SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE Global Politics MSc Find more courses at www.studylondon.ac.uk The Chatham House Rule, famous worldwide for facilitating free speech and confidentiality at meetings, originated here in London. Free speech in the city continues to this day, giving students like Ben the opportunity to have a positive impact on government policies that have the power to change our lives.

Only in London

You can visit the Houses of Parliament to attend a debate, watch a committee, arrange a tour or even access the parliamentary archives.

(Source: www.parliament.uk)

Did you know?

There are over

400

politics and public policy courses in London (Source: www.studylondon.ac.uk)

HEALTH & PUBLIC POLICY

Caring card A MEDICAL product developed by City University London will help save people’s lives. The MyCare Card securely stores personal medical data that doctors can easily access during emergencies.

The card keeps a record of a patient’s existing medical conditions, their allergies and their medications.

If the card’s owner is taken ill or involved in an accident, doctors and paramedics can use the card to gain instant access to a full medical history. Following successful product trials, researchers hope the system could be available for patient use within the next three to four years.

Source: City University London

MyCare medical card

A NEW online Master’s at the University of East London will provide humanitarian aid workers with a psychosocial understanding of their working environments.

The MSc in International Humanitarian Psychosocial Consultation is the first of its kind in the world. It will give students an awareness of the psychological factors involved in humanitarian work, both for the people affected and for the wellbeing of aid workers themselves.

Many of the students are studying online through distance-learning whilst also providing humanitarian aid in areas such as Haiti and Afghanistan.

Course tutors are specialists in their field and are connected to international aid agencies including the United Nations, the World Health Organisation, and the Red Cross.

Heart disorder project

Diplomacy stars Source: Royal Holloway, University of London

Royal Holloway students in New York

STUDENTS from Royal Holloway, University of London proved themselves masters in the art of diplomacy, negotiation and discussion at the National Model United Nations Conference in New York.

A team of 22 students won the Distinguished Delegation award after debating current global issues with 5,000 delegates from five continents.

Humanitarian course

This year’s conference asked students to find solutions to challenging and thought-provoking international issues such as combating the world drug trade.

The team’s accomplishment was the result of an intensive 16-week preparation programme which included simulated debates and extensive research.

ST GEORGE’S University of London has launched a major €12 million project to improve the care of patients with heart disorders linked to atrial fibrillation.

Atrial fibrillation is an abnormal heartbeat rhythm that affects more than six million people in Europe, a figure that is expected to double in the next 50 years.

The irregular, often very fast, heart rhythm can cause fainting, chest pain, and potentially fatal strokes. If a stroke patient survives, they often need long-term clinical care.

Consequently, the European Network for Translational Research on Atrial Fibrillation has been established to develop our understanding of the disease, better diagnostic methods and new therapies.

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk

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EVENTS

calendar of events january

A selection of London’s festivals and celebrations

AUGUST

New Year’s Day Parade International Mime Festival London Art Fair

Notting Hill Carnival Dance in the streets with one million people and enjoy the tastes, sights and sounds of the Caribbean at the biggest street party in Europe. Over three days, Notting Hill comes alive with music and dance at one of the most anticipated events of the year.

FEBRUARY

Chinese New Year Celebrations London Fashion Week Six Nations Rugby at Twickenham march

St Patrick’s Day Parade Affordable Art Fair april Source: London & Partners

London Marathon London Book Fair The Camden Crawl Vaisakhi Celebrations The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race may

AUGUST London Mela The Mela, a long-standing tradition in South Asia, brings people together in a festival atmosphere to enjoy Asian food, music and dance. Enjoy Bollywood, bhajis and bangra amid the colour and glitz of one of London’s most popular events.

June

Trooping the Colour City of London Festival

SEPTEMBER Open House

London Literature Festival Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships

London Festival of Architecture Universities Week Camden Green Fair 18

www.studylondon.ac.uk

Source: London Open House

The Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition

Discover the inner beauty of London’s most celebrated buildings at the Open House weekend. This popular, free event opens eyes, minds and doors to London’s best kept architectural secrets, encouraging Londoners and visitors to explore and re-examine the city.

Source: Hayley Madden

Africa Day Celebrations FA Cup Final Chelsea Flower Show Student Final Year Shows across London

EVENTS

Go online to read more about events taking place in London www.studylondon.ac.uk JULY

Wireless Music Festival BBC Proms Classical Music Festival Pride London August

Trafalgar Square Festival Carnaval del Pueblo Notting Hill Carnival London Triathlon London Mela Source: London Design Festival

september

Regent Street Festival Open House London London Design Festival Thames Festival London Fashion Week The Great River Race Brick Lane Festival

SEPTEMBER London Design Festival The London Design Festival has become a highlight on the international creative calendar. Visit and enjoy almost 200 design projects from museums, retailers, creative businesses, magazines and designers at one of the most important design events in the world.

october

London Film Festival Eid Celebrations Frieze Art Fair Bloomsbury Festival Diwali Celebrations London Games Festival

OCTOBER Frieze Art Fair

november

Lord Mayor’s Show London Jazz Festival State Opening of Parliament

Source: Frieze Art Fair

Regent’s Park hosts more than 170 of the most exciting modern art galleries in the world. This fourday contemporary art fair includes specially commissioned artists’ projects, prestigious talks and artistled education workshops.

december

Carols in Trafalgar Square New Year’s Eve Fireworks Royal Institution Christmas Lectures

to subscribe for free visit www.studylondon.ac.uk

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LONDON’s hidden gems

In each edition we explore london’s unique treasures, specialist collectionS and resources. IN this edition we focus on THE ESTORICK COLLECTION.

The Estorick COLLECTION

Left: Gino Severini, Le Boulevard (1910-11), oil on canvas Right: Amedeo Modigliani, Dr François Brabander (1918), oil on canvas

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www.studylondon.ac.uk

All images: Estorick Collection of Modern Art

T

he Estorick Collection of Modern Italian Art was described by Sir Nicholas Serota, Director of Tate, as “one of the finest collections of early 20th century Italian art anywhere in the world”.

Opened in 1998, the Collection has over 120 paintings, drawings, watercolours, prints and sculptures by prominent Italian artists from the modernist era. The Collection has established a reputation for bringing Italian art to the British public and has won critical acclaim for its artistic and educational programmes.

The Collection is housed in a beautiful Georgian building in central London. Following a recent renovation, the building now has six galleries together with an art library, café and shop. The library has over 2,000 books making it an unrivalled resource for students of Italian, modernist movements such as Futurism. Students can complement their research with a visit to the galleries to see major paintings by Italian modernist masters such as

The garden

Giacomo Balla, Umberto Boccioni and Carlo Carrà.

Italian Futurism was launched by the poet Filippo Tommaso Marinetti in 1909 when his manifesto was published in the French newspaper Le Figaro. Marinetti wanted to develop art based on modern life and technology and he was particularly interested in speed and the machine.

His movement grew to embrace many different art forms from architecture, painting and performance, to music, photography, and sculpture.

The Estorick Collection was founded by Eric Estorick, an American collector and writer, who began collecting Italian art when he came to live in England after the Second World War. He lived his life through art, once saying, “I have always regarded art as being the God Centre of the Altar at which I have always knelt and in front of which I shall die and die happily”.

The Collection is his gift to London which we continue to enjoy to this day.

Find your university course in London at: www.studylondon.ac.uk

Kien Duc Tran

BANKING AND FINA NCE STUDENT FROM VIETNAM

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