News archive 2009

Queen Mary, University of London leads new NHS initiative to benefit millions in North-East London

Queen Mary, University of London is to lead a ground-breaking new NHS and university initiative, which will revolutionise patient care and benefit more than six million people in NE London and beyond.

Skull bone may hold the key to tackling osteoporosis

Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have uncovered fundamental differences between the bone which makes up the skull and the bones in our limbs, which they believe could hold the key to tackling bone weakness and fractures.

Volunteers needed to help tackle chronic fatigue

Scientists at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry are urgently seeking the help of healthy but inactive volunteers to take part in a vital new research project to help understand the mysterious illness, chronic fatigue syndrome.

Astronaut launches into teen space with new magazine

Prize-winning British-born astronaut, Richard Garriott, visited two Tower Hamlets schools this afternoon to meet pupils who put together a new magazine about space.

First stunning images captured by Queen Mary led VISTA telescope

A new telescope that can map the sky much faster and deeper than any other infrared telescope, has made its first release of stunning images.

Queen Mary scientists shed light on a mysterious particle

Physicists at Queen Mary, University of London have begun looking deep into the Earth to study some of nature's weirdest particles; neutrinos.

Queen Mary tax expert gives his perspective on Pre-Budget Report

In the wake of Alistair Darling's Pre-Budget Report for 2009, tax specialist Jonathan Schwarz at Queen Mary, University of London gives his perspective on the proposed levy on bankers' bonuses.

Queen Mary scientists back climate change evidence

Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have joined colleagues from around the UK to voice their support for climate change evidence.

Computer vision to improve public security and safety in crowded spaces

Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London are leading an international project which is set to create the ultimate, real time surveillance system to detect suspicious and abnormal behaviour in public places.

Professor Ian Walden appointed to the Press Complaints Commission

A media law expert at Queen Mary, University of London, has joined the Board of the Press Complaints Commission, it was announced today.

‘Christmas’ themed menus should be renamed ‘Salty’ menus

New research carried out by Consensus Action on Salt and Health (CASH) shows that many products on the new ‘Christmas’ and ‘Festive’ themed menus are full of salt [1]. 

Queen Mary alumnus invests millions in the future of UK science and engineering

An ambitious scholarship scheme to help the poorest students pursue their dreams in science and engineering, and sponsored by an alumnus of Queen Mary, University of London, has been announced today.

Heart expert recognised for innovation

A leading heart expert at Queen Mary, University of London has been honoured for pioneering a host of breakthrough treatments for heart disease.

Top gong for Queen Mary law graduate who sued US clothing retailer

Queen Mary law alumna Riam Dean was named Disabled Young Person of the Year at the Human Rights Awards held by RADAR, the Royal Association for Disability and Rehabilitation, on Tuesday 1 December 2009.

East Enders invited to join debate on 2012 Olympic legacy

Queen Mary, University of London is to host a lively discussion on the Olympic legacy and its potential to transform London’s East End from one of the most deprived areas of the UK into an urban regeneration success story.

French Ambassador gives lecture on international relations

The French Ambassador to the UK, His Excellency Maurice Gourdault-Montagne is to speak at Queen Mary, University of London on Monday 1 December 2009.

Microsoft and its exclusivity talks with News Corporation - Cyber law expert Professor Chris Reed comments

This week’s Financial Times report that a deal is being discussed under which Microsoft would obtain exclusive rights to index News Corporation’s paid-for content raises interesting questions about online business models.

World's first album of Twitter music

For the first time, you can now download an album of digital music written exclusively for Twitter. Entitled sc140, this unique collection has been curated by Dan Stowell, a composer and computer scientist at Queen Mary, University of London.

Queen Mary fledgling historians at Google HQ

A group of history students from Queen Mary, University of London got a rare opportunity to visit Google’s UK Headquarters in Victoria, London on Monday 15 November.

Bigger not necessarily better, when it comes to brains

Tiny insects could be as intelligent as much bigger animals, despite only having a brain the size of a pinhead, say scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

Can one have a legal right to disobey a law?

Using the recent test case of right-to-die campaigner and multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy, who challenged the law on assisted suicide, the issue of civil disobedience will be examined in a forthcoming inaugural lecture at Queen Mary, University of London.

ImpactQM project launches

ImpactQM, Queen Mary, University of London’s ground-breaking new knowledge transfer project, has been formally launched today (Monday 16 November 2009).

Queen Mary academics shape youth policies at an international conference

Academics from Queen Mary, University of London came together to shape future policy on youth and wellbeing this month, at the international ‘Careif Conference’.

Peter Riddell speaks on 'Transitions of Government'

Peter Riddell, Assistant Editor of The Times, is to deliver his paper Transitions of Government, as part of an event organised by The Mile End Group - Queen Mary, University of London’s contemporary history research arm.

A trip on a ‘magic carpet’ lets your imagination take flight

With pantomime season upon us, theatregoers across the land will watch spell-bound as Aladdin soars across stage on his gravity defining carpet. How did this much-loved story and others like it convey the power and wonder of flight long before the dawn of aviation?

Queen Mary Theatre Company holds Harold Pinter Festival

The life and works of Nobel-Prize winning playwright Harold Pinter will be celebrated in a festival being held at Queen Mary, University of London from Friday 13 November to Sunday 15 November 2009.

New cultural programme announced between Brazil and UK

Queen Mary, University of London - together with the Brazilian Ministry of Culture and the UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport, with Arts Council England and the British Council - is delighted to announce the first phase of a new cultural knowledge exchange programme between Brazil and the UK.

Book by World War I literature scholar wins prestigious Prize

A specialist in early 20th-Century English Literature at Queen Mary, University of London has won a coveted Philip Leverhulme Prize for his book Touch and Intimacy in First World War Literature.

Stephen Fry joins Lisa Jardine to deliver HarperCollins History Lecture

TV presenter, actor and writer Stephen Fry is to give the 2009 HarperCollins History Lecture, in conversation with Professor Lisa Jardine CBE, at the Royal Institute of British Architects on Wednesday 11 November 2009.

European Integration: A ‘One Way Street’

David Cameron, on 4 November 2009, made a major announcement on the constitutional arrangements a future Conservative government would put in place regarding the UK’s relationship with the European Union. Below, Kenneth Armstrong, Professor of European Law at Queen Mary, University of London, asks three important questions about these proposals.

Lisa Jardine academic wins world’s largest prize for non-fiction history book

Professor Lisa Jardine CBE has won the 2009 Cundill International Prize in History for her acclaimed book Going Dutch: How England Plundered Holland's Glory, which lifts the lid on the realities of foreign occupation in seventeenth-century Britain.

Queen Mary Joint Programme wins British Business Award 2009

Queen Mary’s ground-breaking Joint Programme with the Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications has won a 2009 British Business Award.

Queen Mary Physics making its mark on the world stage

The Department of Physics at Queen Mary, University of London, has maintained its world-class status, according to the latest international rankings.

Why fish oils help and how they could help even more

New research from Queen Mary, University of London and Harvard Medical School has revealed precisely why taking fish oils can help with conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.

Robert Peston lectures to Queen Mary economics students on credit crunch

There is a genuine risk that if pushed too fast to reduce public sector debt we could head into another severe down turn, argued Robert Peston during his lecture at Queen Mary, University of London on Wednesday 28 October.

Queen Mary spin-out firms rank among the best in Sunday Times league

Two Queen Mary spin-out companies have ranked in the top 40 of The Sunday Times league of Britain's fastest-growing private tech companies.

Computer science is fun at the Manchester Science Festival

Queen Mary's Professor Peter McOwan is taking part in the UK's first Robot Festival "Walking with Robots", at this year's Manchester Science Festival.

Dr James Busfield wins top award from American Chemical Society

Dr James Busfield from Queen Mary's School of Engineering and Materials Science has been awarded the Sparks-Thomas Award of the American Chemical Society for 2010.

The number of Down’s syndrome pregnancies has risen sharply over the last 20 years as women have opted to have children later, according to new research published in the British Medical Journal*.

Survey of doctors reveals the decisions they make over dying patients

Over a third of doctors report making decisions which they expect will hasten the death of a patient in their care, according to research* from Queen Mary, University of London.

A new honour for champion of science

A Queen Mary academic has been awarded a prestigious British Science Association Fellowship in recognition for her dedication to communicating science.

Robert Peston to lecture on the post-crisis UK economy

Multi-award winning journalist and broadcaster Robert Peston is to speak at Queen Mary, University of London on Wednesday 28 October 2009.

Queen Mary students competing for a dream trip to Antarctica

Four students from Queen Mary, University of London’s Department of Geography have made it into the final of the npower Future Leaders Challenge.

International Arbitration survey appoints researcher

Global law firm White & Case LLP today announced the appointment of the White & Case Research Fellow at the School of International Arbitration, Centre for Commercial Law Studies, at Queen Mary, University of London.

Lecture marks 100th anniversary of MI5

MI5’s official historian, Professor Christopher Andrew is to speak at Queen Mary, University of London on Tuesday 3 November 2009. The event is being held to mark the centenary of the British Security Service.

Harvard Shakespeare expert opens Renaissance seminar series

Shakespeare supremo Stephen Greenblatt and Tudor historian David Starkey CBE are among the guest speakers secured for Queen Mary’s Renaissance Seminars 2009/10.

Queen Mary wins prestigious Student Experience Award

Queen Mary, University of London has won the ‘Most Improved Student Experience’ Award at this year’s Times Higher Education Awards.

Creative debate to be held at Queen Mary

Queen Mary will be opening its doors to the public later this month as part of the week-long festival Inside Out, which is organised by the London Centre for Arts and Cultural Exchange.

The Future of Higher Education: Funding and the Economy

Professor Steve Smith, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Exeter, and President of Universities UK, will deliver Queen Mary’s fourth annual Drapers’ Lecture on Learning and Teaching, on Thursday 22 October 2009.

Institute of Cancer Director honoured by Chinese Government

Professor Nick Lemoine, Director of the Institute of Cancer at Queen Mary, University of London, has been awarded this year’s Yellow River Friendship Prize.

Queen Mary graduate wins London’s top black student prize

Nanayaa Hughes-Brittain, a first class materials engineering graduate from Queen Mary, University of London, has won the top prize at the Black Students Academic Achievement Awards, held last week.

Nobel Prize for fibre optic pioneer who networked at Queen Mary

Part of this year's Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Honorary Fellow Professor Charles Kao for work on fibre optic technology in the 1970s, which he carried out whilst holding the position of Visiting Research Associate at Queen Mary, University of London.

'Micro shuttle' drug delivery could mean an end to regular dosing

Scientists working at Queen Mary, University of London, have developed micrometer-sized capsules to safely deliver drugs inside living cells.

Queen Mary researcher takes top job in blood pressure group

A research clinician from Queen Mary, University of London has just been elected President of the British Hypertension Society.

Celebs spawn copycat suicides, study confirms

Results of a new study from Queen Mary, University of London, warn against glamorising celebrity suicides in the media.

Experts gather to tackle health effects of noise pollution

Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London have won a million Euro grant* to bring together Europe’s foremost experts on the health effects of noise pollution.

New Architecture honour makes it a trio of awards for the Blizard Building

Queen Mary’s Blizard Building has been awarded one of the world’s most prestigious international architecture awards.

Prestigious award goes to cancer specialist at Queen Mary

The outstanding achievements of Professor Andrew Lister have been recognised by The European Society for Medical Oncology.

Enzyme is key to clogged arteries

Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have made an important discovery in understanding what causes arteries to clog up.

Big grant to assess fat-fighting project

A Queen Mary geographer has secured a grant of £916,803 to evaluate a major Government-led initiative to help curb obesity in nine English towns.

Dramatic design of Mathematics foyer receives planning permission

Queen Mary, University of London has been granted planning approval for a dramatic new foyer for the School of Mathematical Sciences.

Queen Mary nominated for University of the Year 2009

Queen Mary, University of London has been shortlisted for five awards at this year’s Times Higher Education Awards, including the prestigious University of the Year Award. The full shortlist is published in the THE today (Thursday 10 September 2009).

Major clinical study rejects cancer safety fears of most common heartburn treatment

Fears about the cancer causing effects of the second most prescribed group of drugs in the Western world have been put to rest, following the largest ever study into their use.

New centre invites children into the amazing world of science

Centre of the Cell - a unique children’s science education centre - will officially open its doors for the first time today (Thursday 3 September). The centre will be unveiled by Blue Peter presenter Helen Skelton.

Queen Mary reaches finals of the Dragon Awards 2009

Queen Mary has been shortlisted for a second prestigious award for taking the ethical step of bringing its non-residential cleaning service back in-house after 15 years with contractors.

New study will examine global burden of abnormal heart rhythm

A new study which will be the first to quantify the global burden of the most common abnormal heart rhythm, called atrial fibrillation, has been launched by researchers at Queen Mary, University of London.

Queen Mary students to introduce more pupils into higher education

Queen Mary, University of London is the lead institution for London East Thames Gateway (LETG) Aimhigher scheme, which aims to boost widening participation in higher education.

'Curtain twitching' skylarks keep track of strangers through their songs

Skylarks can hear the difference between friendly neighbours and dangerous strangers, and deal with any threatening intruders, says new research by scientists at Queen Mary, University of London.

Oral cancer rates rising rapidly in east London

Experts at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry believe that tobacco chewing may have led to an alarming rise in the number of cases of oral cancer in East London.

Professor Liz Davenport appointed to Council of the GDC

Liz Davenport, Professor of Dental Education at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, has been appointed to the newly created Council of the General Dental Council.

£300,000 funding for nausea research

Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London, have been awarded almost £300,000 to get to the bottom of why we feel nauseous, a condition which cannot be controlled in many cases.

Disease threat may change how frogs mate

Dr Amber Teacher, studying a post-doctorate jointly at Queen Mary, University of London and Royal Holloway, University of London, has discovered evidence that a disease may be causing a behavioural change in frogs.

Not your average East End punter

The first punting station on the capital's waterways has been set up on a stretch of the Regent's Canal running alongside the Queen Mary, University of London campus in Mile End.

Cooking with sound - SCORE stove enters test stage

Components of a bio-mass powered generator which could greatly enhance the availability of electricity for rural communities in Africa and Asia are undergoing initial testing at Queen Mary, University of London.

Baking soda could reduce the need for dialysis

A daily dose of simple household baking soda can prevent the need for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease to go on a dialysis machine according to researcher at Queen Mary, University of London.

Simon Gaskell appointed Principal of Queen Mary, University of London

Queen Mary, University of London, has appointed a new Principal. Professor Simon Gaskell, currently Vice President for Research at the University of Manchester and a leading researcher in the development of state-of-the-art mass spectrometry for the biomedical sciences, will take up the post on 1 October 2009.

Magic ingredient in breast milk protects babies’ intestines

Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London have discovered that an ingredient in human breast milk protects and repairs the delicate intestines of newborn babies.

Queen Mary academic awarded HEA Teaching Fellowship

Dr James Busfield, from Queen Mary’s School of Engineering and Materials Science, has won a National Teaching Fellowships from The Higher Education Academy.

Magic of Queen Mary science at the Royal Society

The audience for this year’s Royal Society Summer Science Exhibition will see a magic show with a difference thanks to computer scientists from Queen Mary, University of London.

Building renamed to honour renowned physicist

The Physics Building at Queen Mary, University of London was renamed in honour of the late Gwyn Owain Jones in a special ceremony this week.

‘Green’ Mary cleans up at ethical awards

Queen Mary, University of London has won the ‘Social Responsibility’ category of the Green Gown Awards 2009. The announcement was made at a prestigious gala dinner held at the Imperial College London on 23 June.

Celebrating anniversary in Paris with a spot of Naked Lunch

Fifty years after the first edition of cult novel Naked Lunch rolled off the presses in France, the University of London Institute in Paris (ULIP) is holding a series of events to mark the occasion.

British arts beat to a Brazilian rhythm

People’s Palace Projects, the arts organisation based at Queen Mary, University of London has been awarded £369,885 for a new project that brings together performance artists from Brazil’s toughest ghettos with British arts institutions.

Queen Mary ranked seventh nationally for graduate starting salaries

Queen Mary, University of London is one of the top 10 universities in the UK for graduate employability, according to the Times’ Good University Guide 2010.

Tristram Hunt lectures on London through the ages

Queen Mary historian Tristram Hunt has organised a series of fascinating lectures on the capital as part of the Story of London Festival – a month-long celebration of the city’s past, present and future.

Double honour for Queen Mary botanist

A renowned plant biologist from Queen Mary, University of London has received two new honours for his research on small plants called bryophytes.

Barts and the London student writes for The Lancet Student

Final year medical student Radhika Gulati writes for The Lancet Student website about her time spent working at speciality eye hospitals in India.

Queen Mary paper may steer government on intellectual property law

A Queen Mary law expert is to write a paper that will guide government policy on intellectual property (IP) rights.

Astronomy Summer School wins award

A Queen Mary youth project entitled Media Space has won a London Education Partnership Award.

What’s love got to do with it?

It is always sold as the perfect fairy story, but romantic love has its drawbacks for today’s Caribbean woman, suggests a leading gender studies expert in her lecture at Queen Mary, University of London.

Queen Mary geographer wins place on Borneo climate change summit

A Queen Mary geography student has been chosen by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to represent the UK at a nine-day conference on global climate change in Brunei, Borneo.

Using magic to learn about maths

An academic from Queen Mary, University of London has launched a series of videos featuring magic tricks that are conjured from a mathematical perspective.

C4DM at The Cheltenham Science Festival

Queen Mary’s Centre for Digital Music (C4DM) will be taking part in the Cheltenham Science Festival this month - one of the UK's leading science festivals.

Lecture argues Britain’s homeless are not hopeless

Academics often paint a bleak picture of homelessness. But there are inspirational efforts being made to support homeless people in our towns and cities, suggests Jon May, Professor of Geography at Queen Mary, University of London.

Barts and The London student wins prestigious award

A Neuroscience student from Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry has won the prestigious London Student of the Year award.

Queen Mary student behind Britains Got Talent winners Diversity

Ashley Banjo, a science student at Queen Mary, has led dance act Diversity to victory in the Britain’s Got Talent final.

Student scoops national essay prize

A student from Queen Mary has taken the top prize in a national essay writing contest.

Rooks show insightful and creative tool use

Researchers at Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Cambridge have found that rooks are capable of using and making tools, modifying them to make them work and using two tools in a sequence.

Fallow deer become hoarse in the hunt for a mate

Fallow deer become hoarse when trying to attract a mate, according to scientists from Queen Mary, University of London.

Blood pressure lowering drugs should not be limited to people with high blood pressure

Blood pressure lowering drugs should be offered to anyone old enough to be at risk of a heart attack or stroke, regardless of their blood pressure, according to the largest analysis of blood pressure trials to date, published on bmj.com today.

Eight new blood pressure genes discovered

Scientists at Queen Mary, University of London co-leading an international collaboration have identified eight common genetic variants which have an influence on blood pressure.  

Queen Mary shortlisted for Green Gown Awards 2009

Queen Mary, University of London is in the running to become the UK’s most socially sustainable institution after being shortlisted for the final stage of the prestigious Green Gown Awards 2009.

Andrew Robertson awarded prestigious Research Fellowship

Andrew Robertson from the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science has been awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowship for 2009.

Honour for Director of the Blizard Institute

Professor Mike Curtis of Queen Mary, University of London has been elected as a Fellow of the prestigious Academy of Medical Sciences.

Incentives in healthcare: new research centre launches

A new research centre opens this week (Thursday 30 April) to study the ethics, economics and psychology behind the use of incentives in healthcare.

New pill to treat multiple sclerosis

A new drug for multiple sclerosis can dramatically reduce the chances of a relapse or a deterioration of the condition, according to a new study from researchers at Queen Mary, University of London.

Paired proteins required for circadian clock function

Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have discovered a new protein complex operating in fruit fly circadian clocks, which may also help to regulate our own biological clocks.

Aspirin for forty somethings could cut cancer risk

Taking aspirin in your 40s could cut the risk of cancer developing later in life, according to scientists from Queen Mary, University of London.

Power to the people: Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger on journalism, blogging and Twitter

The Guardian's coverage of G20 was achieved through the combination of traditional reporters doing the footwork and the mass observation of the crowd, according the newspaper’s editor-in-chief.

Master filmmaker and director Mike Leigh at Queen Mary

Acclaimed British director Mike Leigh OBE visited Queen Mary, University of London on Monday 27 April to mark the start of the College’s biennial festival of Humanities and Social Sciences - Arts Week 2009 (27 – 30 April).

Simple blood test could save doctors hours of diagnosis

Ground-breaking new research is underway at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry which means doctors are close to identifying clinically useful biomarkers – compounds found in the blood - that will revolutionise trauma care and allow surgeons to diagnose which organs are injured, and to what extent, as soon as they arrive at hospital.

Performing Medicine: The Expressive Body Workshop

A live workshop will demonstrate how theatre-based training techniques can benefit medical students as part of Arts Week, at Queen Mary, University of London on 29 April 2009.

Medicine Under Pressure: Arts Week Highlight

High-profile lawyer Phil Shiner will join a timely debate on ethics, medicine and human rights, an Arts Week event at Queen Mary, University of London, on Wednesday 29 April.

The Economics of Smoking

The effectiveness of smoking bans will be called into question in a provocative lecture, being held as part of Arts Week, at Queen Mary, University of London on Wednesday 29 April.

Emotions, Medicine and the Law

Queen Mary, University of London is hosting a fascinating symposium exploring the evolving relationship of psychology and British law, as part of Arts Week, on Wednesday 29 April.

Pioneering study may open door to first targeted treatment for common childhood brain tumour

Scientists from Barts and The London have found evidence to suggest that ‘small molecule’ drugs could offer the first effective chemotherapy for a type of low-grade childhood cancer.

Are British constitutional reforms trivial or transforming?

To mark the twelfth anniversary of New Labour’s rise to power on 1 May, the College's Anthony Sampson Memorial Lecture 2009 will survey the Labour government’s legacy, and its impact on Britain’s political system.

Salters’ Festival of Chemistry comes to Queen Mary

100 students from 25 schools from across London and the South East will enjoy an interesting fun-filled day of chemistry at the Salters' Festival of Chemistry to be held at Queen Mary, University of London, on Wednesday 22 April 2009.

Queen Mary offers training support to graduates during the recession

Queen Mary, University of London has been awarded £472,500 to support graduates during the recession. The ‘Queen Mary Centre for Employment in Developing Opportunities in Society’ project (QUEDOS) aims to encourage economic recovery on a personal level.

Widely acclaimed Queen Mary Fellow launches her first major visual art exhibition

Bobby Baker, the AHRC Creative Fellow with the School of English and Drama at Queen Mary, University of London, has launched her first major visual art exhibition.

QM geography student awarded prestigious fieldwork apprenticeship

A first year student from Queen Mary's Department of Geography has been named as one of the recipients of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG)’s Learning and Leading fieldwork apprenticeships.

Dr James Busfield awarded the Colwyn Medal

Dr James Busfield from the School of Engineering and Materials Science has been awarded the Colwyn medal by the Institute of Materials, Mining and Minerals.

Research into cancer stem cells holds promise for better cancer diagnosis and treatment

Scientists from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry have made a discovery which will make very early detection of bowel cancer possible and has the potential to improve treatment as well.

Major grant from Leverhulme Trust funds immigrant health project

Queen Mary, University of London has been awarded nearly £125,000 by the Leverhulme Trust to fund a two-year project on the health of immigrants living in London, ‘Place, culture and film: an investigation of migrants’ health making practices’.

Queen Mary reveals unmissable line-up for Arts Week 2009

Acclaimed film director Mike Leigh, OBE, is just one of the big name speakers taking part in Arts Week 2009 - Queen Mary’s biennial celebration of the Humanities, Social Sciences and Law.

Queen Mary professor advises House of Lords on EU financial regulation

A legal scholar from Queen Mary, University of London is acting as special adviser to the House of Lords on its investigation into European Union (EU) financial regulation since November 2008.

Queen Mary’s fledgling lawyers recognised by Attorney General Awards

Law students at Queen Mary have been highly commended in three out of the four categories of a prestigious legal award scheme. The annual Attorney General Student Awards were set up four years ago to recognise pro bono (free) work undertaken by law schools and their students to benefit local communities.

Look into my eyes – how Jackdaws can follow a human’s gaze

Jackdaws are highly sensitive to the focus of human eyes, and can follow subtle clues in a person’s gaze according to scientists from Queen Mary, University of London.

Queen Mary announces £8.2m to foster links between early career researchers and industrial partners

Queen Mary, University of London has been awarded £2.9m from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) to establish links between early career researchers and industrial partners. This will be matched by other funding to give a total of £8.2m to support knowledge transfer from academia to industry.

Astronaut and computer scientist launch Cassini Competition 2009

A Queen Mary Professor and a British-born astronaut will be joining forces this week to give school children the opportunity to control Nasa’s Cassini spacecraft as it orbits Saturn.

Majority of UK doctors opposed to legalisation of euthanasia

Two-thirds of UK doctors are opposed to the legalisation of euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide, according to survery results published this week in Palliative Medicine and led by a Queen Mary scientist.

Ground-breaking QM Professor honoured with computing award

A pioneering Queen Mary academic who has broken new ground on programme termination has been named as winner of the British Computer Society’s Roger Needham award for 2009.

QM gut expert awarded prestigious medal

A Professor from Queen Mary, University of London, will take home a major award for his research in gastroenterology this week.

Ofcom Chairman gives annual Peston Lecture at Queen Mary

Lord (David) Currie of Marylebone, the outgoing Chair of Ofcom – the UK communications regulator - will deliver the annual Peston Lecture at Queen Mary, University of London, on Wednesday, 25 March, 2009.

Ecological Engineering: Could beavers be reintroduced to England?

Beavers could be successfully reintroduced to many parts of England, boosting wildlife and helping to reduce the risk of flooding, according to a report led by a Queen Mary scientist.

Treason, politics and religion in post-Reformation England

Professor Michael Questier, of Queen Mary’s Department of History, will deliver his inaugural lecture ‘The Cause of this Sudden Execution’ on 17 March, challenging contemporary views of political opposition to the regimes of Elizabeth I and James I.

Kids battle with artificial intelligence at the Tower of London

Two of Queen Mary’s award-winning science communicators will be entertaining local school children at the Tower of London this week, as part of National Science and Engineering Week.

Youngsters must take more steps for their health

New figures reveal that over a third of 11 and 12 year olds in Tower Hamlets, east London are overweight or obese - 11 per cent higher than the national average, according to figures from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Professor Philip Ogden elected to the Academy of Social Sciences

Acting Principal, Professor Philip Ogden, has been elected an Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of social sciences.

Kepler mission allows Queen Mary astronomer to listen to the stars

Scientists from Queen Mary’s Astronomy Unit were celebrating the launch of the Kepler mission today; the NASA spacecraft hopes to discover if planets the size of Earth exist in orbit around other stars.

Queen Mary to host Van Dyck colloquium with Tate Britain

Queen Mary is to host a one-day symposium, ‘Van Dyck and Seventeenth Century Britain’, in conjunction with Tate Britain on Friday 6 March 2009.

£2.9m AHRC award funds 74 postgraduate studentships

The Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has awarded Queen Mary, University of London, £2.9 million to support masters and doctoral students in the arts and humanities.

‘Miss America’ takes the People’s Palace by storm

Queen Mary, University of London, presents the UK stage premiere of Miss America, a witty critique on the dissolution of the ‘American Dream’, which runs from 21 March to 23 March.

Queen Mary in top three in HEFCE research funding settlement

With an increase of £7.28 million, Queen Mary has received the third largest cash increase in research funding in the country, following publication of the HEFCE funding allocations this week.

Tory MP Dominic Grieve gives public lecture on 'identity and multiculturalism'

Dominic Grieve QC, MP for Beaconsfield, Shadow Justice Secretary and Shadow Attorney General, is to give the annual Lord Smith of Clifton lecture at Queen Mary, University of London, on Wednesday 4 March 2009.

Tiny new moon found in Saturn’s outer ring

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has found a tiny moon, or moonlet, orbiting Saturn. The moonlet is embedded within Saturn's sixth, or G ring, and is believed to be a main source of the G ring’s material.

Frog’s immune system is key in fight against killer virus

Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have discovered how changes to a frog’s immune system may be the key to beating a viral infection which is devastating frog populations across the UK.

Are judges a law unto themselves?

Richard Nobles, Professor of Law at Queen Mary, University of London is to deliver his inaugural lecture ‘Why Do Judges Talk the Way They Do?’ on Thursday 5 March 2009.

Planetary Systems in the Galaxy: Architecture, Formation and Evolution

To celebrate the International Year of Astronomy, Professor Richard Nelson, Professor of Astronomy and Mathematics,will be delivering his inaugural lecture on Tuesday 24 February 2009 at 6.30pm.

Discovering the secret code behind photosynthesis

Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have discovered that an ancient system of communication found in primitive bacteria, may also explain how plants and algae control the process of photosynthesis.

Secrets behind high temperature superconductors revealed

Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London and the University of Fribourg (Switzerland) have found evidence that magnetism is involved in the mechanism behind high temperature superconductivity.

Pollution and the respiratory health of London children

An innovative study into the links between air pollution and vitamin D deficiency, and their impact on the respiratory health of children in east London is announced today, involving scientists from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Formal portrait of Professor Stuart Hall, FBA, unveiled at Queen Mary

A striking new photographic portrait celebrating Queen Mary’s second Distinguished Visiting Professor of the Humanities was presented to the College today, Wednesday 18 February 2009.

‘Now you see it, now you don’t’; how new artificial intelligence can help us understand how we see

Queen Mary scientists have, for the first time, used computer artificial intelligence to create previously unseen types of pictures to explore the abilities of the human visual system.

Studying the rights and safety of sex workers

Queen Mary, University of London is to host a seminar highlighting the plight of sex workers, the affect of the built environment on their lives and benefits and challenges inherent in the legalisation of prostitution, on Wednesday 18 February.

Alastair Campbell, Former Downing Street press chief, teaches at Queen Mary

Queen Mary, University of London welcomed Alastair Campbell, New Labour’s former director of communications and strategy, to its Mile End campus on Monday 9 February, 2009.

European team finds smallest transiting extrasolar planet ever

The CoRoT satellite has discovered a planet only twice as large as the Earth orbiting a star slightly smaller than the Sun. It is the smallest extrasolar planet (planet outside our solar system) whose radius has ever been measured.

‘Boom and bust’ in the American economy

Simon Mohun, Professor of Political Economy at Queen Mary, University of London will give his inaugural lecture ‘Profitability, Boom and Bust in the US Economy’ on Tuesday 10 February.

Largest prehistoric snake on record discovered in Colombia

Scientists have recovered fossils of a 60-million-year-old South American snake whose length and weight might make today's anacondas and reticulated pythons seem a bit cuter and more cuddly.

Prostate cancer patient gets a longer and better life

A 62-year old prostate cancer sufferer had his life extended by 18 years after voluntarily joining the Men’s Cancer Unit’s Intermittent Hormone Therapy Trial (IHT) at Barts and The London Cancer Centre.

How your body clock avoids hitting the snooze button

Scientists from Queen Mary, University of London have discovered a new part of the mechanism which allows our bodyclocks to reset themselves on a molecular level.

cs4fn launches ‘The Magic of Computer Science’ book

Queen Mary, University of London’s award-winning outreach project, Computer Science for Fun (cs4fn) launches its free online e-book ‘The Magic of Computer Science’, this month.

Sir Nicholas Montagu to be appointed Chairman of Council

Former Chairman of the Board of the Inland Revenue, Sir Nicholas Montagu, KCB, is announced as the next Chairman of Council at Queen Mary, University of London.

Queen Mary receives funding for India-UK collaboration

Queen Mary academics have been awarded funding to support and develop the College’s links with Indian universities, as part of a strategic intergovernmental initiative to foster closer scientific collaboration between UK and Indian scientists and industrial engineers.

Oral steroids ineffective in the treatment of preschool virus-induced wheezing

A new study from Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry has found that a common treatment for wheezing in preschool children is no more effective than a placebo.

Queen Mary’s Professor Donald Sassoon appointed to prestigious Visiting Chair

An eminent historian at Queen Mary, University of London has been appointed the 2009 Samuel Wood Brooks Visiting Professor in English Literature at the University of Queensland.

Professor Richard Ashcroft appointed Fellow of the Institute of Biology

One of Queen Mary’s leading academics has been invited to become a Fellow of the Institute of Biology in recognition of his work in bioethics and ethical issues in the life sciences.

Clean Living: Paying the Living Wage to QM cleaning staff

A new report shows the economic and ethical benefits to paying cleaning staff at Queen Mary a ‘living wage’. 

QM academic secures up to $80m investment for spin out company

A spin out company lead by Professor Joost de Bruijn from Queen Mary’s School of Engineering and Materials Science (SEMS) has signed an $80m investment agreement to help develop ground-breaking bone substitutes.

Natural born computers – serious fun when biology meets computer science

The inaugural lecture of Professor Peter McOwan, Professor of Computer Science and award-winning communicator of science, will be held on Wednesday, 14 January 2009 at 6.30pm.

New study sheds light on role of ectopic lymphoid structures in joints of rheumatoid arthritis patients

Researchers have found that structures present in the joint linings of some patients with rheumatoid arthritis are able to produce anti citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) that may be responsible for joint damage.

The Indian justice system and its impact in the UK

Dr Prakash Shah, senior lecturer at Queen Mary’s Department of Law, has been awarded funding from France’s L'Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR) for a major project on the governance and administration of justice in India and its affect on trans-national South Asians in the UK.

Fidel and Che: Cuban revolutionaries

A Cuban revolution expert at Queen Mary, University of London is to give two lectures in early 2009 to mark the publication of his first book on 8 January, and the 50^th anniversary of the political uprising in Cuba.

People’s Palace Projects lead debate on role of arts in environmentalism

People’s Palace Projects, the arts organisation based at Queen Mary, and the Young Vic theatre have teamed up with the Royal Society of Arts (RSA) to hold a colloquium exploring deforestation and how the arts can help alter society’s attitude towards climate change.

Success for Queen Mary academics in New Year’s Honours List

Three academics from Queen Mary have been honoured in the 2009 New Year’s Honours List.

RAE confirms Queen Mary's place as a top research university

The results of the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, published today, confirm Queen Mary’s place in the very top group of research-led universities.