Issue 67
22 September - 5 October 1998
STAFF NEWSPAPER OF IMPERIAL COLLEGE OF SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND MEDICINE
Media mentions
Breath-taking alliance
The launch of Boditech is unlikely to have been missed by many as it inspired massive media interest. The Guardian heralded the news on its front cover: ‘UK scientists’ £13 billion medical revolution’ (11.9.98), second only to an update of the goings-on of a certain president. The news of an imminent breath test that ‘will revolutionise visits to doctor’ (Times 11.9.98) caused a deluge of press, television and radio enquiries all eager to learn more about this research which ‘promises to be literally breath-taking’ (Chemistry & Industry 21.9.98). See ‘‘Breathalyser’ will change medicine’.All in a name
An animal’s name may be its best weapon against extinction. Final-year student, Claire Carvell, Department of Biology, carried out the research which has shown that “the dullest species will score a public relations boost if they have the right name” (Daily Telegraph 17.9.98). She asked London Zoo visitors to rank eight photographs of animals in the order that they would choose to help their conservation. Originally none of the photos had the names of the species attached and were added as an afterthought. The addition of names gave a surprising insight into the national psyche as the Diana monkey rose by 12 places, taking it into the top ten. The revelation of species’ names worked the other way for some animals, however. “Some of the cutest animals turned out to be doomed by their names. No matter how rare or attractive, the word ‘pigeon’, ‘bat’ or ‘fox’ was a public relations disaster” (Daily Telegraph 17.9.98).On the other hand
A development in transplant surgery has shown that what is possible in the film world is becoming increasingly plausible in the operating theatre. The national papers all carried the news of the world’s first arm transplant on 25 September (Daily Telegraph, Guardian, Independent and Times). The operation was carried out by a multinational team including Dr Nadey Hakim, director of the transplant unit at St Mary’s Hospital. Surgeons attached the hand and forearm of a brain-dead donor on to the arm of an Australian businessman who lost his right hand in a chainsaw accident nine years ago. Dr Hakim said: “As a professional transplant surgeon, to see a man restored with an arm is tremendously satisfying.” (Daily Telegraph 25.9.98)Answering back
Speaking at this year’s British Association Festival of Science at Cardiff University, Professor Igor Aleksander prophesised that in 40 years’ time a computer, “could conceivably disagree and argue with you” (Times 8.9.98). Or as the Scotsman put it: “You might think your computer is bolshy enough when it refuses to print, but in 40 year’s time it could be arguing with you about it too,” (8.9.98).
© Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, 1998
Last Revised: 3 October 1998