Dr Betty Johnson, research fellow in the department of physics and one of the first Daphne Jackson Fellows at Imperial between 1986 - 1988, was awarded an MBE for services to people returning to careers in science, engineering and technology.

Inaugural Master Class
Rector, Sir Richard Sykes inaugural Master Class for Imperial College Life Sciences Forum last month, focused on third generation pharmaceutical research and development, particularly the emerging disciplines of genomics, proteomics, metabonomics and bioinformatics.

The Forum is coordinating a series of events to encourage networking and interaction between the life sciences sector and faculty, students and graduates of Imperial.

Organised by the management schools health management programme, future Master Classes will explore biopharma, developments in the health technology sector and intellectual property.

£5m DTI funding
Major new collaborations between the UK and USA in areas of biotechnology and medical research have been given a £5 million boost from the DTI.

The money will help UK scientists find world-class partners and promote link-ups with a Texas science base. The UK will also set up training programmes in the commercialisation of research.

Science Minister Lord Sainsbury said: Scientific advances in areas such as genetics, heart research and drug development are crucial to our future quality of life.

I am delighted to announce this initiative, the success of which will pave the way for further UK/US collaborations in scientific research, and its successful exploitation where the UK has considerable strengths.

Imperial cross channel swim
Mark Fleet, third year medic, and five colleagues, will attempta 22 mile relay cross channel swim next month to raise money for the childrens department of Paediatric Physiotherapy, Hammersmith campus. Those interested in sponsoring the swimmers, who have taken advice from alumnus Nick Adams who has swum the Channel several times, should contact: mark.fleet@imperial.ac.uk or team captain emma.williams@imperial.ac.uk.