Scholar dons monk's habit for BBC documentary; Historians in the media; Media listings to end-March

Scholar dons monk's habit for BBC documentary

A Byzantine scholar donned the habit of a Byzantine monk for a BBC documentary on the ancient scientific genius Archimedes. Charalambos Dendrinos, of the Hellenic Institute, was approached by the makers of BBC2's flagship science series Horizon, because of his expertise in Byzantine scripts.

Pictured above: A postage stamp issued by Italy in 1983 depicts Archimedes and his famous screw, a device he invented in 3 BC to raise water.

Archimedes' Secret (BBC2, 14 March, 9pm) told the story of a book that could have changed the history of the world. The ancient text was lost for two thousand years, buried away in a middle eastern library, written over by a mediaeval monk, broken up, painted on, cut up and re-glued. This precious fragile document is revealing for the first time just how revolutionary Archimedes' ideas were. The programme suggests that, if the treatise had been read during the Renaissance, man might have reached the moon a hundred years ago.

Charalambos Dendrinos was invited by Horizon to take part in the programme, acting as the anonymous 12th-century Byzantine monk in Jerusalem who copied a prayer book upon the scraped text of Archimedes in the same parchment manuscript.

Dr Dendrinos says: "The BBC needed someone who would be able to read and immitate 10th-12th-century Greek scripts. So, just before Xmas I found myself in a monk's habit in the Roundchurch, Cambridge, copying the prayer book on a pseudo-parchment leaf over the Archimedes text which was printed on the parchment through computer. Another actor played the role of the 10th/11th-century anonymous monk/scribe who pretended to copy the Archimedes text from an imaginary exemplar, which I prepared for him using 9th-century majuscule type of script. As he was not a palaeographer or calligrapher, I was asked once more to copy the Archimedes text as it appears on the original manuscript (enhanced by computer programmes) under the prayer text. I was happy to "lend" my hand again - they succeeded in "ageing" it by 20-30 years using special make-up! It was great fun."

Historians in the media

Dr Pauline Croft, Department of History, has been commissioned by BBC Radio 4 to produce one of their "What If" programmes with Professor Christopher Andrew. Their programme asks "What if Mary Tudor had had a son by Philip II of Spain? Would England now be a catholic country? Croft and Andrew began with the supposition that there had been a baby boy, to be christened Charles. Dr Croft pointed out that the terms of the marriage treaty for Mary and Philip meant that such a child would have inherited the Netherlands as well as England, creating a strong state straddling the North Sea. Dr Croft says: "Even more remarkable, the same treaty agrees that if Philip II's sole surviving son Don Carlos, should predecease him (as actually happened in 1568) the baby would also inherit Spain and the new World as well - which would have meant an extraordinary transformation of the future of the western European/Atlantic world of the 17th century."

Royal Holloway historians also featured in Secrets of the City, broadcast on BBC Radio 4 on 1 March 2002. Professor Penny Corfield linked urban history with the new history of sexuality to investigate how the process of urbanisation also introduced a new sexualisation of society. Also contributing was Dr Amanda Vickery, who highlighted the significance for young people of meetings at balls, assemblies and theatres; and Dr David Gaimster, on secondment from the British Museum to Royal Holloway History, who explained the intimate history of the condom, as well as that of the condom manufacturers and vendors who discreetly supplied their new urban clientele. The programme also received coverage in 'Pick of the Day' The Guardian 1/3/02 and Pick of the Week BBC Radio 4 3/3/02,and was reviewed by David Sexton Sunday Telegraph 3/3/02.

Media listings to end-March

NATIONAL PRESS

Angus Gibbon, former lecturer - 'Young Soloists and New Teachers Celebrate Christmas in Chapel Concert' Independent Education Today 01/01/02

Chris Butler, Head of Student Counselling ' Hurdles to face' Young people may come up against a range of difficulties from fear of debt to family opposition- which will need tackling if they are to succeed at university. The Guardian 15/01/02

Jonathan Wilkes, alumnus - Jealous JP gets five years for making bombs The Times 18/01/02

Tess Knighton is a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, and a Research Associate of RHUL 'The Week's Contributors' Times Literary Supplement 25/01/02

Mark Strong, Alumnus, Drama - He has captivated television audiences in Anna Karenia and Emma. Now with two Hollywood films due for release, it looks certain he his finally going to make it big. Night & Day (supplement to The Mail on Sunday) 26/01/02

Esther Gershuny, Former Maths research assistant. University challenge span the generations. The Guardian 26/01/02

Nigel Saul, Professor of medieval history at RHUL 'Remains could prove deposed Richard II died in Scotland' The Times 28/01/02

RHUL - 'Britain's paintings' finest collections of Western art grace the walls of universities. Daily Telegraph (Supplement 1) 02/02/02

RHUL - postgraduate course that offers placements as part of its structure - MSc in basin evolution and dynamics. The Guardian 09/02/02

Lena Abou-Rahme, Alumna One year on working for publishing company after completing an MA in Victorian media and culture studies.The Guardian 09/02/02

Professor Jack Pridham, Biochemistry at RHUL ' Letters to the Editor' Improving agriculture The Times 14/02/02

RHUL - The Fawcett Lecture held at Senate House on 21st February
'change in the position of women since 1839' The Times 15/02/02, 'Start the Week' BBC Radio 4

RHUL - Picture Gallery -Chronology of Britain's Art 1700-1800 - 'Peasants going to Market, Early Morning' Daily Telegraph (Supplement 2) 16/02/02

Fred Piper, ISG - feature interview in a five-part series on Cryptography Channel 4 17/2/02

Paul Bright, Biological Sciences RHUL - 'Weather shift is starving dormice' Paul has completed a study for the Mammals Trust UK, as part of the National Dormouse Monitoring Scheme. The Times 18/02/02

Jane Tunstill, SPS - 'Boroughs that care' Placements for qualifying social work students, readers' letters. The Guardian 20/02/02

Dr Cindy Ebinger, Geology - A joint study with three universities to monitor volcanoes in the Rift. The Independent 20/02/02

Alec Reed, Professor of Innovation at RHUL - pledged £2m towards Ealing city academy. Times Educational Supplement 22/02/02

Penny Corfield, History - Urban history, with emphasis on changes in British sexual behaviour. The Daily Telegraph (TV & Radio) 23/02/02

Gill Brown, SPS - A new degree in social work will raise the profession's status and solve the current recruitment crisis. The Independent 25/02/02

Dr Adam Roberts, English - Learned papers are not the only thing produced by our academics. Dr Roberts is author of science fiction novels. The Guardian 26/02/01

Geoffrey Alderman, former academic - Letters & Opinion - collecting archival materials to write a piece on the sale of the three paintings sold from the picture gallery. THES 01/03/02

Drummond Bone, Principal - Stephen Hill, LSE, appointed Principal to succeed Drummond Bone in September THES 01/03/02

Andy Smith & Mike Eysenck, Psychology - Citation counts could form a key component of a slimmed-down RAE. THES 01/03/02

Ms Slide, history alumna - US tries to lure au pairs with cash and colleges. The Times 01/03/02

Ms Slide, history alumna - Au pair in the Washington commuter belt. The Independent 01/03/02

Penny Corfield, History - ' Friday Radio' Penny attracted a large audience at a recent international conference with her lunchtime lecture on urban sex. The Guardian 01/03/02

Penny Corfield, History - 'New research into the history of the body and the history of sexuality'

Christopher Butler, Head of student counselling at RHUL - (HUCS) will be launching a website later this year to support students and families. The Guardian 05/03/02

RHUL - Funding for Research 12.7 % The Guardian 08/03/03 The Times 08/03/02 Times Higher Education Supplement 08/03/02 The Independent 08/03/02

RHUL - Funding for Research - Deep cuts raise fears of two -tier university systems - Those getting the biggest increase included RHUL. Daily Telegraph 08/03/02

Michael Sheringham, French - His books include French Autobiography: Devices and desires, 1993. Times Literary Supplement 08/03/02

RHUL - Top 10 in research funding. The Guardian 12/03/02

Jonathan Wadsworth, Economics - to present findings at the Royal Economic Society's annual conference on gay pay in the UK THES 15/03/02

Laura Honeyman, student - The pitfalls language students face when renting accommodation abroad. The Times 16/03/02

RHUL - 'Man Proposes, God Disposes' Edwin Landseer's oil on canvas at the Picture Gallery. British Paintings. The Daily Telegraph

Jenny Holden, biology and the media student - 'Experience' - two weeks study collecting data of wolves in Ukraine. The Times 21/03/02

Chris Butler, head of counselling at RHUL - the number of students suffering from psychological problems is rising fast. The Independent 21/03/02

Steven Hill to become new Principal at RHUL - Students now want degrees that will lead to job - Courses in social sciences and the methods of funding them are changing. The Independent 21/03/02

RHUL - on top of research funding, while some universities could go to the wall and others merge as a result of the new wind blowing through higher education. The Independent 21/03/02

Dr Klaus Dodds, Geography - 'Education Quandary' Dr Dodds encourages new teacher to stick at it as it gets easier. The Independent 21/03/02

Michael Sheringham, French- His books include French Autobiography: Devices and desires, 1993. TLS 22/03/02

Kiernan Ryan, English - From Bernhardt to Branagh, cinema loves Shakespeare. THES 22/03/02

David Simon, Geography - on the implications for southern Africa and the New Plan for Africa's Development, of Zimbabwe's suspension from the Commonwealth Newshour, South African Broadcasting Corporation 24/03/02

Cindy Ebinger, Geology - Radio Choice: the Material World on Radio 4 Night & Day (supplement to the Mail on Sunday) 24/03/02

Nancy Trenaman, College Council - The Times 25/03/02

RHUL - Missing schoolgirl Milly Dowler may have possible links with other students who have gone missing, such as Miss Shenkoya, Computer Science graduate. Daily Mail 28/03/02

Pauline Croft, History - discussed the question "What if Mary Tudor had had a son by Philip II of Spain", with presenter Christopher Andrew, and Mia Rodriguez-Salgado (LSE) 'What If', BBC Radio 4 28/3/02

Andy Smith, Psychology - Letters & Opinion 'Citation revelation'. THES 29/03/02

Jack Pridham, Biochemistry, Letters to the Editor 'Fruit and vegetables'. The Times 29/03/02

Michael Eysenck, Psychology, reviews Complex Cognition: The Psychology of Human Thought by Robert J Sternberg and Talia Ben-Zeev. THES 29/03/02

MAGAZINES & JOURNALS

Venessa Watkins, Network Manager - explains the steps our industry needs to take to attract more women. Network news

Dr Ben Ferrari, Research and Enterprise, 'Fast Track event for budding entrepreneurs' David Springall, Alumnus -Busines Link Surrey Issue No. 32

RHUL, Geology - 'Geology and War' talk by Professor Ted Rose. Geoscientist 01/01/02

RHUL, Geology - 'Geosynthetic solutions to contaminated land' Geoscientist 01/01/02

RHUL, Geology - 'The quaternary of central Germany (Thuringen and Surroundings). Geoscientist 01/01/02

RHUL, Geology - Together with three other universities, £2.1m boost for UK seismology, experiments involving onshore recording of controlled source and natural seismic events. Geoscientist 01/01/02

Professor Betsy Stanko, SPS and Director of ESRC's Violence Research Programme presented evidence that violence is rarly meaningless, often targeted, heavily dependent on situation for its meaning. Social Sciences Newsletter 01/01/02

RHUL , Geology - Direct Toxicity Assessment - 'Urgent : contaminated land investigation and remediation' Industrial Environmental Management 01/01/02

Dick McCaw, postgraduate- Talks to the Shadow Master of Capoeira 'The play's the thing'. Dance Theatre Journal 01/01/02

Euan Nisbet, Geology - researches Earth system change. Professional Engineering 16/01/02

RHUL A three-year project, funded by a major grant from the Arts and Humanities have enabled RHUL to create Music manuscripts dating from 1600 to 1800 are held in libraries and archives across the UK and Ireland. Classical Music 19/01/02

Venessa Watkins, Network Manager - explains the steps our industry needs to take to attract more women. Network news 23/01/02

RHUL History's League Table - among the top 5 in the country. History Today 01/02/02

Katherine Ellis, Music - Music Lecture at King's College 'In search of musical Frenchness: from Adam to Lassus in 19th century France'. Time Out 30/01/02

RHUL - MA in Medieval Studies, Renaissance & Early Modern History.
History Today 01/02/02

RHUL - MA in Ancient History, Hellenic Studies, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies. History Today 01/02/02

RHUL - MA in Modern History: Power, Culture, Society. History Today 01/02/02

Christine Judd, Alumna - trying to trace three friends from RHUL from 1952-55. Choice Magazine 01/02/02

Andrew Manze, Music - new appointment for Music database created by RHUL Music Department, Bedford Square. Early Music Today 01/02/02

D Hughes, Psychology - investigating whether precocious readers maintain superiority in measures of phonological awareness by the time they reach the end of primary school. The Psychologist 01/02/02

E Funnell, Psychology - model of single word reading. The Psychologist 01/02/02

D Hughes, Psychology - Paper 3: Positive 'Matthew effects' in reading do not necessarily transfer to writing. The Psychologist 01/02/02

CEMS - Report carried out for CITB, highlighted that ethnic minority recruits experience racism and discrimination. Builder & Engineer (Southern edition) 01/02/02

Dr Alan Gange, Biological Science - One of the speakers at IOG conference - back to basics. Greenkeeper International 01/02/02

RHUL - Research projects carried out by STRI, and also delivery of Professional Development Awards. Groundsman 01/02/02

Amanda Miller, Biological Sciences - reports on the effectiveness of biostimulants 'Football groundsmen's seminar examines research project results' . Groundsman 01/02/02

Dr Alan Grange, Biological Sciences - Looking at soil microbes, Dr Alan Grange will consider whether they are essential to good root production. Groundsman 01/02/02

Jane Attwood, German alumna, Commissioning Editor, Treasury Management International. Treasury Management International 01/02/02

RHUL - 'Full marks' - Conference facilities. Meetings & Incentive Travel 01/02/02

Melanie Loizou, RCS - numbers up in our conference facilities for 2002, last year £400,000 funding to upgrade the Arts Building. Conference & Incentive Travel 01/02/02

Dr Sandra Tuppen, Music - creating UK music-manuscript database. Music Teacher 01/02/02

Sergei Dukachev, artist-in-residence - the Russian pianist has developed close links with the UK through his association with RHUL. High Peak Courier 02/0202

Bianca Acca, Student, Media Arts - Virgin student rep, marketing on Campus. New Media Age 07/02/02

Kate Loewenthal, Psychology - 'Sanity and Sanctity' talk chaired by Kate, Editor of the journal, Mental Health, Religion and Culture. Jewish Chronicle 15/02/02

Euan Nisbet, Geology - Cap a landfill - Save the planet - Focus on methane if you want to halt climate change now. New Scientist 16/02/02

RHUL - London College League. Athletics Weekly 27/02/02

Noel Heather, English - The 'Linguistic Physics' of Church Introducing Critical Postliberalism. Theology 01/03/02

RHUL - A new academic centre, based at the RCA on the study of the Domestic Interior, inconjuction with RHUL , RCA & V & A. Ceramics in Society 01/03/02

Tony Garnett, Media Arts - MA in Film and TV production, which he co-founded in 2000, will end his teaching at the end of the academic year to go back to producing. Broadcast 01/03/02

RHUL - 'The Astral factory that never was' - directions past RHUL Motorsport 01/03/02

Edward Rose, Geology - Cretaceou-Tertiary (K-T) This book is used mainly for reference rather than general reading. Geoscientist 01/03/02

Dr Andrew MacLeod, Psychology - 'Get Happy' Boost your mood for free, by interviewing 84 people, Andrew discovered that having positive future plans has a strong influence on your capacity to experience pleasure. Zest 01/03/02

RHUL - Symposium about the life and work of John McGrath, writer, director and producer of theatre, film and television, who died in January 2002. Red Pepper 01/03/02

RHUL - 'Who's exhibiting at the BTTF - Out & about. Coach & Bus Week 07/03/02

RHUL, Geology - Questioning the evidence for Earth's oldest fossils.Nature 07/03/02

LOCAL NEWSPAPERS

RHUL school network - Drummond Bone believes that higher education institutions have a responsibility to their community, and our links with schools and further education colleges are part of that involvement. Surrey/Hants Education News 2001/2002

RHUL with 3 other universities are taking part in a new Universities Fellowship Programme. ' Connecting the Commons and the campus' The House Magazine (The Parliamentary Weekly) 10/12/01

RHUL is one of the best places for research, according to a new survey, top scoring departments were French, German, music and geography plus all seven faculties of science departments. Sunbury & Shepperton Herald 27/12/01

RHUL - Egham & District Choral Society Christmas concert in the College chapel. Sunbury & Shepperton Herald 27/12/01

RHUL Football results. Surrey Advertiser 04/01/02

RHUL - 'Students victims of attack' recent attacks in the Englefield Green and Egham area. Sunbury & Shepperton Herald 10/01/02

Drummond Bone, Principal - announces his new post as Vice-Chancellor at Liverpool University. Staines & Egham News 17/01/02

RHUL - Women's rugby club strip to raise funds for charity. The Virginia Water Villager 24/01/02

RHUL - Dabis Memorial Lecture listing. The Virginia Water Villager, Staines & Egham News 24/01/02 & Sunbury & Shepperton Herald 24/01/02

Dr Humayun Ansari, CEMS at RHUL - is honoured with a OBE for his fight against racism. Sunbury & Shepperton Herlad 24/01/02 & Staines & Egham News 24/01/02

RHUL - £4 million loan to help fund a new building project. Sunbury & Shepperton Herald 24/01/02

RHUL Women's rugby club Pin-ups calendar - 20% of the proceeds will go to the NSPCC Full-stop campaign. Staines & Egham News, Staines Leader 31/01/02

RHUL - Austrian ambassador visits Dr Robert Vilain and staff from the German department before lunch and a tour of the Picture Gallery. Sunbury & Shepperton Herald 31/01/02 & Staines & Egham News 31/01/02

Jenny Taylor & Gemma Brady - RHUL - Rising stars give lunchtime concert at Farnham Maltings. Chobham & Windlesham News & Mail 07/02/02 & Woking News & Mail 07/02/02

Professor Andrew Gibson, English - Top author visits Fox Hill Primary School for Creative writing workshops to 3, 4 ,5 and 6 year children. Bracknell News 14/02/02

Peter Rowley, Students Union -sending two mini-buses of students to attend national demonstration in London demanding better funding, surrounding college students unable to attend due to lack of funds to hire a coach. Slough & Windsor Informer 20/02/02

Tim Unwin, Geography - Inaugural Lecture Slough & Langley Express 07/03/02

Father Robert Hamilton, chaplain - moves on after 13 years Sunbury & Shepperton Herald 07/03/02

Drummond Bone, Principal - students and staff face an accomodation crisis. Walton & Weybridge Herald 07/03/02

RHUL Football Club. Surrey Advertiser 08/03/02

Stephen Hill - new Principal for Royal Holloway. The Villager 07/03/02, Staines & Egham News 14/03/02

RHUL - Students protest at £40k debt burden Staines Egham News 07/03/02

RHUL - drama & music department workshop performance of the classic musical 'Cabaret' Staines & Egham News 14/03/02

RHUL - Missing School girl Milly Dowler could be linked with others, Lola Shenkoya, student at RHUL went missing in Jan 2000. Evening Standard (London) 28/03/02

REGIONAL NEWSPAPERS

RHUL - Survey produced by RHUL reveals that church workers are more vulnerable to attacks than doctors or probation workers. Westminster & Pimlico Informer 4/01/02

Dr Pat Morris, Biological Sciences - talks about the Hedgehog. Oxford Times 11/01/02

RHUL - Lunchtimes Violin recital at Farnham Maltings in collaboration between Maltings and RHUL. Alton Herald 11/01/02

Drama Department - producing the gangster musical 'City of Angels' to be performed at Christ's Hospital Theatere. West Sussex County Times 11/01/02

Dr Boris Rankov, Classics at RHUL - Trimontium lecture. Border Telegraph 15/01/02 & 22/01/02, Southern Reporter(Borders) 24/01/02

Jon Seymour, Alumnus joins Abacus Financial Services Group in Guernsey. Guernsey Press & Star 22/01/02

RHUL Chapel Choir presents an evening of choral music at Oundle School Chapel. Kettering Evening Telegraph 25/01/02

Dr Paul Bright, Biological Sciences - helping with assessing how hedgerows were managed in the past. Chippenham News 25/01/02, Wiltshire Times 25/01/02

John McGrath, visiting Professor in Media Studies dies at age 66. Daily Post (Liverpool) 29/01/02

Dr Marco Cinnirella, Psychology - 'All about Fashion Fly the Flag' Wolverhampton Express & Star 31/01/02

RHUL - ranked according to research power. Belfast Telegraph (North West Edition) 31/01/02 & Irish News 01/02/02

RHUL - Derek Helyer talks about his famous ancestor, Thomas Holloway. Somerset County Gazette 01/02/02

RHUL - Survey produced by RHUL reveals that church workers are more vulnerable to attacks than police officers. Kettering Evening Telegraph 07/02/02

Kimberly Gould, alumna. Cornish Guardian (Newquay) 07/02/02

Claire Cogan, Drama Alumna, 'The Factory Girls' at the Lyric. Coleraine Chronicle 07/02/02.

RHUL - Lunchtimes violin recital at Farnham Maltings in collaboration between Maltings and RHUL. Alton Herald 08/02/02

Kathleen Robinson, French Alumna - Tributes paid to a 'devoted' teacher Derby Evening Telegraph 12/02/02

RHUL - low student drop out rate. Evening Standard (London) 21/02/02

RHUL golf team. Express & Echo (Exeter) 01/03/02

RHUL - More than 100 of the borough's brightest young mathematicians swotted up on some extra hard problems. Lectures put on from a few universities and colleges including RHUL. Sutton Comet 01/03/02

Hayley Stephens, Student - embarking on a 10 hour rain dance to raise funds to protect the Indonesian rainforest. Sevenoaks Chronicle 07/03/02

RHUL Football team - Surrey inter League: Premier I v Wrecclesham. Alton Herald 08/03/02

RHUL - HEFCE Funding. Star (Sheffield) 08/03/02

Meredydd Jones, biochemistry alumnus, now Regional Manager, Wales and the South West of England for the London Stock Exchange plc. Western Mail (Cardiff) 13/03/02

Ellie Hughes, Geography Student - Matfield rider is ahead of the defending South East Eventers' League Champions. East Sussex Courier 15/03/02

RHUL - 18th Student Festival of Sport. Isle of Man Examiner 19/03/02

RHUL challenge students in the semi-finals of a national business competition, The Price Waterhouse Cooper Universities Business Challenge. Essex County Standard 22/03/02

Caroline Thompson, History alumna - makes history herself in becoming the first women headteacher in the 450 year old King Edward's School. Bath Chronicle 23/03/02