A year in review - 2006

2006 was an action packed and exciting year for everyone at the College and alumni around the world. Catch up with some of the highlights.

January

2006 got off to a great start for our alumni around the world. It was announced that Industrial Engineering Design alumni Will Crawford and Peter Brewin had won the Saatchi & Saatchi Award for World Changing Ideas 2005 for their invention Concrete Canvas. www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=445

Issue 27 of Imperial Matters began hitting doormats around the world at the end of January. The government themed issue featured three Imperial academics who are Chief Scientific Advisers to the government, and profiles of alumni who are also playing their part in government's around the world. www.imperial.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?&id=13

February

The Imperial College Finance Network was launched in February 2006, with the aim of establishing a supportive network for Imperial College alumni that currently work in the city, by providing a forum for them to network and connect with old friends. Over 70 alumni attended the first event.
www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=442

March

The first ever alumni quiz night was held in March, and it was a great success with over 130 alumni taking part! Teams enjoyed a relaxed evening, which included a curry supper. The scores were close until the last round of the quiz, but it was the 1996 winning University Challenge team that were triumphant! www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=448

April

April was a busy month for our international alumni groups. Imperial College in Victoria held a special dinner for Dr Ruth Graham, Director of EnVision 2010, a College initiative which is evolving the way the Faculty of Engineering teaches undergraduates, while the Imperial College Alumni Association of Hong Kong held their second Business Talk entitled Stock Investment Opportunity in China and Hong Kong.

The Imperial College Alumni Association of Northern California's annual 'Hike to the Pelican Inn and back' took place on 29 April 2006. www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=462

May

Over 1,300 of Imperial's newest alumni attended this year's Postgraduate Awards Ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall on 31 May 2006. Imperial's highest honours were bestowed upon Professor Sir John Lawton, Professor Frank Leppington, Sir Christopher O'Donnell, Mark Walport and Professor Victor Wynn. www.imperial.ac.uk/P7841.htm

The Imperial College Club of Germany joined in the World Cup fever in May 2006 when they held their annual meeting in Munich, the opening venue of the World Cup. www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=464

June

Three alumni were reunited with their former classmates for the first time at this year's Western Australia Alumni Association annual dinner. The function was held at K's Restaurant in Northbridge, and over 25 alumni and their partners attended. www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=467

July

For four days in July Imperial College became the home to 50 pupils aged between 15 and 17. The students, who had demonstrated a high ability in mathematics, were attending a summer school at the newly opened Institute of Mathematical Sciences, generously supported by the Sutton Trust and Dr Lisbet Rausing. www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=471

One of our newest alumni groups, the Imperial College Shanghai Alumni Club, continued to grow in 2006. The strong events programme included an inspiring presentation from alumnus Dr Geoffrey Nicholson (Chemsitry 1960, PhD 1963) entitled Innovation, The Global Factorat the group's second event.
www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=469

Issue 28 of Imperial Matters was sent to alumni in July, featuring alumni Tim Goss and Mark Williams, Chief Engineers for Team McLaren Mercedes. This issue also looked at how Imperial's academics are combating future healthcare issues. www.imperial.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Document.Doc?&id=54

August

Tanaka Business School held its annual MBA Alumni Networking Event at the Orchard Hotel on 1 August. Alumnus Baey Yam Keng was guest of honour at the event, which attracted more than 80 MBA alumni members. The event provided the perfect opportunity for former classmates to catch up with old friends, as well as to make new ones. www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=473

Over 500 alumni and guests attended a glittering gala dinner to re-launch the Nigerian alumni association at the end of August, which was opened by alumnus Dr Edmund Daukoru (Geology 1964), OPEC President and Nigerian Minister of State. www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=474

September

The Alumni Reunion 2006 provided the perfect opportunity for nearly 300 alumni and guests to revisit the campus and reminisce. Lord Robert Winston provided the morning's lecture entitled Can we trust the scientists? and was followed by an engaging lecture programme, tours of local museums and departments, and a closing dinner rounded off the day.
www.imperial.ac.uk/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?&pid=397&srcid=183

October

October got off to a great start with the announcement that Imperial College had jumped to nine in the Times Higher Education Supplement 197's World University Rankings. The College is one of only three non-US institutions in the top 10, jumping from thirteenth in last year's survey.
www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/newssummary/news_5-10-2006-14-56-27?newsid=2737

An informal alumni drinks event for alumni who had graduated from the College during the last 10 years event took place at the end of the month. Over 130 alumni came along to the Pitcher and Piano in Trafalgar Square, and many brought their friends as well.www.imperial.ac .uk/alumni /nc/displayFullArticle.as p?id=479

The Rector hosted a reception to thank donors to the Annual Fund, which directs donations to the Student Opportunities Fund, as well as the Library and Student Union refurbishments. This month also marked the launch of the seventh telethon campaign in support of the Fund.

The College held its annual Commemoration Day Ceremony at the Royal Albert Hall, welcoming over 1,800 new alumni to the Imperial College Association.

November

The Colleges newly established International Ambassadors Scheme got off to a great start with Professor David Nethercot's presentation for the Imperial College Alumni Association of Hong Kong. Professor Nethercot, one of 21 top academics at Imperial College who have recently taken on the role of Imperial Ambassador, gave a presentation to alumni on EnVision 2010. www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni/nc/displayFullArticle.asp?id=480

December

Christmas celebrations took place at the College and beyond throughout the festive season, beginning with the Lunchtime Christmas Concert on 5 December, and followed by Carols by Candlelight on 13 December. The service included readings from Imperial staff and students and music from Imperial College Chamber Choir.www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/eventssummary/event_1-12-2006-13-42-52?eventid=3017

Professor Guang Zhong Yang gave the annual Imperial College Christmas lecture on 13 December 2006, entitled The Changing Face of Robotics, which was followed by a mulled wine and mince pie reception. Alumni also held a range of events during the festive season. The Western Australian Alumni Association held their annual Christmas dinner at restaurant SWEET JAVA on 13 December and the CGCA Christmas Lunch and Seminar was held the following day. Guest Speaker, Dr John Morton, Chief Executive of the Engineering and Technology Board, gave a lecture entitled Engineering UK Pride and Prejudice?

We wish you all the very best over this festive season and send our best wishes for a happy and rewarding 2007.