BA2 issue 22

THE MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNI ANDFRIENDS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF BATH

ISSUE 22 • JUNE 2015

Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell DBE DL Vice-Chancellor

Editor: Lorraine Finnigan • Design: Richard Box • Photography: Nic Delves-Broughton, unless otherwise stated, © University of Bath. Front cover image: Roman Baths, visitbath.co.uk © Bath Tourism Plus/Colin Hawkins

Dear alumni and friends,

I am delighted to inform you that our achievements over the last twelve months have exceeded even my expectations. There is no area in which the University of Bath has not excelled this year: our research, education and student experience have all been recognised as excellent. I cannot remember a time when our reputation, both nationally and internationally, has been stronger. Put simply, this has been one of our best years.

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) - the new system for assessing the quality of research in UK Higher Education Institutions - ranked us as one of the leading universities for research. They placed us 12th in the UK (excluding specialist institutions), and found 87 per cent of our research ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’. Our focus on interdisciplinary and large-scale research with an impact is paying dividends.

We were voted number three by The Sunday Times and The Times Good University Guide for graduate prospects. Our students can also expect above average salaries when they graduate, making us one of the top ten universities for graduate earnings. Our courses, which are designed to provide real world skills, mean that our graduates now leave us as some of the most sought after in the country.

Our University came top for student satisfaction in the National Student Survey for the second year running, and we were voted as the UK’s top university in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey. Our investment in the campus, our emphasis on an all-round experience and the importance we place on the partnership between our students and staff is clearly appreciated.

I called this one of our best years, but with our excellent research and education and some of the most employable and satisfied students in the country we can expect many more ‘best years’ to come.

The first of these will be next year, when the University of Bath turns 50. Our anniversary provides us with a unique opportunity, not only to celebrate all that we have achieved in our short history, but also a chance to look ahead together.

As alumni and friends, you are an important part of our community, and you must never underestimate the role you have played, and continue to play, in making us the world-class University we are today.

Thank you,

Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell DBE DL Vice-Chancellor

Contents

4. Looking Further How University of Bath research teams continue to see things differently

6. Amazing algae From algae in the Roman Baths to clean water around the world

10. I’ll huff and I’ll puff… Proving that houses made of straw are more than a match for bricks

14. Bringing the Dyson magic to Bath Inspiring the next generation of design engineers

18. Above and beyond It’s thanks to you that we make a remarkable difference

20. 50 years in 50 objects The hunt for our history continues

24. Your alumni community News, Honorary degrees and a pioneering careers support system

32. Class notes Catch up on news from classmates around the world

34. Recognise anyone on the cover? Summer holiday reads by budding alumni authors

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ISSUE 22 • JUNE 2015

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2D peopleEver wondered how our bodies withstand gravity and take on their 3D shape? A team led by scientists from our Department of Biology & Biochemistry has solved the age-old mystery. Working with an international team from our Centre for Regenerative Medicine, they’ve identified a gravity resisting gene that stops our bodies being squashed flat - and also demonstrated what happens when the system goes wrong too….

War: Are we ready to respond? Understanding the nature of warfare has traditionally been the job of military historians and philosophers. Our new Centre for War and Technology will examine how warfare is changing. It will challenge perceptions and forecast how battle spaces of the future will look: “As technology changes, so too does human behaviour,” says Professor David Galbreath, Director of the Centre. “Our research examines how technology has the potential to change the agents, space and time of warfare as we know it: from networks to sensors to bioengineering and biochemistry.”

Putting the brakes on cancerScientists from our Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, funded by Prostate Cancer UK with support from the Movember Foundation, are helping to give men with prostate cancer a better chance of survival. The team has been closely studying an enzyme, AMACR, which is overactive in prostate cancer but hard to target with drugs. Through their research, the team has developed an innovative testing tool to help assess the effectiveness of potential drugs accurately and in turn help speed up the development of new treatments. The team has patented the technology and hopes to work with the pharmaceutical industry to develop a high throughput screen that will assess thousands of chemical compounds.

The sound of climate change - loud and clear“By listening underwater, we can monitor how much melting is going on. Underwater sound can indicate how fast melting is happening and we can see how it is affecting marine animals.” Dr Philippe Blondel from our Department of Physics has been listening to the hisses, cracks and creaks of ice underwater. Using underwater microphones and buoys at the Hornsund glacier in Svalbard, his research harnesses the science of sound to help us better understand melting ice and to discover even more about the impact of climate change on our environment.

Our focus on high quality and innovative research follows an interdisciplinary approach which sees faculties working together to tackle issues of global significance. But the work doesn’t stay on campus. We are highly committed to the application of our findings so that we reach beyond academia and make a real difference. That’s why we continue to work in collaboration with companies, charities and policymakers to extend our reach and impact. Our recent Institute of Policy Research paper on the economic and social effects of binge drinking is a great example, helping to inform debate and future policy too.

How University of Bath research teams continue to see things differently

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Looking further

Celebrity dinosaurs It’s hardly surprising that national and international media went wild for two new species of horned dinosaur found by a palaeontologist from Bath. Discovered during a study of fossils that were kept in a museum in Canada for over 75 years, one dinosaur represents a new species of Pentaceratops, named Pentaceratops aquilonius, and the other appears to represent a new species of Kosmoceratops. “We thought we had discovered most of the species, but it seems there are many undiscovered dinosaurs left. We’ve really only just scratched the surface.” said Dr Nick Longrich from the University’s Department of Biology & Biochemistry (our very own resident Indiana Jones).

In a galaxy far, far away… Bath now has an astrophysics research group in its Department for Physics, led by Professor Carole Mundell. An observational astrophysicist, Professor Mundell specialises in astrophysical phenomena outside of our own Galaxy. These include Gamma Ray Bursts - the most luminous explosions in the Universe - and Active Galactic Nuclei which are powered by the release of gravitational potential energy from material accreted by supermassive black holes. The group will take the lead in teaching our new astrophysics degree, starting this September. Watch this ‘space’ for future extragalactic updates!

Equations vs EbolaAt the sharp end of the fight against Ebola are courageous people who work tirelessly in difficult conditions. Now, Bath’s mathematical biologists are helping to control its impact and spread by distilling the fundamental mechanisms that govern epidemiological dynamics - such as transmission, incubation, recovery, treatment and quarantine - into mathematical models. These equations can then be analysed to reach a deeper understanding of what drives an epidemic and to identify and assess management strategies to deal with outbreaks such as we’ve seen in Sierra Leone. Our Department of Social & Policy Sciences has also been helping too, examining the knock-on effect of the disease on the macro-economy and on the livelihood opportunities for poor communities.

Feature: Research impact

The excellent quality of University of Bath research has been confirmed by an independent UK assessment: the Research Excellence Framework (REF). We were ranked among the best in the UK – 12th overall with almost 90% of our activity ranked world- leading and internationally excellent.

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Amazing algaeHow Bath research could bring clean water to more people in the Middle East

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Feature: Amazing algae

Jordanian PhD student Mais Sweiss recently joined the University of Bath’s Department of Biology and Biochemistry to investigate how algae research could help to clean wastewater in her country.

As one of the driest countries in the world, Jordan’s water resources fall significantly below the global water scarcity line. Annual rainfall is under 50mm in 95% of the country, nearly all the groundwater sources are being seriously overexploited and experts are warning that Jordan could soon face ‘absolute’ water poverty. Refugee flow from Syria, Iraq and Palestine, reported in 2014 to be over 600,000 people, puts even more pressure on this chronically scarce resource.

New ways of cutting down water wastage and overuse are in desperate demand and high on the Jordanian government’s agenda. This demand brought Mais to Bath, determined to work with the University to find a practical solution to a problem affecting so many people.

From Roman algae in Bath…Mais is drawing on research carried out over the past five years by our Professor of Plant Molecular Biology, Rod Scott. In 2011, Professor Scott led a project looking at the algae that grows in the city’s Roman Baths.

Rod’s team was looking for algae that would have the unique characteristics that enable its large scale use in biofuel production - enough easily retrievable cell oil and the ability to survive high temperatures. Rod looked to the city’s Roman Baths because algae able to grow at high water temperatures could also be suitable for use in hot countries where water is scarce.

There is no one at my university in Jordan who does algae research and only a handful of people in the whole of Jordan doing research in this field. Bath offers a good environment to learn. I came here to gain new expertise and skills so I can pass them on to my own students.”

...to clean water in Jordan...Nutrient removal from water currently relies on chemical treatment and the process has a significant carbon footprint. The use of algae has the potential to address both these issues, but it would also introduce additional benefits - the biomass created as a by-product could be recycled back into the agriculture sector and used as a fertiliser or as a biofuel.

Mais’s research, over four years, will look at how the techniques developed at Bath to identify different types of algae can be applied to Jordanian algae species for water cleaning.

Funded by a Jordanian government scholarship, a specific requirement for Mais’s funding was to pursue a field of research which would bring something new to Jordan on her return. The algae research we carry out at Bath stood out as an ideal match for her research interests.

Using algae and wastewater samples from both the UK and Jordan, Mais hopes to isolate native microalgae that have adapted to the local environment in Jordan. This will ensure that the algae is available readily in the country, will grow in the Jordanian environment and is suitable for use in water cleaning technologies.

On her return to Jordan after her studies, Mais’s plan is to establish an algae research lab at her home institution, Al Balqa’ Applied University. She will continue the search for more local algae species and look at maximising their benefit by improving them genetically before teaching others what she has learnt.

Her work will build on research already started by Mais’s university in Jordan in 2009, which opened a cross-faculty International Research Center for Water, Environment and Energy in co-operation with UNESCO.

Dr Rakad Ayed Ta’any, the director of the centre, stresses the fundamental role that research plays in the effective management of natural resources and in which Mais’s work is set to play a key part: “Research institutions can provide technical and scientific information that should be the basis for policy and decision-makers, and may contribute to building national capacities to ensure a sustainable management of these resources.”

Micro-algae is a diverse group of species with many potential applications beyond biofuel. Cleaning and improving the quality of wastewater is one of these - an application which, at the moment, remains an uncharted possibility for water-

poor countries such as Jordan.

Research institutions can provide technical and scientific information that should be the basis for policy and decision-makers, and may contribute to building national capacities to ensure a sustainable management of these resources.”

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Feature: Amazing algae

During her time at Bath, Mais is benefiting from close collaboration between the University and the UK water utility sector. Dr Tom Arnot, Senior Lecturer in our Department of Chemical Engineering and Mais’s co-supervisor, is part of a major collaboration with Wessex Water, which has resulted in the foundation of a new Water Innovation & Research Centre (WIRC @ Bath).

The newly launched centre draws expertise from across various faculties and departments including Biology & Biochemistry, Chemical Engineering and Chemistry amongst others, and looks at a wide variety of issues related to water supply.

Mais has been able to sample algal species at various wastewater treatment works operated by Wessex Water and she’ll also have opportunities to attend events and to meet with key players in the sector.

...and lasting impact around the world It’s not difficult to see how much importance Mais places on water research, not least as the potential of her work is set to have wide reaching benefits beyond clean water: algae expertise developed in Bath will also have potential future implications outside Jordan’s borders in other water-scarce nations.

Currently halfway through her PhD, Mais is already planning future work for when she arrives back in Jordan: “I’m interested in genetically improving the algae strains for wastewater treatment and biofuel production, but also using algae to produce other high value products such as β-carotene, which is a precursor to vitamin A, and omega-3 fatty acids.”

I’ll huff and I’ll puff and…I’ll build you a house made of straw

For well over 100 years children have been listening to how the big bad wolf blew down the little pigs’ houses of straw and sticks. Today, world class research from Bath, along with a groundbreaking housing project, presents an altogether different story - and it’s far from the stuff of fairy tales.

With such a wide range of materials available in the construction industry, who would have thought that straw, one of the oldest and most plentiful of these, could be the building material of future homes?

(A very different ending to the story of the three pigs and big bad wolf )

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Feature: A house made of straw

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Professor Pete Walker, Bath’s Head of Architecture & Civil Engineering, updates BA2 about a collaboration which proves that straw is a safe, durable, eco-friendly and economic method of construction.

The use of straw in building construction isn’t something new, but in reality, with the exception of timber, very few traditional and natural materials are used in modern buildings. I was keen to dispel the scepticism within the construction industry and prove what an eco-friendly, sustainable and, more importantly, safe building material straw is.

“We began a collaboration with Bristol-based design company ModCell Ltd to develop prefabricated straw bale cladding panels. This led initially to UK government and later EU funding to investigate the structural and durability aspects of straw, as well as the potential to upscale it and make it cost effective in construction.

“We developed a new factory-built straw panel and tested it rigorously to assess its energy efficiency, fire safety, durability and weather-resilience. This included exposing the panels to heavy rain and extreme temperatures ranging from -20oC to 50oC.

“The results were really positive and in some cases the straw panel performed better than traditional building materials, such as brick. We sought and received BM Trada’s Q mark certification. The impact of this was huge. Guaranteeing all the different aspects of straw that we investigated, the certification means that developers and homebuyers can get insurance and mortgages for straw homes and buildings.”

As part of the testing process, the ‘BaleHaus’ was built on campus and opened by Grand Designs’s Kevin McCloud in 2009. This distinctive straw house allowed the team to put the construction method through its paces in a real life environment.

Seven Bristol townhouses followed and in February 2015, the UK’s first straw eco homes, built using the innovative certified straw panels, went on sale. Using engineered timber frames to enclose the compressed straw bale, the airtight, super-insulated straw walls provide three times greater insulation than current UK building regulations require. Along with triple glazed windows, the houses need significantly less conventional heating and their fuel bills are anticipated to be reduced by as much as 90 per cent.

World leadingimpact • Theindependently-assessed2014 Research Excellence Framework, ranked research in the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering equal first in the UK for Architecture, Built Environment and Planning. Of all submitted research in this discipline, 90 per cent was classified as world-leading or internationally excellent.

• Theconstructiondesignofthe straw panels was recently awarded the prestigious PassivHaus accreditation recognising straw for its energy efficiency.

90%of our research

is world-leading or internationally

excellent

Balehaus at the University of Bath

© Modcell

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But it’s not just homeowners who are set to benefit. Pete highlighted the numerous advantages that straw offers the construction industry and the environment too: “The construction sector must reduce its energy consumption by 50 per cent and its carbon emissions by 80 per cent by 2050, so radical changes are needed to the way we approach house building. Straw is low-cost and widely available offering real potential for ultra-low carbon housing throughout the UK.

“Rather than releasing carbon dioxide (CO2 ) during the process of producing a building material, as concrete and steel do for example, straw absorbs CO2 as it grows. As a result, straw homes have one of the lowest carbon footprints available, with many buildings being net carbon-negative. Building with straw could be a critical point in our trajectory towards a low-carbon future,” said Pete.

In addition to making a national and international impact with his research, Pete is seeing the fruits of his discovery close to home too. Local Bath schoolchildren are now enjoying and learning from a straw science block built using ModCell technology and Pete has his very own straw building in the back garden.

“My ‘shuddy’ (a mix between shed and study) uses the same materials used in the Bristol housing development. It’s a great space which I use to work in from home as well as allowing me to play indie-rock and African blues very loudly without upsetting the neighbours! You see, the benefits of straw really are endless!”

© Simon Dewhurst Photography Ltd

Concrete is the world’s second most consumed substance after water. In the UK alone, millions of tonnes of straw could be diverted for use in construction as an eco-friendly and economic alternative:

• Productionofconcrete accounts for about 5% of global CO2 emissions.

• Anaveragethree-bedroom house needs around seven tonnes of straw.

• Aroundsevenmilliontonnes of straw remain after the production of wheat flour.

• Uptohalfthisamountis diverted for use as animal bedding.

• The‘leftover’3.8million tonnes could build over 500,000 new homes.

Feature: A house made of straw

Straw absorbs CO2 as it grows. As a result, straw homes have one of the lowest carbon footprints available, with many buildings being net carbon-negative ”

Britain’s first straw eco homes

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Bath offers the very best Engineering course for design but to produce the next generation of innovators like Sir James Dyson, we have to teach them to work in a creative way.”

Professor Gareth Jones, Dyson Chair of Design Engineering,University of Bath

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Feature: Technical teaching + Creativity & innovation + Entrepreneurship = True potential

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Technical teaching+ Creativity & innovation

+ Entrepreneurship

= True potential

As Product Development Director at Dyson, Professor Jones watched the company grow at a phenomenal rate. When he joined, there were just four others in a shed working on the first bag-less vacuum cleaner. Today, the company is worth more than £6 billion. Dyson’s Design–Make–Test philosophy saw over 5,000 prototypes produced before it was ready for sale. In an approach that blends technical excellence with creative and innovative thinking, the Dyson pioneers had clearly hit on a formula that worked.

With his recent appointment as the University of Bath’s first Dyson Chair of Design Engineering, Gareth Jones is determined to use his vast experience and knowledge to bring a bit of that Dyson magic to Bath. The new role will see him integrating design engineering, entrepreneurship and innovation into the undergraduate engineering course to inspire and enthuse the next generation of design engineers.

With plans in train for a new design degree and support for lecturers to use a creative approach similar to that used by Dyson engineers to develop innovative ideas, Gareth believes that creativity and innovation are lessons well worth learning:

“Creativity is the generation of new ideas. Innovation is taking those ideas and doing something useful with them - taking the idea and mapping the journey as to how we will overcome a problem to create a solution that is useful. I want to develop a course that ups the levels of creativity, that is unique, and won’t compromise technical teaching but add to it. I really want to give students the chance to prove their ideas within a classic ‘Design-Make-Test’ scenario.”

To ensure that creativity and innovation aren’t left in the classroom once term time ends, Gareth is determined to ensure that students are given the skills and confidence to turn their prototypes into successful business ideas. Plans include ambitions for a Product Incubator on campus where students can test their ideas with full technical and business support: “In parallel to the product design, students need to think about business. Questions such as ‘Do I license the technology?’ or ‘Do I set up a business?’ By questioning those two things in a supported and safe environment, when they finish, they come out with their very good idea, very well resourced technically, and a matching business plan so they can talk to potential investors and potential licensees or set up their own business.”

Creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. Everybody talks about them, but how important are they? Do they really make a difference to success? And are they things you can actually teach?

This type of can–do culture certainly fits with a wider spirit of entrepreneurship developing right across the University. It’s one which Gareth believes can yield benefits both on and off campus and which complements the University’s enviable links with industry too: “Bath has a fantastic alumni community and incredible industrial partnerships. I want to continue bringing them into the fold to collaborate and mentor our student community.”

“The success of this can only grow as we continue to pull down the boundaries across the University for us all to come together and work together to give students the very best education and opportunity to be innovative and entrepreneurial. We need to focus on training up more people to have the courage to follow their ideas. The quality is most definitely there, we want to help them realise their potential.”

Pumping out bright ideas

Alumnus David Hutton (MEng Mechanical Engineering 2011) developed a FlexiPump – just one of the brilliant ideas to come out of Bath. It’s a simple, reliable and low-cost water pump, specially designed for the developing world. Designed to be made from a variety of materials to keep costs low, it’s small and lightweight for easy transportation and can be installed and maintained by one person. Best of all, you can operate it with a bicycle pump!

The FlexiPump is powered by compressed air. When air is pumped into the underwater chamber, it displaces the water and forces it to the surface through a hose pipe. The air is then sucked out of the chamber, allowing it to refill with water.

Professor Tony Miles, Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering, agrees that Bath’s students are well placed to turn their ideas into reality: “The graduates who emerge from our Mechanical Engineering degree have already experienced a great deal of hands-on engineering through the various practical elements of the course. David’s achievement is evidence that our students are more than capable of putting the theory they learn in the classroom into practice.”

I would welcome any alumni to engage with us, if you can offer expertise, mentorship, advice or provide financial support for further activities, come and help us build that can-do environment.”

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Fast tracking potentialAll too often, a lack of funding and or business support can be a barrier for budding entrepreneurs.

Chris Day (MEng Integrated Mechanical and Electrical Engineering 2013) was the first recipient of the Geoff Herrington Innovation Bursary, established by Professor Sara Arber.

It was while Chris was working on a battery management system in his final year project that his tutor recognised his potential and suggested he apply for the Innovation Bursary. Chris won: “I think they saw commercial potential in my idea as well as some innovative thinking. I also already had links with a company who would buy it should it succeed.”

The bursary funds allowed Chris to develop his research into how go-karts are powered and he spent the summer working on a new prototype kart. Reflecting about the impact of the bursary, Chris said: “It gave me the confidence to take the project to the next level, redesigning the system to turn it into a product. I used the funds to invest in software and hardware and totally redesigned the prototype. It completely changed my career path. I am now working for Biz Karts Ltd – the company who inspired me to begin the research. I’m developing their electric vehicles and we are looking at integrating my own product into the device.”

Keeping ideas off the shelf: supporting and nurturing the next generation of entrepreneurs Thanks to your continued support, students can now apply for even more bursaries and placements that allow them to access workshop space, technical support and experience well beyond their final year.

If you are interested in helping students see their ideas come to fruition, either through mentorship, placements or a gift, please get in touch with Sally Bennett at [email protected]

We need to innovate to progress society, to learn, to change, to grow. I think innovation is really a buzz word for progression. I’m easily inspired by other people and what they have achieved - it doesn’t really matter how big or small.”

Feature: Technical teaching + Creativity & innovation + Entrepreneurship = True potential

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Using algae to provide clean water, straw to build sustainable homes and caterpillars as a way to detect Alzheimer’s – just some of the ways that the University of Bath continues to see beyond the everyday and make a remarkable difference.

Almost 50 years ago we opened our doors to create an environment to nurture enterprising minds. This year, one of the University’s best ever, we remain a magnet for astonishing talent from around the world. Our world-class student experience and research facilities foster a community which looks further, following in the footsteps of Bath resident astronomer William Herschel who “looked further than ever human being before”.

Like Herschel, we are ambitious and pioneering. Whether using some of the most advanced technology to make ground breaking discoveries or talking with communities and policy makers to affect social change, we continue to be a catalyst for some of the brightest minds – and some of the brightest ideas too. More students than ever before are choosing Bath as the place where they can look further, and where they can thrive.

Our impact is substantial and we want to keep it that way. That’s why, as we approach our anniversary year, we are launching a campaign of thanks to celebrate and encourage the continued support of our alumni and friends who help us to make the remarkable happen. Whether supporting scholarships or pioneering research programmes, offering expertise and connections, or simply passing on words of encouragement, it’s an investment in minds and ideas which turbo charges potential.

Welcoming a select group of donors and influential friends from around the world to the campaign launch at the start of June at the Gherkin, Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell paid tribute to the difference that each and every supporter makes. She introduced Jonathan Milner, a science graduate, who announced a donation of £5 million to help establish a Centre for Evolution.

Later guests had the opportunity to get up close and personal with researchers and scholars to talk everything from algae, daffodils and cancer, caterpillars, solar energy, genomes and straw houses while enjoying the fantastic views from the top floor - a fitting place to consider how, together, we can continue to look further than ever before.

Above and beyond

Something to celebrate: £5m gift kick starts fundraising campaign

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Alumni helping us to look further than ever before

A safer world“Once we can show that silica is the right material for vaccine preservation and storage, it will help save millions of lives and I am hopeful it will help us eradicate many vaccine-preventable diseases.” Dr Asel Sartbaeva

Where some would see sand, Asel sees nano-silica and a solution to the vaccine cold chain. Most vaccines are stable below or around room-temperature, but they degrade over time if not refrigerated.Using the latest chemistry advances, Asel hopes to find a way to grow nano-silica around vaccine molecules so that vaccines can be transported and stored anywhere in the world. Her technique would produce a lightweight, easy-to-transport, solid material to house the vaccines which doctors could break off when they needed to.With an estimated 1.5 million children under five dying every year from vaccine-preventable diseases, Asel’s discovery could increase the availability of life-saving immunisation programmes around the world.

Tomorrow’s Leaders“The key raw materials currently used in the production of solar cells have low abundance, high costs and high toxicity. So finding alternatives will not only make solar cells cheaper but also safer and more sustainable for the environment.” Aron Walsh

Aron Walsh joined our Centre for Sustainable Chemical Technologies as a Whorrod Research Fellow - a position funded by a gift from Bath graduate Roger Whorrod, and his wife Sue. Three years later, Aron became a Professor. He now leads a team of researchers who are developing safer, cheaper and more efficient new materials that can be used for solar cells. We are now at the forefront of research into solar power, which could help cut carbon emissions and become the most important sustainable technology of the future. Aron’s research has attracted further funding in excess of £3 million from UK and European Research Councils, turning Roger and Sue’s original gift into a major boost to the future of sustainable energy - as Roger himself said: “Without doubt, this is the best investment I’ve ever made”.

Healthy Ageing“Improving and maintaining the quality of life for older disabled adults requires public health responses that centralise individual wellbeing and equitable participation.” Dr Rachel Arnold and Dr Jessica Francombe-Webb in the Department for Health have secured funding from Age UK to evaluate the charity’s Inspire and Include initiative, which aims to promote sport and physical activity for older disabled people. The three year evaluation will look at improvements to participants’ health and will also examine how they feel about their experiences. The impact of the research will be far-reaching; provision for both ageing and disabled populations is at the forefront of policy and practice in the UK and this project allows the voices of older disabled people to be fully heard.

Feature: Above and beyond

Find out more at go.bath.ac.uk/lookfurther

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Deathly discoveries in a hunt for our history

In a far corner of the Library, Lizzie Richmond, University Archivist, has neatly arranged a selection of the many treasures in her care for me to look at. The only thing spoiling the atmosphere of perfect calm and order is the ghostly white head in a glass box perched on top of a set of archival drawers.

“That’s the death mask of Sir Isaac Pitman,” Lizzie explains. “It’s over 100 years old and one of 7,000 items in the Pitman Collection - the largest single collection we have in the Library.”

Bathonian Sir Isaac Pitman invented Pitman shorthand in 1837. Still used today, it’s a phonetic system which uses symbols to represent sounds rather than letters.

In addition to the death mask, the collection consists of documents relating to the history of shorthand, writing systems, orthography, and spelling and educational reform.

“We also have some books in Initial Teaching Alphabet (ITA) developed by his grandson, Sir James Pitman,” adds Lizzie. A handsome portrait of Sir James shows me that it was more than just a love of language that ran in the Pitman genes: there’s a striking similarity, particularly in the nose.

Feature: 50th anniversary

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To mark our 50th anniversary, we’re on the hunt for 50 items that best represent the University of Bath. With so many contenders it’s difficult to know where to start. We sent BA2’s newest writer, Martin Cornish, to the Archives and Research Collections to begin the search.

Sir James, the University’s first Pro-Chancellor, donated both his and his grandfather’s collections in the 1970s including The Tale of Peter Rabbit - or in ITA, The tael ov Peeter Rabbit. Reading about hungry rabbits in a vegetable patch in ITA is quite a surreal experience.

As Lizzie unrolls our Grant of Arms, I know it has to be one of our 50. It’s intricately illustrated in gold with a dragon, unicorn, eagle and gorgons’ heads, as well as our motto: Generatim Discite Cultus (learn each field of study according to its kind).

Also beautifully illustrated, but in an altogether less formal way, is the wonderful Hockey Jottings, part of the All England Women’s Hockey Association (AEWHA) Collection. The book, dated 1898, is full of poems, stories, player profiles, accounts of matches and

watercolour illustrations relating to the King’s College Ladies’ Hockey Club. (I wonder if Team Bath Buccaneers ever take their watercolours with them on tour?).

Given that Bath-based modern pentathletes have won a medal at every Olympics since 2000 - most recently Samantha Murray

who won silver in 2012 while finding time to earn a French and Politics degree - it’s no surprise that the University holds the Modern Pentathlon Collection. A scrapbook from the 1952 Olympics is a wonderful record of the early days of the sport, full of pictures of men with brilliantined hair looking like off-duty World War II fighter pilots. “Modern Pentathlon was very much the preserve of the armed forces then,” clarifies Lizzie.

A tie from the 1980 Moscow Olympics also catches my eye. “1980 was the year of the boycott of the Moscow Olympics,” explains Adrian Nardone, Archives & Records Assistant. “61 countries refused to take part as a protest to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. British athletes were allowed to attend the event as long as they took unpaid leave. The Modern Pentathlon Association of Great Britain - now Pentathlon GB - sent four athletes, a manager and a coach.There was a lot of politics in sport back then.” And still is.

Beside the ties and pennants is a large, impressive book, freshly unwrapped from its archival paper. “This is the Historie of Plants, also known as Gerard’s Herbal, by the botanist John Gerard. It was published in 1597, and is part of our History of Medicines Collection, which relates mainly to the history and development of medicines and medicinal science during the 19th and 20th centuries. It’s an important resource for both our pharmacists and biologists,” says Lizzie. It reminds me of a book of spells from a fairy tale, with fine engravings of plants, fruits and vegetables alongside notes on their health-giving properties.

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The final contender for the golden anniversary list is the large, cast iron Columbian hand press, which sits in the foyer. Formerly owned by Sir Isaac Pitman, it was recently brought back to life by our artist in residence, Barry Sykes, for his project entitled Sociable Hermit. I’m sure Sir Isaac would have been pleased to see it back in use. And Sir James would have been pleased with the prints - they’re in ITA.

All the objects in the Archives and Research Collections form part of a living history of the University, kept alive by those who continue to enjoy, use and learn from them. And with people like Lizzie and Adrian there to make sure they are preserved and promoted, I’m sure that people will still be enjoying them when we celebrate our centenary in 2066.

Lizzie and Adrian are currently in the process of digitising all the video we have in the archive. If you have any footage that you think should be preserved for future generations (student shows, sporting contests or fundraising events etc), please do get in touch. The team can also give you more information about the University archives and set up a visit. Lizzie Richmond, University Archivist: [email protected] +44(0)1225383464 www.bath.ac.uk/library/services/archives

50 years in 50 objectsIs there an object that represents the University to you? Something that is unique to Bath? Something that tells our story - or yours whilst you were here?

Our campusDoes the lake bring back fond memories? Do the ducks still make you smile?

Student lifeIs there an issue of a student newspaper or a gig poster that makes you think of your time at Bath?

Our researchDo you think Photonic crystal fibres or PhosphoSense technology represents the best of Bath?

The arts, library or sport Would you include The Arts Barn or the bobsleigh track?

Our historyWhat about our Charter and ceremonial mace?

If you would like to suggest an object for our list, please email [email protected] telling us why you think it should make the grade.

The final selection will be displayed on the 50th anniversary website and form part of a self-guided tour of the campus.

Feature: 50th anniversary

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Your alumni

Honourable mentionsSeveral of our alumni were recognised in the New Year Honours list, including good friend of the University, Roger Whorrod, who received an OBE for services to Philanthropy in Higher Education.

Roger (BSc Electrical Engineering 1965 and MSc Electrical Engineering 1970) left school at 15 with no qualifications, but through hard work and determination won himself a place at the Bristol College of Advanced Technology - later to become the University of Bath. “Going to university opened up a whole new world and left me with a profound belief in the power of education to change lives and the importance of universities to society,” said Roger. This belief has made him one of our most committed supporters, giving opportunities to some of the brightest young people to study at Bath, and furthering our research for the benefit of society. Roger and his wife Sue have supported our University since 2005, and are some of our most generous donors, having given more than £1million.

Other alumni recognised in the Honours list are:Mr Ian Clinton (MPhil Education 1990), former Principal of Blackburn College, who received an OBE for services to Further Education; Mr David Rae (BSc Horticulture 1978 and MSc Biological Sciences 1986), former Director of Horticulture and Learning at the Royal Botanic Garden in Edinburgh, who received an OBE for services to Horticulture and Education; Mr Christopher Wells, a current student studying for an MSc in Integrated Environmental Management, who received an MBE for services to Education; and Professor Teresa Rees CBE, Honorary Graduate, who received a DBE for services to Social Sciences. Professor Rees is Professor of Social Science at Cardiff University.

From Japan to St. James’s Palace

Over450gueststravelled from as far afield as Australia, Japan and Canada this spring to attend a very special alumni reception hosted by our Chancellor, HRH The Earl of Wessex, at St. James’s Palace.

After a warm welcome from the Chancellor, our Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell, outlined some of the successes the University has enjoyed over the last 12 months, including our excellent REF results and topping the National Student Survey for student satisfaction for a second year running. She also thanked alumni and friends around the world for their continued support: “The warmth and affection of so many graduates who have been through our doors is a source of constant encouragement to me. I know that by harnessing it we will make the University an even more wonderful place.”

Guests spent the rest of the evening chatting with the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor, and catching up with friends, old and new, over wine and canapés in the beautiful State Apartments. It was a particularly special evening for Martyn Ratcliffe (BSc Physics 1983) and his wife Fiona Ratcliffe (BSc Humanities and Social Sciences 1982) who joined the Chancellor’s Roll of Honour in recognition of a hugely generous gift to the University.

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Your alumni community

Building a legacy The contribution of long-time supporters and friends of the University, Brian and Margaret Roper, was literally set in stone this spring with the naming of the Roper Student Services Centre.

It’s the first time that we have named a part of the University after an individual donor, which reflects the lasting impact they have both made. Brian and Margaret’s philanthropy is truly exceptional, with wide-ranging gifts of over half a million pounds. So far, their scholarship fund has supported 166 students from low income backgrounds and the Ropers have taken a personal interest in each and every one.

Rebecca Whysall is proud to be one of the Roper scholars: “I remember asking Brian why he strove to help others and his answer was simply, ‘Why not?’. Meeting the Ropers and seeing how modest they are has taught me to fully appreciate all the opportunities I receive.”

Brian set up his company, Roper Rhodes Ltd, in Bath in 1979. The company became the UK’s leading independent supplier of bathroom furniture and Brian became well known locally as one of Bath’s major employers. He received an MBE in 2008 for the support he gave to a wide variety of local charities, and in 2009 was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration by the University. Sadly, Brian passed away in May last year and is greatly missed by everyone who knew him. The Roper Student Services Centre will ensure his, and Margaret’s, legacy lives onat the University.

The sky’s the limit for Danielle

Lt Danielle Welch (née Hancock) (MEng (hons) Aerospace Engineering with French 2007) has made history as the first – and last - woman to qualify as a Royal Navy ab–initio Lynx helicopter pilot.

Danielle was awarded her wings by Prince Andrew at a ceremony at RNAS Yeovilton in Somerset this January, marking the completion of more than five years of intense training.

Ab-initio means training from start to finish in the same aircraft. In Danielle’s case, this was a Lynx Mk 8. She will be the last woman to train in the helicopter as the squadron is due to be replaced in 2017 with Wildcats. Danielle is deploying operationally this summer and looking forward to putting her training into practice. Reflecting on her achievement she said: “This is something I have been trying to achieve for most of my life and when I found out I had been selected it was brilliant. The course is tough. We started the Lynx course with six and we’ve ended with four. Not everyone gets through but to achieve it is brilliant. My family and friends are all very proud.”

Speaking at the ceremony The Duke of York said: “I don’t think people really realise the amount of hard work and the amount of time those who have received their wings today have actually put in.”

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Professor Kevin Edge retiresOur Deputy Vice- Chancellor and alumnus, Professor Kevin Edge, retired at the end of May. We asked him to reflect on his time at the University:

“I find it rather difficult to comprehend that I have worked here for 39 years. I started in 1976 as a Research Officer on a fixed-term 3 year contract, but as a result of a stream of tremendous opportunities to do many different and varied things, I never left. To use a very well-worn cliche: the time has simply flown by.

I have had the privilege of playing a part in the amazing growth of the University over that period, both in its scale and stature. I have thoroughly enjoyed my many and varied interactions with students and staff alike and that is something I shall undoubtedly miss. I can only commend the outstanding commitment and contributions of our staff, at all levels in the organisation, and the quality and engagement of our students. And that’s what makes us great.

My career at the University has embraced many different roles including Research Officer, Senior Lecturer, Personal Chair of Engineering, Head of Department, Acting Dean and Pro-Vice-Chancellor. Prior to my academic career I worked in the aerospace industry in the field of aero-engine fuel systems.

From the time I joined the University until my appointment as Deputy Vice-Chancellor I was engaged in research and continuing professional development activities in the Centre for Power Transmission and Motion Control and its forerunner, the Fluid Power Centre. The Centre’s outstanding research, and its industrial significance, was acknowledged by the award of a Queen’s Anniversary Prize for Further and Higher Education in 2001.

I cannot possibly forget that I am an alumnus of the University (BSc, PhD and DSc) and I have little doubt that, post my retirement, the University will remain very much in my thoughts. I look forward to hearing of even greater successes in the future.”

Professor Kevin Edge

BSc Engineering (1st Class Hons,1971)PhD Thesis, 1975: Characteristics of engine hydrostatic transmission systems DSc Thesis, 1995: Collected papers, 1977-94

1991Personal Chair in Mechanical Engineering

1993 -2008Deputy Director of the Centre for Power Transmission and Motion Control (PTMC)

1997 - 2003Head of the Department of MechanicalEngineering

2001Responsible for the Mechanical Engineeringsubmission to the Research Assessment Exercise leading to the highest rating (5*A).

2003Dean of the Faculty of Engineering andDesign

2003Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research)

2008 - 2015Deputy Vice-Chancellor

I cannot possibly forget that I am an alumnus of the University and I have little doubt that, post my retirement, the University will remain very much in my thoughts. I look forward to hearing of even greater successes in the future.”

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The Milner Centre for Evolution will concentrate on three areas:

• Fundamental research into how life evolved, from investigating the evolution of genes to studying fossil records;

• Applied research into the evolution of microbes, including genetic tracking of MRSA infections, and applying this knowledge to improve medical treatments;

• Communication of evolution research to the public, including improving the teaching of evolution in schools at primary and secondary level, running free open access online courses (MOOCs) and using evolution to improve public health messaging.

Your alumni community

The University of Bath is to launch a Centre for Evolution research following its largest ever donation, received from one of its science graduates, Dr Jonathan Milner.

Dr Milner graduated in Biology & Biochemistry at Bath in 1988. Following his PhD at Leicester University, he returned to Bath in 1995 as a Research Fellow for pharmaceutical company Pfizer on a project involving antibody engineering. He later went on to found Abcam, one of the major suppliers in the world of antibodies for scientific research.

The £5 million donation, announced at a fundraising campaign launch at The Gherkin (see page 18), will help establish the Milner Centre for Evolution on the University’s Claverton campus. The Centre will be the first of its kind in the UK and only the second in the world to focus on evolutionary research.

Dr Milner is a long-term philanthropist to higher education with a particular interest in evolution. He set up the Evolution Education Trust in 2011 and helped establish and fund GEVOteach, a research initiative at the University which aims to improve the teaching of genetics and evolution in primary and secondary schools in the UK. He is currently funding three PhD students at the University and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University for his services to Life Sciences in 2013.

“Evolution is something I’m really passionate about. It is too important to keep just for the academic community – I feel it’s a moral responsibility for scientists to share our knowledge with the rest of the world.

“It is not just about the history of life on Earth but about us, and how we came to be as we are, touching on issues of philosophy as much as biology. Applied evolutionary research can help us develop better health policies, advance medical treatments and even improve public health messaging.

“No other world centre combines outreach with research and so our Centre will not simply be providing world-class evolution research, but will also engage the public in that research so that everyone can learn and benefit from this knowledge.”

“Bath is where my scientific career began and with the world-leading research into evolution

already going on there, it is the natural place to choose for this Centre.” Jonathan Milner

“The University is delighted to accept this exceptional gift from Dr Milner. It is an important

landmark in the University’s history, and will establish Bath as a centre

of excellence for world-class evolutionary research, unique

in the UK. We are particularly excited to be launching this

new venture ahead of our 50th anniversary celebrations next year and hope that this extraordinarily generous donation will encourage others to follow Dr Milner’s lead.” Vice-Chancellor Professor Dame Glynis Breakwell.

£5m gift to create the UK’s first Centre for evolution research

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The University awarded the following honorary degrees in 2014.

Sara Miller McCune(Doctor of Letters) is founder and chairwoman of the academic publishing house SAGE. She is equally well known for her philanthropic works, including funding schools in the developing world, and she also founded the Miller McCune Center for Research, Media and Public Policy.

Faith Wainwright MBE(Doctor of Engineering) is one of the UK’s leading engineers. She is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering and Director for Technical Skills at global consulting firm Arup. Faith has contributed to projects including The Shard, HSBC and the transformation of Bankside Power Station into Tate Modern.

Andrew Ritchie MBE(Doctor of Engineering) designed the Brompton Bicycle. His 40 year passion to create the best portable bicycle in the world, along with his ability as a designer and innovator, now sees Brompton Bicycle Ltd as the largest volume bicycle manufacturer in the UK, producing over 50,000 cycles a year.

Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock (above)(Doctor of Science) is a prominent space scientist and science communicator. Her career has included working on the Gemini Telescope in South America and spearheading work on an optical subsystem for a telescope that is replacing the Hubble. Maggie is well known for her presentations to tens of thousands of pupils about the wonders of space and she co-hosts the BBC’s The Sky at Night. Jem Finer(Doctor of Arts) produces musical works that inspire fascination and hunger for understanding of scientific principles. His work at the University of Bath includes Mobile Sinfonia, which uses digital technology for a musical piece which spans the globe. He is also co-writer of what has been cited as the best Christmas song of all time, ‘Fairytale of New York.’

Jan Paterson MBE(Doctor of Laws) is one of the most powerful and impressive leaders in sport management, leadership and administration. She has broken down barriers in the sporting world and continues to be involved with various partnership initiatives related to the Olympic Movement. Jan has played an important role in the development of students and sporting facilities at the University of Bath.

Professor Sir Cary Cooper CBE(Doctor of Laws) has produced hundreds of books and articles about behavioural science at work. He believes passionately that our research should be used to help and improve the well-being of workers, organisations and communities. His writing, media work and presentations have reached out to managers, practitioners, governments, policy-makers and the general public.

Sir Peter Hendy CBE(Doctor of Engineering) is Commissioner of Transport for London. He received a CBE for his work in keeping public transport in London running during and after the 7 July London bombings. Sir Peter was knighted both for improving London’s transport and for the effective running of the network for the 2012 Games. He is a long-term Bath resident and is actively involved in the local community.

Professor Jeff Thompson CBE(above) (Doctor of Education) joined the University of Bath as Professor in 1979 and remains a tremendous ambassador for us worldwide. Jeff has made an enormous contribution to the development of Education including working with Kenneth Baker to develop a national curriculum and most recently acting as Chair of the Examinations Appeals Board. He continues to publish, teach and supervise research at Masters and Doctoral level.

Our very own Honours list

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Professor Sir Adam Roberts(Doctor of Letters) is a distinguished scholar in the field of international relations and a leading expert on international security, international organisations and international law. Among his most significant publications is ‘Documents on the Laws of War’ which has been very widely used, including as a reference guide by officers serving on active operations. He has also published extensively in professional journals and has produced reports and evidence to many governmental and international bodies.

Baroness Ruth Lister CBE(Doctor of Laws) is one of the UK’s leading social scientists. She has published widely on issues of poverty and social exclusion, welfare state reform, gender and citizenship. Ruth has been at the centre of all the key public debates on poverty and policy in recent years, is currently a member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights, and is Honorary President of the Child Poverty Action Group.

Baroness Sheila Hollins (above)(Doctor of Laws) is a leading doctor and psychiatrist. Her experience as the parent of a son with a severe learning disability has been an inspiration to her during her career, motivating tireless campaigns to improve health services for people with learning disabilities. Sheila led the British Medical Association as President from 2012 to 2013, she currently chairs the BMA Board of Science and, as a member of the Commission on the Protection of Minors, she advises Pope Francis.

Professor Yonghua Song(Doctor of Engineering) joined the University of Bath in 1992. In four years he produced 30 journal papers and three books, one of which received the National Book Prize by the Institute of Electrical Engineering. He is a pioneer in engaging the Chinese government with universities from across the world to benefit both countries’ capacity in teaching and research. Throughout his extensive career, he has maintained very close research links with Bath.

Tim Hollingsworth(Doctor of Laws) is Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association (BPA). In this role, and that of Secretary General of ParalympicsGB during London 2012, Tim was instrumental in delivering the Games that inspired the nation and creating the momentum for the international Paralympic movement. The BPA chose the University as its preparation and training base leading up to London 2012. Tim was also instrumental in helping the University establish our Research Centre for DisAbility Sport & Health (DASH).

Robert Randall(Doctor of Arts) was one of the first students to attend the University of Bath. Following a computing career at the South West Gas Board he decided to pursue a keen interest in botany, joining the Bath Royal Literary and Scientific Institution (BRLSI) as a volunteer to help identify and catalogue thousands of specimens in its library and museum collections. Robert’s knowledge of natural history, botany and computing saw him become Chair of Collections and also a Trustee.

David Carpenter(Doctor of Business Administration) graduated from Bath in 1976 with a degree in Social Sciences. He joined the Sports Council for a momentous 24-year career where he researched the possibility of a national lottery to fund sport and promoted it as the only viable way for Britain to compete on a

world stage. His effort paid off with the creation of the National Lottery Fund where he served as Director from 1994 until 2003. During his tenure, the Fund awarded £2.6 billion in grants, from grassroots to elite performance.

Lieutenant General Sir Robert Fry(Doctor of Laws) built his career as a senior officer in the Corps of the Royal Marines which included roles as Commander of United Kingdom Amphibious Forces, Director of British operations in the Gulf War and Deputy Commanding General of the Multinational Force in Iraq. He is currently Chair of Albany Associates, a Visiting Professor at Reading University, a member of the Royal United Services Institute and trustee of Help for Heroes. Sir Robert also writes for the Wall Street Journal, Prospect magazine, and The Huffington Post.

Professor Gordon McVie(Doctor of Medicine) has spent his career pushing the boundaries of research, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Gordon was responsible for the Cancer Trials Networks and was a founding member of the UK National Cancer Research Institute. He also led the Cancer Research Campaign into a merger with the Imperial Cancer Research Fund to create the largest cancer research charity in Europe, Cancer Research UK. Educational videos from his journal have been watched by over 10 million cancer professionals. He works as a Senior Consultant at the European Institute of Oncology in Milan.

Our honorary graduates come from all walks of life and have made significant contributions in their field. If you know someone who you think should be awarded an honorary degree, you can nominate them by contacting the Alumni Relations team at [email protected].

Our honorary graduates

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Thousands of students, past and present, stand to benefit from a unique skills matching system being pioneered by the University of Bath. Bath Connection matches Bath students and graduates looking for careers support with the wealth of expertise within the University’s alumni network. Students can use the system for anything from CV writing to getting a work placement.

If you are interested to find out more about how the system could help you, take a look and get in touch. We’re very excited to be the first university to use this system and we want to make it the very best! www.alumni.bath.ac.uk/alumni

Most of the Bath Connection Alumni Experts sign up to help because they remember how tough it can be to make those first steps into industry and they want to give something back.

Edward Wal (BSc Economics and Administration 1970) was keen to share his experience and so he registered as an Alumni Expert in sales. He has found it a really rewarding experience: “Madeleine approached me for me some advice regarding the construction of a CV which would help her secure a particular placement. We spent several hours completing a major rewrite which resulted in Madeleine securing a job which she wanted. I have seen many CV’s over the years and they can be discounted in a matter of seconds; it is important to get it right as it is the first impression that a potential employer has of an applicant. I am pleased I could help.”

Call yourself an expert?

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Madeleine Hanrahan, International Management and Modern Languages student, was one of the first students to use Bath Connection. Thanks to the advice she got from Edward through the system, she has recently secured a Sales and Marketing placement in Paris:

“As with many courses at Bath, my course has a mandatory placement in third year. These placements are often very competitive and I felt I needed help writing both my CV and cover letters. I used Bath Connection to make contact with Edward – he has extensive experience in marketing, which was perfect for me. The system was really easy and straightforward to use and so beneficial. Edward has been really friendly and he was always happy to help. I don’t think it would be wrong to say that I wouldn’t have got my placement offer without his help.”

Election fever!Our specialist researchers were actively engaged in all aspects of the General Election 2015 campaign, sharing their expertise with the media and with the public at numerous local hustings events. By analysing manifesto pledges, dissecting the TV leaders’ debate and how parties shape their brand, to picking apart the latest polls, University of Bath experts helped cut through the noise of the election campaign with impartial, informed analysis.

Happy coincidence: chance encounters in Singapore

When our Director of Development & Alumni Relations, Gavin Maggs, hosted our alumni reception at Raffles in Singapore, he met three graduates who were, quite by chance, holidaying there at the time.

Peter Fosker (BSc (Hons) Engineering 1973) was relaxing in his hotel in New Zealand, downloading email, when a message popped up about the Raffles meeting: “I said to my wife, if that had been when we were passing through on our way home, we could have gone. We checked our schedule and it was right in the middle of our three day stopover. What a coincidence! So we went. If you weren’t there, you missed a good evening!

Jane Morgan (BPharm (Hons) Pharmacy 1973 and PhD Pharmacy & Pharmacology 1978) happened to be in Singapore with freshman roomate Liz when her email came through: “Liz and I met in 1970 at Freshers’ weekend and shared a room for the winter term. We kept in touch, but met only very occasionally. I get the [event] emails, and one announced the get-together in Singapore while we would both be there. So I signed us up and the rest, as they say, is history!”

Alan Ormerod (BSc (Hons) Social Sciences 1979) was visiting his youngest daughter, Ellie, in Western Australia and was on a stop-over in Singapore on his way back to the UK when he spotted a sign at the Raffles Hotel: “I saw the notice about an alumni reception in the East India rooms and thought I’m in! What a wonderful evening I had.”

You can read more from alumni in our blogblogs.bath.ac.uk/on-parade

Almost a thousand graduates like Edward have already signed up to be Alumni Experts. We’d love to get even more on board so that more and more students can benefit. Please do get in touch if you can help. [email protected]

Your alumni community

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1980s Maureen Broderstad MEdEducation1982I sold my home in the UK and bought a small one here in Cyprus. It’s on a complex but has a large swimming pool, so my lifestyle is good. I have lots of supportive friends, and a few of us run the website cypruswildflowers.com. Last year we found a plant not seen since 1880. It had moved from Kyrenia in the north of the island to Peristerona in the south.

1990s Dr Christian Von Trotha Taylor BSc (Hons) Applied Biology withPlacement1994,PhDBiochemistry 2001 I’m working as a biology teacher in Plymouth as well as for the Open University science faculty.

Georgina Clayson BA (Hons) MLES German & Russian 1995 I taught English as a Foreign Language when I graduated, which allowed me to work in Russia and Germany. I then studied Arabic to keep my language brain active and worked in Scandinavia, Russia, India and Nepal for SAGA Holidays.

When I returned to the UK I moved into specialist travel, and then for a London trading house, buying and selling aircraft. While doing this I studied Italian and Spanish, and then, in 2001, switched tack and joined an electricity company in a communications role, using German and French, and have stayed with this company ever since. I have been fortunate to travel extensively, and the fashion business I started when I was 19, before I came to Bath, is still running in Germany.

I have spent much of my time in Germany and life-long friendships formed there have introduced me to wild camping, hiking and international scouting. I married Paul when I was 35 and now we have Sidney who is 7 years old. I’ve recently tried ceramics and mosaic art and I love colourful decorating, dancing, camping and gardening. Advice to others: embrace every challenge and never stop.

Michael Pugh BA (Hons) MLES French & Russian 1995 After spending eight of the last 11 years in Moscow with Hogan Lovells, I decided it was time for a change, so I rode my horses half way home through Russia, Belarus, Ukraine and Romania. Having been absolutely bowled over by the stellar performance of the athletes at the Paralympics in Sochi last year, I decided to use

my ride to raise funds for the British and Romanian Paralympic Associations. We came across a fascinating mixture of villages that time had forgot, thriving pagan summer festivals and mobilising troops, protected all the time by our adopted dog ‘Friday’. I recorded the ride on my blog - ridinghalfwayhome.com. I am now working on the first volume of my novel, A Ride Through Putin’s Garden.

Captain Arthur AinslieMBA Full Time Business Administration 1996 I’m working as chairman of Plymouth Drake Foundation, as well as being a magistrate and an external committee member at Plymouth University.

Dan Hobbs BSc (Hons) Mathematics & Computing with Placement 1997 I got married to Dinah in 2012 and we had our first son, George, in December that year. He’s now a big brother to Frank, who turned up on the 3rd of June. During this time I left my comfortable job for the flexibility of working for my brother’s business. I now spend my days and evenings writing Sage add-ons and doing websites; evenings mainly, as I spend half my day running round after George and helping out with Frankie. Hard work, but exciting times!

Sarah Bevan BSc (Hons) Psychology & Sociology with Placement 1997 Since graduating I worked in Category Management and Consumer Affairs for British Airways, Unilever and Colgate Palmolive. I live in Sussex with my husband and two daughters, and have stayed in touch with my Eastwood friends and course buddies!

Class notes

Tell us all what you’re up to!If you’re moving house, welcoming a new family addition, changing careers or just want to say hello to old friends, writing a class note is a quick and simple way to share your news.

Simply go to go.bath.ac.uk/share-your-news (you needto register with the alumni website first) or email [email protected]

Once approved, your class note will appear on our website under your year of graduation. We’ll also do our best to include as many as we can in the next BA2 and BA2 Online.

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Catch up on news from classmates around the world

The University of Bath reserves the right to amend submitted articles and text where necessary due to space constraints, content or other reasonable considerations. The views expressed in BA2 are those of the authors and are not necessarily representative of those of the University of Bath.

Mary Langford MA International Education 1997 Though I have recently joined Dwight School London as Admissions Director, I continue to work as an independent international education consultant managing the International Language and Literature Teachers’ Cooperative to support self-taught Diploma students, consulting and writing for the Good Schools Guide and working with University College Zealand in Denmark ITEPS programme.

2000

Ed Hopper BEng (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering 2000 In April 2014, after possibly the longest application process ever (two years), I have become one of the youngest people to become a Fellow of Engineering with the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Simon Cartwright BSc (Hons) Economics with Placement 2000I married Bogumila Pietrulewicz on 25 May 2014 in Stansted Mountfitchet and we now live and work in London.

Mike Hewitson MPharm (Hons) Pharmacy 2002 Sarah and I are pleased to announce the acquisition of our second pharmacy: The Abbey Pharmacy, Sherborne, Dorset.

Joseph Horn-Smith HND Coach Education & SportsPerformance2003I’m now coaching Sydney University 2nd and 3rd grade, plus some 1st grade.

Dr Hilary Potter (below)BA (Hons) MLES French & German2003,PhDPoliticsandInternationalStudies2014I’m delighted to say that I successfully finished my PhD, The Dynamics of German Remembering: The Rosenstrasse Protest in Historical Debate and Cultural Representation, earlier this year and graduated this July. It’s been a fabulous journey full of twists and turns. As well as sharing this news, I’d like to say a massive thank you to my fellow Bathonians (you know who you all are) for their genuine support and encouragement from beginning to end. You’re an amazing bunch.

Sara Martinez Hernandez MEng (Hons) Biochemical EngineeringwithPlacement2003I moved back to Spain while looking for a job after graduating. In March 2004 I finally joined Repsol to work in their Petronor refinery close to Bilbao, as a Modelling and Optimization Engineer. It’s a challenging and constantly evolving job which I enjoy very much. I live in a lovely seaside town full of life, though I still have the itch to relocate abroad and travel the world. However, I got married and had two gorgeous girls (now six and three years old) so at the moment I’m quite settled, but who knows what the future holds.

Marie Sayer MPharm(Hons)Pharmacy2004My parents (below), Roger (BSc Biological Sciences 1973) and Sue (BPharm (Hons) Pharmacy 1973) Sayer (née Lister), met whilst studying at Bath and celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on 15th March.

Sarah Loftus (née Myers)BSc (Hons) Molecular and Cellular Biology 2006 I married Craig Loftus (MEng Aerospace 2007) in June 2011 and our first child Thomas was born in June 2014.

Victoria Barlow (née Jefferies) BSc (Hons) Biology 2010 I thought you may like to know that Richard Barlow (BSc (Hons) Physics 2009, MSc Engineering Design 2011) and I got married on Saturday 24 May 2014. We both went to Bath and it was there that we first met. We had a fantastic time there and we owe a lot of our happiness to the University.

Edward Turner BSc (Hons) Politics with International Relations 2012 Last year I was teaching in Kathmandu in Nepal from February to June. I am currently running a charity project in Nepal, called Operation Nepali Child, working with orphanages in the country.

Class notes

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Tina Seskis (née Harrison)BSc (Hons) Business Administration1988I have recently completed my new book, When We Were Friends. It’s both inspired by and dedicated to my six closest friends from the University of Bath. My first novel, One Step Too Far, was an international bestseller and has sold to over 50 countries via 16 publishers worldwide.

James GoddardPGCE1981My new novel, Knowledge Waits, has been published as an eBook and is now available from Amazon. It may be of interest to people who remember me from way back then.

Kerry FisherBA(Hons)MLESFrench1988I’ve just got a two-book deal with HarperCollins. My funny novel about school gate snobbery, The School Gate Survival Guide, is out on ebook this summer, with the paperback out in September. The main character is of Basque heritage - all those years of studying language mean that I always feel the need to include some kind of ‘European’ element in my writing!

Paul ToolanI taught Educational Leadership and Management in the Department of Education till I retired in 2009. In retirement, I’ve turned to writing crime novels and my first, A Killing Tree, is now published and doing pretty well.

If you would like your book to feature in BA2 please get in touch and we’ll do our best to include it. [email protected]

Books

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Alumni Dr Robert Ayres MSc Construction Management 1994Mr Richard Cliff BSc (Hons) Business Administration 1978Mr Trevor Cooke MEd Education 1983Mr Neil Davis BSc (Hons) Economics & International Development with Placement 2005Mr Peter Edge BSc (Hons) Building Technology 1973Mr Steven Ellis MEng (Hons) Mechanical Engineering 2004Mr Orhan Eryildirim BSc (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1978, MSc Electrical Engineering 1981Mr David Esther BSc Economics & Administration 1968Miss Lauren Fairbrother BSc (Hons) Sociology with Placement 2005Mr Gerry Fallon MSc Industrial Relations 1984Professor Marie Filbin BSc (Hons) Biochemistry 1978, PhD Biological Sciences 1982Mr Christopher Flewellen BSc (Hons) Physics 1970Mr Andrew Ford BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with German with Placement 1980Mr Kenneth Gait BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering 1964Mr Cyril Golding BSc Engineering Metallurgy 1971Miss Julie Goodwin BSc (Hons) Mathematical Studies 1979Mr Michael Greaves BSc (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1973Mr Mike Hare MBA Executive Business Administration 1992Mr Adrian Heard Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1991Mrs Pauline Heath (née Clayton) BSc Pharmacy & Pharmacology 1968Mr Haydn Henry MBA Executive Business Administration 1991Dr Michael Higgitt BSc Applied Chemistry 1971Miss Sheila Hockley BSc (Hons) Applied Biology with Placement 1980, CertEd Education 1981Mr Mark Holloway BSc (Hons) General Architectural Studies 1978, BArch (Hons) Architecture 1980Mr Shamsul Jamaluddin BEng (Hons) Chemical & Bio Process Engineering with Placement 1995Mr Paul Joy PG Cert/Dip (Taught) Primary Care Rheumatology 2000Dr Samar Kadi MA Translation & Linguistics 1987Professor Patrick Keane PhD Humanities and Social Sciences 1970Mr Peter King MSc Business Administration 1979Mr Michael Mikucki BSc (Hons) General Architectural Studies 1978, BArch (Hons) Architecture 1980Mr Dennis Milstead BSc (Hons) Business Administration 1985Ms Maura Murphy MA Education 2008Mr John Nicholls MSc Business Administration 1978Dr Richard Norden MSc Mathematics & Statistics 1972, PhD Mathematics 1980Mr Mark O’Brien MEng (Hons) Automotive Engineering 2006Mr David Ogborne Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1991Mr Simon Pickering Mechanical Engineering 1991Ms Sharon Pitts Foundation Degree (Science) Addictions Counselling 2006

Mrs Elizabeth Pywell (née Warman) BSc (Hons) Applied Biology 1987Mr John Richards BSc (Hons) Economics & Government 1980Mr Cliff Richards BSc Engineering 1966Dr Elisabeth Richens (née Conolly) PhD Pharmacy & Pharmacology 1970Miss Lynne Richmond MSc Responsibility & Business Practice 2004Mr Christopher Riley BSc (Hons) Mechanical Engineering with German with Placement 1980Mr Peter Sheaves BSc (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1975Dr James Skelding MEd Education 1976, PhD Education 1983Mr Martin Smith BSc (Hons) Computer Science with German Language with Placement 2014Mr Ian Standige BSc (Hons) General Architectural Studies 1970, BArch (Hons) Architecture 1974Mr David Stapleton Architecture & Building Engineering 1981, MSc Conservation of Historic Buildings 2006Mr Stanley Starks MSc Business Administration 1970Mrs Sarah Talbot-Ponsonby (née Geehan) BA (Hons) MLES French & ab initio Italian 2000Mr Adrian Valentine-Slack MBA Executive Business Administration 1999Mrs Janet Walker (née Marvin) PGCE Education 1992Mr David Williams BSc Mechanical Engineering with French 1969Mr Robert Wiltshire BSc (Hons) Electrical & Electronic Engineering 1970Mr Peter Woodcock BSc Engineering 1976Mr John Worzencraft BSc (Hons) Chemistry 1970

Honorary Graduates The Rt Hon The Lord Brittan of Spennithorne PC QC DL Honorary LLD 1995Sir Robin Ibbs KBE Honorary LLD 1993Dr Richard Laws CBE FRS Honorary DSc 1991The Rt Hon The Lord Lewis of Newnham FRS FRSC Honorary DSc 1995Sir Terry Pratchett OBE Honorary DLitt 2003

Former staff Dr Alan Dodge Department of Biology & BiochemistryMr Maurice Farr BursarMiss Marie Morley BSc (Hons) Sociology with Industrial Relations with Placement 1999, Management 2008 - Research & Innovation Services and UCU Branch PresidentProfessor John Staniforth Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology

We are sorry to record the deaths of the following people:

Notices of death

As part of the festivities, we’d love to hear your stories about life on, and off, campus. Funny, heart-warming, inspiring or just plain silly – send us your memories and we’ll share them on our special anniversary website.

[email protected] Stanley 50th Anniversary Project ManagerDevelopment and Alumni Relations East Building BA2 7AY

www.bath.ac.uk/alumni

Help us celebrate our 50th anniversary

The University of Bath celebrates in 2016!