Nov/Dec 1994

Volume 5 No 5

Contents

Athletics first

The first athletics meeting at the University's new running track took
place in October. As well as the track and the new pavilion, the site on
Wilberforce Road will shortly have a competition standard hockey pitch
with a 1,000 metre jogging track running around the edge.
The new facilities mean that the athletics Varsity Match will be held in
Cambridge next May for the first time in 130 years. The Cuppers
athletics meeting in October was a great success, despite the weather
that day. Dr Chris Thorne, Chairman of the Sport Syndicate, explains:
"The great difference is that it's an artificial surface, rather than a
cinder track like we had at Milton Road. Despite the torrential rain,
the meeting began and ended on time -- on a cinder track it would have
been abandoned."
"There are now eight lanes rather than six, which is a great help with
lots of colleges competing, and the throwing and jumping areas offer
much better footholds and are much safer."
The 5.5 million pound development has not been without controversy along
the way. Tony Lemons, the University's Director of Physical Education,
explains that ideas go back to 1983 and the publication of the McCrum
report on sport. It identified that the sporting needs of the University
were general, not solely club-orientated, and that facilities should
include a new athletics track, swimming pool and sports hall.
He stresses the importance of the new facilities: "If you want to
develop talents, one has to consider providing these facilities. If we
provide support for talented athletes, we will develop their full
potential."
Back in 1919, Sir Walter Morley Fletcher  asked a friend to install an
electric chronograph at Fenner's, in the belief that the most modern of
equipment was necessary to develop talent. The success of Cambridge
athletes of the 1920s, captured in Chariots of Fire, proved him correct.
Tony Lemons sees the sophistication of sport increasing rapidly today
and thinks that University provision in the future might include
monitoring of fitness and training levels, and courses for coaches as
well as research on human performance.
There is planning permission for a second hockey surface at the site
which would make it a regional centre for hockey, and would further
contribute towards the opening up of the facilities to the community
beyond the University. High on the list of future priorities are an
international standard swimming pool and a sports hall.
The athletics and hockey facilities are primarily for students' use but
it is anticipated that local clubs will also take advantage of these
first class facilities. The Director even suspects that some academic
staff might consider protecting their health by venturing to jog around
the track!

People

Scholarships

Three researchers at Cambridge have won scholarships from the British
Federation of Women Graduates to help finance their work. Desiree
Hannsson of the Institute of Criminology, scientist Silke Oltoff and
classicist Julie-Ann Lewis received awards from Dame Rosemary Murray at
a meeting of the Cambridge Association of University Women which is
affiliated to the Federation.

Biochemistry

Professor Tom Blundell, FRS, currently Chief Executive of the
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and
Professor of Crystallography at Birkbeck College, University of London,
has been appointed Sir William Dunn Professor of Bio-chemistry.
Professor Blundell will formally take up his appointment on 1 October
1995 on the retirement of Professor Sir Hans Kornberg but will be
seconded to the BBSRC for one year so continuing as Chief Executive
there until 1 October 1996.
Biochemistry at Cambridge has an outstanding reputation -- since 1950,
members and former members of the Department have won five Nobel
prizes -- and the first holder of the Sir William Dunn Professorship of
Biochemistry was Gowland Hopkins, the 'father of biochemistry' and
pioneer of the study of vitamins.

India move

The Revd Dr David Gosling has been appointed Cambridge Teape Fellow at
St Stephen's College in the University of Delhi with effect from
February 1995. The appointment is the first in two academic programmes
recently set up by the Cambridge Committee for Christian Work in Delhi
for a junior and a senior Cambridge scholar to spend a year teaching and
researching in Delhi. Dr Gosling taught physics in the University of
Delhi during the early 1970's and his visiting professorship will be in
the area of environmental studies.  He was a representative at the Rio
Earth Summit in 1992.
William Teape, whose name has been given to the bi-annual series of
lectures in India by distinguished scholars since 1953, was born in 1862
of Anglo-Irish stock. After graduating in theology from Cambridge he
worked as a parish priest in Durham, where he began to write poetry
about local social issues, such as the 1892 miners' strike. His interest
in Hinduism was encouraged by Bishop Westcott, but he was also
influenced by contemporary poets such as Rainer Maria Rilke. His will
provides for a lectureship between Westcott House, Cambridge and St
Stephen's College, Delhi; the first lecturer was Professor Charles
Raven.
Dr Gosling was, until recently, Spalding Fellow in Comparative Religion
at Clare Hall. He was Director of Church and Society of the World
Council of Churches from 1984-89. He is currently a tutor for the Board
of Continuing Education and a parish priest in Dry Drayton and at Great
St Mary's University Church. He represented the Arch-bishop of
Canterbury at a recent environmental conference in Turkey, and was the
first parish priest in the Church of England to obtain a diocesan cycle
allowance of 4.7 pence per mile.

Foundations for the future

January sees the opening of what has been described as the most
ambitious external relations event for a generation when the exhibition
"University of Cambridge: Foundations for the Future" opens in London.
Many months of planning and research will bring together an exhibition
which demonstrates all that Cambridge has contributed through its eight
centuries and how it is ready to tackle the future. More than 70 lenders
are contributing to the exhibition, including colleges, department and
individuals. The venue for the exhibition is Christie's,whose Chairman
Sir Anthony Tennant is a Trustee of the Cambridge Foundation. Christie's
are giving this prime exhibition space in their London salerooms to the
University.
The exhibition has been steered by a Committee under the chairmanship of
Lord St John of Fawsley, Master of Emmanuel. It will be officially
opened on Thursday 5th January and runs until 25th January and will mark
the launch of the second phase of the University's development campaign,
Campaign for Cambridge.
Structured in themes, the exhibition looks at key issues in Cam-bridge's
history, including the foundation of the colleges, the role of women,
changing Cambridge architecture, theatre, law and politics, and the
international reach of the University today. The contribution that
Cambridge makes to the heritage of the nation through its guardianship
role of objects of outstanding beauty is recognised throughout the
exhibition, but particularly in the West Room where loans from the
Fitzwilliam Museum, the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Kettle's
Yard and the Colleges will be displayed in carefully controlled
conditions.
It is these vital conditions which explain why the exhibition is in
London. Susan Fenton of the Development Office has been co-ordinating
the exhibition: "Giving the public access to these great treasures from
Cambridge's history gives rise to many practical issues. The Government
Indemnity Scheme is helping with the insurance but the Scheme
administrators and the seventy two lenders to the exhibition need to
ensure that the environmental conditions are controlled and that
security measures are strict. Christie's salerooms are geared up to
meeting these demands."
The exhibition is designed around twelve sections, each with a focus on
outstanding Cambridge figures and each related to an intellectual theme
in the sciences, arts or humanities -- all areas in which Cambridge
continues to excel.
From Newton's work on physics and Thomson's discovery of the electron to
twentieth century breakthroughs including the development of the jet
engine, the splitting of the atom and the identification of DNA as the
secret of life, scientific firsts at Cambridge have led to fundamental
changes in the world as we know it.
Original thinkers from Erasmus to Russell, Moore and Keynes, all of whom
taught at Cambridge, have helped shape the way we live our lives, while
Cambridge-based advances across the spectrum of medical endeavour have
affected the quality of life for many. Other Cambridge figures provide a
similar focus for their respective subjects in the exhibition. They
include Crick and Watson for molecular biology; Rutherford and Thomson
for physics; Tennyson for literature; Babbage for engineering, computing
and technology and Keynes, for economics and business.
The Cambridge Evening News is lending its support to the exhibition by
offering coach trips to London to citizens of Cambridge to visit the
exhibition and meet the Vice-Chancellor.
It promises to be an outstanding exhibition which should remind all
those who see it of the contribution Cambridge continues to make to the
lives of people across the world.

Seeing both sides

During the summer, two very different placements gave an insight into
the media world. Dr Barbara Knowles of the Department of Zoology became
a British Assoc-iation Media Fellow working with the BBC Radio Science
Unit. Meanwhile Anya Haddock, a second year degree student from the
college of St Mark and St John, Plymouth, spent a month working in the
University press office. They tell Newsletter about their experiences.

BBC Radio Science Unit

"You have 30 minutes to build an egg cup that will support an egg as
high above the table as possible, using only a packet of spaghetti and a
packet of marshmallows." Whatever I had expected from my Media
Fellowship it was not this! Undaunted, I joined the media team and
helped to build the winning structure in the egg race at the British
Association Annual Meeting, beating the boffins, the students, the
schoolchildren and the BA committee.
What was a biochemist from the Department of Zoology doing on a media
team in an egg race? Six weeks earlier I had started a placement at the
BBC Radio Science Unit as a Media Fellow. This fellowship scheme is run
by the British Association, and since its inception in 1987 has
sponsored about 70 scientists from universities and industry to work in
newspaper, TV or radio science departments. Scientists find out at first
hand how the media work, with the hope that we would lose any suspicions
we might have about the media and at the same time improve our ability
to communicate science to the public.
My placement was with the team that produces science programmes for BBC
Radio: weekly programmes such as Science Now and Medicine Now, and
occasional series such as Flashpoints and Blue Skies. The best thing
about my placement was the varied nature of the work. I was interviewed
for a Radio 5 science magazine programme, Chain Reaction, for a slot
called "Secret Life of a Scientist" where I was asked for anecdotes
about my work. I learned how to edit tape, both by the traditional
method with a razor blade and sticky tape, and digitally using the
powerful software that is now gradually starting to replace the razor
blade. I was asked, at 20 minutes notice, to become the "Cambridge
University expert on pheromones" for an interview on a "live" BBC
training programme about a new perfume purported to make men
irresistible to women. I had the opportunity to research and record a
feature for Science Now, and went to Littlehampton to find out all about
the life cycle and uses of nematode worms that are now being marketed as
biological control agents to kill slugs.
I spent a very enjoyable summer at BBC Broadcasting House, but what did
I learn? I found out that even when a scientist has something
fascinating to say, he is often unable to say it in an interesting or
even comprehensible way, but that a skilful editor can turn a dull
interview into an interesting one without distorting or over simplifying
the subject matter. The motivation of a scientist wanting to explain her
research to the public may be very different from the motivation of a
radio producer wanting to put together a good programme, but we can and
should work together to achieve both objectives.
Dr Barbara Knowles is a Royal Society Research Fellow, working on
biological insecticides at the Department of Zoology.
Details of the Media Fellowship scheme can be obtained from British
Association, on 071 494 3326.

Hands on Market Research

"After two years of studying the theory of public relations at college,
I was looking forward to some hands-on practical experience in the
field. When I discovered I had gained a placement at the University of
Cambridge I must admit to being a little apprehensive. Susie Thomas,
Press Officer to the University soon took me under her wing and I
settled down to work with help from her assistant, Pauline Howard.
I was surprised at the amount of work that the press office manages; a
constant barrage of phone calls and faxes were met daily, most of which
required immediate replies and, due to the sheer number of enquiries,
the longer term projects often had to be put on hold. This is where I
found a gap where I could be of some help.
Because to the wide variety of enquiries about the University being
received by the office, we decided to carry out a market research
project, in order to discover how we could improve our relations with
enquirers and improve the general flow of information about the
University to its publics, both internally and externally.
This market research provided me with an ideal opportunity to work
alone, using my public relations skills and produce some findings which
could help the University. The project continued throughout the month
and reached some valuable and surprising conclusions.
I was also able to see how many other press and public relations
projects were carried out at Cambridge. This included crisis management,
a vital function, especially when dealing with the press as I soon
discovered. It was also interesting to see how the University magazines
and newsletters were drawn up with Janet Keystone at the Publications
Office. I also managed to gain an insight into fundraising. The media
training day I attended aimed to update and help staff who also
regularly dealt with the media.
Overall the public relations opportunities at such a vast and unique
institution seemed endless. During my short time, I hope I managed to
help everyone as much as they helped me in gaining some invaluable
public relations experience."
Anya Haddock is now back at college in Plymouth and the recommendations
from her market research project are being implemented.

Dancing Shoes

After a day's work at the University Language Centre in West Road,
Administrative Secretary Clive Hurt reaches for his dancing shoes.
Clive, together with his wife Jenny (who works at the Laboratory of
Molecular Biology), have a thriving part-time dancing school in
Cambridge teaching Ballroom, Latin-American, Modern Sequence and Old
Time dancing.
Clive worked his way through amateur medals and competitions to become
one of the youngest qualified professional teachers. He has subsequently
attained degrees with three different teaching associations. He has been
teaching dancing for over twelve years and in 1991 was appointed an
examiner of the United Kingdom Alliance, which is one of the largest
teaching association in the United Kingdom. Jenny met Clive at one of
his classes. It was love at first sight for both of them and they
eventually got married. During this time Clive trained Jenny for her
professional teaching exam which she passed with flying colours.
Together they have had considerable success in professional
competitions, winning two major sequence inventive dance competitions,
firstly the United Kingdom Alliance Inventive Dance Competition with
their Hampton Two Step and more recently the International Dance
Teachers Association 'Classic' Inventive Dance Competition with their CJ
Cha Cha Cha.
Most people's idea of ballroom dancing is what they see on BBC TV's
'Come Dancing'. Clive and Jenny both agree that while any promotion of
dancing is excellent, the programme does however only show the glamorous
competitive side of dancing. Social dancing, without the sequins, is
much more popular, is fun to do and is a great way to meet people.
In recent years, they feel dancing has increased in popularity as
younger teachers like Clive and Jenny bring a fresh approach to the
teaching of dancing. While believing that excellent instruction is
important, Clive and Jenny try to ensure that their classes all have a
fun, friendly and easy going atmosphere.
If you are interested in learning to dance, or are already a keen
dancer, Clive or Jenny would be more than happy to talk to you on
Cambridge 357556. They would also like to hear from those people who can
already dance and who would like to take up the challenge of Modern
Sequence Dancing.

Research

Quantum Fund

The Cambridge Quantum Fund, set up three years ago to invest in
technology emerging from the University of Cambridge has established a
new fund, the Second Cambridge Quantum Fund to extend its investment
activities. The investors in the new fund are the University of
Cambridge, 3i plc, Trinity, Clare and Queens' Colleges.
Chairman of the Quantum Fund John Grieve Smith, Senior Bursar at
Robinson, said "This is excellent news and it confirms the investors'
belief in the role the CQF plays in bringing Cambridge technology to the
marketplace."
Philip Langston, new chief executive of the Fund, said he was delighted
at the confidence shown by this new investment. CQF is currently
considering investing in projects involving vaccines, industrial
enzymes, molecular modelling, thin films, medical x-ray equipment and
various electronic devices.
Philip Langston can be reached on 423923.

Rolls-Royce

A new Rolls-Royce funded University Technology Centre aimed at
supporting the development of next generation Nickel-based alloys and
high temperature materials has opened in the Department of Materials
Science and Metallurgy. Rolls-Royce's initial commitment amounts to 1.25
million pounds over five years, with the Centre also expecting to
attract additional funding from government and EC sources.
The new centre of excellence -- the 13th UTC in which Rolls-Royce has
made a significant investment -- was opened at a special ceremony by
Rolls-Royce's Director of Component Engineering, Frank Litchfield who
explained: "The continual development of high-quality materials is
fundamental to the commercial success of future aero engines in an
increasingly competitive market arena. The challenge of the future lies
with the application of this advanced technology at low, affordable
costs."
Nickel-based alloys are used for components such as turbine blades,
discs and nozzle guide vanes operating in the hottest parts of the
engine -- where metal temperatures reach up to 1200 degrees Centigrade
in an environment both hostile and corrosive. New alloys typically take
ten years and many millions of pounds to develop for operational
components.
Professor Colin Humphreys said he believed his Department provided the
ideal foundation for Rolls-Royce's aims in forming the new UTC. He said:
"We have excellent resources here for transmission electron microscopy
and analysis, X-ray diffraction and thermo-mechanical simulation, plus
extensive testing facilities. We expect around 15 students and
post-doctorate associates to be undertaking research for the UTC at any
one time."

Competitiveness

UK manufacturers are not improving quickly enough to compete against
Japan, the US and Europe. This is one of the verdicts of a new study
undertaken by Dr Nick Oliver of the Judge Institute of Management
Studies and colleagues from Andersen Consulting and Cardiff Business
School. The study shows that the UK has the lowest productivity in
Europe.
Dr Oliver explains: "The study clearly shows that there are many
world-class plants to be found outside Japan, notably in the US, France
and Spain. However the greatest concentration of world-class plants is
still found in Japan and disturbingly Japanese improvements in
performance outstrip the rest of the world. We were disappointed that no
UK companies achieved world-class status, despite the substantial
improve-ments that have been made in recent years."
The study investigated 71 automotive component plants in nine countries
using a variety of process technologies.

Toshiba

The Toshiba Cambridge Research Centre (TCRC) working closely with
researchers at the Cavendish have developed the world's first integrated
circuit process for the fabrication of practical quantum effect
integrated circuits.
Quantum effect devices exploit the wave-like properties of electrons and
could revolutionise computer technology. The atomic scale of the work
and the very low temperatures needed to detect the working of a device
have caused problems for researchers in the past. The development of a
practical IC process promises a solution. Professor Michael Pepper of
the Cavendish and managing director of TCRC explains: We have shown that
full wafer scale processing is possible, just as with present day
silicon devices. Moreover our technology is highly manufacturable and
could readily be transferred to a production environment."

Industrial Liaison

Dr Richard Jennings became Director of the Industrial Liaison and
Technology Transfer Office on 6th July.  He looks forward to tackling
his new role with enthusiasm: "I believe we are at an exciting phase of
economic development and the University has an important role to play in
the economic growth of the country". The main purpose of the Office is
to provide help, advice and information to those wishing to collaborate
with industry or to exploit commercially their inventions. By
communicating with academics seeking research partners and by
identifying the mutual benefits of working with industry there have
already been many successes, both in establishing new research
collaborations, and in the exploitation of inventions. Dr Jennings is a
Director of Lynxvale Ltd, the University's technology transfer company,
which in the last financial year brought in some 1m pounds from
consultancy and from the sales and licensing of intellectual property;
this income is shared between academic inventors and the University.
Dr Jennings intends the office to move forward positively following a
period of change and hopes to increase staff numbers in the near future.
He explains: "The University has access to unique resources in the form
of the colleges, the Science Park, the Innovation Centre and local
"seedcorn" venture capital from the Cambridge Quantum Fund and Cambridge
Research and Innovation Ltd, all of which play important roles in the
development of University inventions." He believes that further links
with high tech companies, locally and more widely,  focusing on
innovation and technology transfer, will make a major contribution to
the Cambridge environment and further enhance the University's
reputation nationally and internationally. He sees Cambridge's appeal to
industry as rich and varied: "There is enormous potential because of the
quality of the research, and this when combined with the complimentary
skills and interests of industry, is capable of creating extremely
fruitful collaborations."
Dr Jennings has a research background in the pharmaceutical and
agrochemical industry and came to Cambridge to work at NAPP Laboratories
on the Science Park three years before joining the University. He became
Assistant Director of the then 'Wolfson Unit' 5 years ago. He is
married, with 2 children at a local primary school, and lives in Girton.
When he is not nurturing ideas in academia his relaxation he says "is to
continue planting seeds -- in the garden, of course -- watching over
them, and, most importantly, waiting patiently while they grow".
If you are interested to know more about the opportunities  available
through the Industrial Liaison and Technology Transfer Office please
contact Dr Richard Jennings on 34755 (network) or at 20 Trumpington
Street.

Exhibitions

Anatomy and Art

The Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine is presenting an
exhibition which focuses on the juncture of art and anatomy in the
Renaissance.
The theme is the Frontispiece of the Fabrica of Andreas Vesalius
produced in 1543, which is the most famous and beautiful book on human
anatomy ever printed. It is usually taken to be the starting point of
modern anatomy and medicine. Many of the images in it, especially the
'muscle men', are still familiar today, and the book continues to be
celebrated for its highly artistic portrayal of anatomical dissections
of the human body.
At the centre of the exhibition is a full colour blow-up of the
Frontis-piece, based on the presentation copy Vesalius gave to his
patron, the Emperor Charles V.
The meaning of the Frontispiece is explored from a number of different
angles, including art, theatre, patronage, printing and religion. The
exhibition is open to all members of the University and is free. It
opens at the Clinical School on 7 October and continues until March.

1900: The New Age

The current exhibition at the Whipple Museum, '1900: The New Age',
offers a trip in a time machine (loosely based on the machine of H G
Wells) and a visit to the International Exhibition in Paris which
inaugurated the twentieth century. This was one of the largest and most
extravagant exhibitions the world has seen, and in our own fin de
siecle, we can see how their expectations compare with our reality.
The time machine, built with the help of Doug Isgrove in the Depart-ment
of Engineering, is quaint and comfortable compared with Dr Who's Tardis:
the furnishings are those of a domestic interior of the time, and the
console has fittings appropriate to the period. So far it has worked
reliable: at the end of their journey visitors consistently find
themselves in the exhibition of 1900, though strangely contracted from
the vast area of Paris it originally occupied.
In the upper of two galleries, we try to recreate something of the
excitement of the original, while focusing on two of the many
pavilions -- the Optical Palace and the Electricity Palace. Projected
images of Paris 'en fete' in 1900 show that there is much to see beyond
these pavilions, but here scientific instruments and optical
entertainments are the focus of attention. We see film from the very
beginnings of the cinema. We see X-ray and other radiation tubes.
Tele-scopes, microscopes, spetroscopes and other instruments from the
leading European makers compete for awards from the international jury.
We see something of the enormous literature generated by the
Exposition -- from souvenir postcards and photographic albums to the
vast 60-volume report. The Electrical Palace presents the hardware of an
astonishing new technology and leaves no doubt that electric lighting
and electric power will revolutionise life in the coming century.
Everywhere upstairs we try to simulate the atmosphere of the time -- in
sound as well as vision. Rich materials are used wherever possible.No
fluorescent tubes are allowed anywhere in the Exhibition. The whole is
lit by bulbs -- not discreetly placed but boldly and confidently
displaying the vigour and brilliance of electricity.
From the excitement of the show upstairs, visitors move to quite a
different experience in the lower gallery, to the 'Salle Bertillon' of
the Paris exhibition, named after the French anthropologist and
criminologist Alphonse Bertillon. Perhaps the most obvious message
upstairs is one of progress and improvement; downstairs we encounter the
more sinister notion that a programme of improvement might apply also to
people. Upstairs visitors examine what we present for their instruction
and entertainment; downstairs the view is reversed and we examine the
visitors.
Each person has been given a souvenir card on entry and here they begin
to complete its different sections by going round a series of stations,
where various measurements and records are noted. First a photograph is
taken with (so far as the visitor can see) a period camera. As is
appropriate to criminal records of the time, the photograph is followed
by finger-prints and by various "anthropometric" measurements -- stature
and head dimensions. A contemporary weighing machine is used to record
individual weight. Phrenology comes next -- which areas of your head are
prominent? -- then eye colour. Physiological tests are represented by a
dynamometer to record strength, while psychological tests measure
reaction time, and check colour vision. Finally, to be true to the
period, we have to represent X-ray recording, though it may just be that
every visitor will find the X-ray booth out of order on their visit.
Our visitors dutifully hand in their cards, which are processed and
posted back to them: photographs are applied, measurements recorded,
phrenological and other tests decoded, and so on. Then, at the close of
the exhibition, each participant will receive a survey of the entire
population of visitors, and be able to relate their profile -- by 1900
criteria -- to that of the whole group.
The show continues till the end of March 1995, and we are open, not only
for our regular hours -- Monday-Friday, 2-4 -- but also on Saturdays,
from 10 till 4.
Dr Bennett moved to Oxford to become Keeper of the Museum of the History
of Science at the beginning of October.

News in Brief

Law Faculty

One of the most significant developments in six hundred years of the
study of Law at Cambridge moved one step nearer last month when the
topping out ceremony took place for the University's new Law Faculty
building on the Sidgwick Site.
An exciting new building, designed by Sir Norman Foster and Partners,
will deliver the lawyers "promised land across the Cam", as it's been
described by a member of the Law Faculty. The topping out ceremony was
carried out by the Vice-Chancellor, then Professor John Tiley and Mrs
Paula Beckwith nailed an evergreen bough to the new building -- an old
custom to ward off evil spirits. Mr Peter Beckwith, a Cambridge law
graduate, gave a donation of 5 million pounds to the University in 1992
and a proportion of this is going to the Law Faculty.
Chairman of the Law Faculty, Professor Tiley explains the need for a new
building: "The Law Faculty is currently scattered in sites around
Cambridge. The new building and library will bring together lecture
rooms, offices and common rooms under one rather dramatic roof. It will
also enable us to expand the library collection and take advantage of
the latest development in information technology."
Cambridge has one of the largest law faculties in the country with over
800 undergraduates and about 200 postgraduates.

Box Office

The Royal Shakespeare Company has opened a box office at The Arts Box
Office in Market Passage. Since 26 October, it has been possible to book
seats for any RSC production at Stratford-upon-Avon or The Barbican at
the box office in Cambridge.

Access issues

The University's Advisory Com-mittee on Disability has produced an
Access Guide for students. The Guide gives details on how to get into
the different parts of each College's buildings and also lists access
details for University Departments and local facilities. A new leaflet
which gives advice to students with disabilities who are thinking of
applying to Cambridge has also been published.

Dictionary

The most borrowed text from the Marshall Library in the Faculty of
Economics and Politics is The New Palgrave Dictionary of Economics.

Manufacturing

A new publication 'Shedding Light on Manufacturing Management' has been
published by the EPSRC. The booklet highlights impressive and important
research which is sponsored by the EPSRC and features leading
researchers including, Mike Gregory of the Engineering Department.
Copies of the booklet from EPSRC on 01793 444008.

Tuberous sclerosis

Earlier this Term, a new clinic opened to help families manage with the
common genetic condition, tuberous sclerosis. It's a unique clinic which
combines expertise in diagnosis and treatment of both the behavioural
problems as well as genetic aspects of the condition.
Dr Patrick Bolton of the Department of Psychiatry explains: "At least a
quarter of children with TS suffer from autism and many others are
troubled by hyperactivity or behavioural and emotional disturbances. The
Cambridge Clinic will provide a national service for all aspects of the
condition. In the longer term it is hoped that research at the clinic
will lead to an improved understanding of the basis for the complex mix
of problems and to the development of new, more effective treatments."

Breakfast

A series of Breakfast Seminars have been taking place at the Board of
Continuing Education which look at education, training and employment.
The Seminars come at a crucial time -- Britain's economic future depends
on developing a learning society but the East Anglian region faces
particular difficulties. As a region it's characterised by the number of
small firms and light/medium industry. The small size and diverse
businesses make it difficult for any single employer to achieve the
vital economies of scale necessary to make training viable -- both
financially and in human resource terms.
David Davies, Head of the Public Programmes Division of Cambridge's
Board of Continuing Education, aims to bring together key players for
the seminars: "Identifying training needs in the region and highlighting
the debate about higher level skills are an important aim for these
Seminars. I also hope that we can identify how the University can
collaborate with local employers and discuss with them a new training
programme we are considering."
The last two seminars in the series are on Friday 2 December with
speaker Baroness Perry, and on Friday 9 December with speaker Mr John
Berkeley of Rover plc.

New Housing

New accommodation built for new staff and students at the University was
opened by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir David Williams in October.
The first tenants come from many countries including Mexico, Germany,
Denmark, Belgium, Russia, Latvia, Japan, USA, UK and Israel.
The 60 new residential units are at George Nuttall Close off Milton
Road. The Vice-Chancellor handed over a set of keys to one of the first
tenants, Mr Kazu Araki, a researcher in Economics from Japan. The
Vice-Chancellor's wife, Lady Williams is President of the University's
Newcomers Group which welcomes visitors to Cambridge. Lady Williams cut
a celebratory cake with Mrs Shina Araki to mark the opening. Professor
Sir David Williams explained: "The University's international reputation
for excellence attracts staff and students from this country and all
over the world but we recognise that that does put pressure on
accommodation in and around Cambridge. We are proud of the wide
international community here and we must continue to attract the best
staff to maintain our world class position. This new housing provides a
stepping stone into the local community."
George Nuttall, born in the USA, was Quick Professor of Biology at
Cambridge from 1906 to 1931. He studied the micro-organism Clostridium
Welchii and the part played by arthropods and ticks in the spread of
disease.
The new housing was funded through a residential Business Expansion
Scheme set up by the University with the assistance of Capital Ventures
plc.

Awards and Prizes

Medal

Professor Ekhard Salje of the Department of Earth Sciences has been
awarded the Abraham-Gottlob-Werner Medal in recognition of his
outstanding achievements in the fields of crystallography and
mineralogy. The Medal is awarded by the German Mineralogical Society.
Professor Salje has applied his theoretical work on crystals to
important rock-forming minerals which has led to new approaches to the
understanding of the properties of minerals.

Vet School

Professor Leo Jeffcott of the Vet School has been awarded the Animal
Health Trust award for scientific achievement, awarded in recognition
for his work over the last twenty-five years. The award was presented by
the Princess Royal in London.

Honorary Degrees

Congratulations go to Baroness Perry of Lucy Cavendish College on the
award of honorary degrees from Aberdeen, for her contribution to women's
opportunities, from Wolverhampton, for her contribution to educational
policy, and from South Bank University for her contribution to higher
education.
Professor Marilyn Strathern of the Department of Social Anthropology has
received an honorary degree from the University of Copenhagen. The
University recognised the Professor Strathern has been highly
influential in shaping the profile of social anthropology.
Honorary degrees were conferred on Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas,
FRS, Master of Peterhouse, Professor of Chemistry at the Royal
Institution, by Claude Bernard University, Lyon and Computense
University, Madrid.

Technology Transfer

A company established by Professor Michael Ashby and Dr David Cebon of
the Engineering Department has been awarded the UK Technology Transfer
of the Year prize. Granta Design Limited was formed to develop and
market the Cambridge Materials Selector which was originally developed
for teaching within the Department and is now sold world-wide.
Professor Ashby and Head of the Engineering Department, Professor Alec
Broers, have been appointed to the Technical Opportunities Panel of the
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The Panel will
advise the Council on future research opportunities.

Small Ads

Lithuania

The Manacare Foundation, based in Girton, will be taking a lorry of
supplies over to Lithuania to give aid to orphanages there. They plan to
set off soon before the cold weather arrives. They are looking for
donations of medical equipment, toys, clothes and educational supplies.
The Foundation can be reached on telephone 277766.

Editorial

The Newsletter is an informal publication produced for the information
of all employees of the University of Cambridge. Contributions and
suggestions are welcomed.
The next edition of the Newsletter appears in January/February.
Material for inclusion in the next issue must reach the Editor by
Tuesday 3rd January. No charge is made for the inclusion of Small Ads or
for events publicised in Eventsheet.
Editor:
  Susannah Thomas
  Press Officer
  Vice-Chancellor's Office
  The Old Schools, Trinity Lane
  Cambridge CB2 1TN
  Tel: 01223 332300
  Fax: 01223 330262
Eventsheet and Small Ads:
  Pauline Howard
  Vice-Chancellor's Office
  The Old Schools, Trinity Lane
  Cambridge CB2 1TN
  Tel: 01223 330254
  Fax: 01223 330262
Typesetting and printing by:
  University Printing Services
Distribution:
The Newsletter is distributed to all those on the University payroll.
However, there is often a slight delay so if you are a new member of
staff reading someone else's copy, you should get your own copy next
time.
There is also a request list for those who want to receive the
Newsletter but are not on the University payroll, for example, college
staff. If you want to be added to this list, please write to us at the
above address.

eventsheet (1 December 1994 onwards)

Exhibitions

Fitzwilliam Museum

Until early '95
  Octagon
  Tue-Fri 14.00-17.00
  Sat 10.00-17.00 Sun 14.15-17.00
  Chinese Ceramics: recent and rare
Until January '95
  Shiba Room
  Tue-Fri 14.00-17.00
  Sat 10.00-17.00 Sun 14.15-17.00
  The Age of Harunobu and Koryusai
Until 18 December
  Adeane Gallery
  Tue-Sat 10.00-17.00
  Sun 14.15-17.00
  NEW YORK, NEW YORK: New York City views in prints from the collection
  of Reba and Dave Williams
Until January '95
  Charrington Print Room
  Tue-Fri 14.00-17.00
  Sat 10.00-17.00 Sun 14.15-17.00
  Adolphe Appian: etchings from the collection of Mr and Mrs G N Burton
Until 11 December
  Graham Robertson Room
  Tue-Fri 14.00-17.00
  Sat 10.00-17.00 Sun 14.15-17.00
  The Floor of Siena Cathedral: drawings by Leopoldo Maccari

Kettle's Yard Gallery

5 November -- 17 December
  Ian Wiblin: photography by the 1994-95 Kettle's Yard Fellow
6 November-23 December
  Artists' Impressions
14 January -- 26 February 1995
  Zarina Bhimji: alluring yet disquieting photographic images and
  installations
Sunday afternoon Talks 16.00 -- 16.45 Admission Free
House open: Tues-Sun 2.00-4.00
Gallery open: Tues-Sat 12.30-17.30
Sunday 14.00-17.30
For further information on concerts, classes and other activities please
tel: 0223 352124

Central Library, Lion Yard

26 November -- 17 December
  East Anglian Potters Association
  Central Library, Lion Yard.
  Mon-Sat 9.30 -- 17.00
  Christmas Pots: a selling exhibition of work by the East Anglian
  Potters Association

The Wellcome Unit for the History of Medicine

Until March 1995
  Exhibition: 'Anatomy and Art'
  held at the Clinical School, Addenbrooke's Hospital
  Open to all members of the University
  Mon-Fri 09.00-17.00

Whipple Museum of the History of Science

Until end March 1995
  1900: The New Age
  Open:  Mon-Fri 14.00-16.00
  Sat 10.00-16.00

Theatres

Arts Theatre

The Arts Theatre will be closed for renovations until Autumn 1995.
During this time arrangements have been made for booking theatre trips
to a variety of locations. All are welcome.

Arts Cinema

Tickets for Arts Theatre, Arts Cinema, ADC and West Road Concert Hall
can be booked at Cambridge Arts Box Office on 01223 352001

ADC Theatre

22 November-3 December
  20.00
  Dick Wittington (Footlights Panto): Footlights/ADC
6-17 December
  20.00
  Don Pasquale: Cambridge Chamber Opera Company
10-14 January 1995
  Wizard of Oz: Bodywork Dance Company
  17-21 January 1995
  The Gingerbread Man: The Combined Actors of Cambridge
Telephone Cambridge 352001 (Box Office) or 359547 (Theatre) for further
details.

Events

8 December
  Christmas Social Gathering. Association for Women in Science and
  Engineering (AWISE) programme. For details contact Dr Joan Mason, Tel:
  0223 247827
10 December
  Friends of Cambridge University Botanic Garden
  Bark Walk and Christmas Tea
  Starts at 14.00 at the Gilmour Building
  Guided tours will be led by Dr Pigott and other Garden staff to look
  at trees and shrubs that have particularly attractive bark
  Tickets 3 pounds.
  For further details and to book, please contact: Judy Cheney,
  Administrator, Friends of Cambridge University Botanic Garden, c/o Cory
  Lodge, Bateman Street, Cambridge CB2 1JF. Tel: 01223 336271

Lectures

2 December
  Engineering Civilisation from the Laboratory. Otto Sibum. Heycock
  Lecture Theatre, Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Free School
  Lane -- 19.30.
7 December
  Bletchley Park and enigma. Alan Stripp will give a public lecture
  followed by a demonstration of the workings of an original enigma cypher
  machine.
  Latimer Room, Clare College 19.30.
  Admission 5 pounds by ticket only -- all proceeds in aid of the
  Alzheimer's Research Trust. Further information and tickets available
  from: Dr Sarah-Jane Richards, Dept. of Medicine, Addenbrooke's Hospital,
  Hills Road.
20 January 1995
  Evolution of Evolution. Stephen J Gould (Harvard University). 17.30 Lady
  Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue.  Part of the Tenth Annual Darwin Lecture
  Series.
27 January
  Evolution of Guns and Germs. Jared M Diamond (Los Angeles). 17.30 Lady
  Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue. Part of the Tenth Annual Darwin Lecture
  Series.
28 January
  Schooling and Alaskan Inuit: challenges of multi-cultural education.
  Phyllis Morrow and Chase Hensell of the University of Alaska
  Fairbanks. Scott Polar Research Institute, Lensfield Road at 20.30.
3 February
  Evolution of Development. Lewis Wolpert (London University). 17.30
  Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Avenue. Part of the Tenth Annual Darwin
  Lecture Series.

Concerts

4 December
  Music for a Tudor Christmas.
  The Cambridge Taverner Choir.
  Works by Byrd, Tallis, Sheppard, Pygott and Browne, conducted by Owen
  Rees. Jesus College Chapel at 20.15. Tickets 7 pounds (5 pounds
  concessions) from the Corn Exchange
9 December
  Nikita Koshkin -- Cambridge Suite.
  The Eastwood -- Kilvington Guitar Duo.
  J.S. Bach -- French suite No. 3 plus guitar music from the U.S.A.,
  Europe and South America. University Concert Hall, West Road, at 20.00.
  Tickets 6 pounds (4 pounds concessions) from the Arts Cinema
17 December
  Honeggar: Christmas Cantata.
  The Collegium Laureatum Choir.
  Works by Honeggar, Finzi and Vaugn Williams. Soloist: Ian Cobb.
  University Concert Hall, West Road. Tickets (6 pounds) concessions)
  from The Arts Cinema at 19.30
Christmas Concert.
  The Albion Brass Consort.
  Wimpole Hall, Arrington, Nr Royston, 7.30 for 8.p.m. Tickets 12.50
  pounds from Wimpole Hall. Tel. (01223) 207257 for information. Dress:
  Black tie.