 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
College News
9 December 2004
Major College investment attracts academic high-flyers to Royal Holloway
A major strategic investment by Royal Holloway, University of London to build on its research capacity and performance has attracted a star line up of new appointments for the College.
The new posts stem from the Principal, Professor Stephen Hill's innovative strategic vision for the College, as a first step in a continuing development over the next few years. Professor Hill said, "We aim to take Royal Holloway forward by building on research strengths to provide high quality teaching and contribute to the regional economy. Top class researchers make excellent teachers and students benefit from the enhanced quality of the education they receive".
The Strategic Investment
Fund (SIF), established in 2003, created 27 research-led posts, including
14 new chairs as part of a £4 million investment. This aims not
only to build on the College's strong reputation for high quality research,
but also to provide focus for new academic expertise in the run up to
the next Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) in 2008.
In the last RAE, Royal Holloway was confirmed as one of the UK's leading
universities for research, ranked in the top ten elite with all departments
awarded the top scores of 4, 5 and 5*. All departments in the Faculty
for Science achieved 5 and 5*.
Professor Andrew Wathey, Vice-Principal said, "The RAE remains
vital for all UK universities not only because of its influence on the
distribution of research funding but also because of its impact on reputation.
The SIF programme strengthens the College's RAE position and also builds
long-term strength and depth in research within the College's departments.
We have recruited world class researchers selected from highly competitive
fields of applicants. Such has been its success that the original programme
has been extended by the addition of further posts. We are delighted
to welcome all those who have joined the College."
The majority of the posts have been taken up in time to develop research
interests and new programmes for the current academic year.
Andrew Motion, Poet Laureate, who joined the College in 2003 as Professor of Creative Writing, has set up a new MA programme in creative writing, available from September this year, and Professor Nicholas Cook FBA, a world-leading musicologist and theorist, is directing the £1 million AHRB Research Centre for the History and Analysis of Recorded Music (CHARM) launched in November 2004.
David Cesarani, a world-leading expert on the Holocaust and author of Eichmann and Justice Delayed, has recently joined as Professor of Modern History, with research interests in modern Jewish history and culture, ethnicity and race, immigration and citizenship, modern German history and genocide. Professor Clive Gamble FBA, another international expert, in anthropology and archaeology, with particular interest in our earliest origins and the evolution of human society, joined the Department of Geography in October; Professor John Hill, author of Sex, Class and Realism, The British Film Institute's authority on British Cinema from 1956 to 1963, and researcher of British and Irish film, the politics of film and TV drama, is a new member of the Media Arts team, and Dirk Matten, Professor of Business Ethics and Director of The Centre for Research into Sustainability, has joined the School of Management.
Many of the appointments have cited the College's reputation, its inclusive culture, and the opportunities offered by the University of London as strong attractions.
David Cesarani said, "'I knew before I came here that Royal Holloway had an enviable reputation for research, especially in areas that interest me, and attracted terrific students. To me it represents the ideal of a balanced University, while being part of the University of London means that a cornucopia of research libraries are at your fingertips. I relish just being here."
Nicholas Cook said, "Royal Holloway's Department of Music has as good a claim as anywhere - and better than most - to be the leading UK music department, as illustrated by its multi - 5* assessment and research funding record. It has been steadily diversifying its research portfolio, and that's one way I come in. I work across a broad range, but in almost every area I work in there is somebody at Royal Holloway with related interests. In today's climate of ever heightened research selectivity coupled with regional collaboration, I think the department is superbly positioned to further build its disciplinary leadership at the national and international level, and I want to be part of that."
Dr Philip Meeson, a Reader in Quantum Information Processing, who has recently joined Physics commented, "The attractions of the Physics Department at Royal Holloway were manifold. It's recognised worldwide as one of the most prescient low temperature laboratories in the world, having had 20 years of investment and direction by internationally renowned scientists. In addition the possibility of collaboration with the nanostructures group of Prof Victor Petrashov and on the quantum mechanical experiments on single electrons of Prof Mike Lea, both recognised as world-class research groups, was a highly significant factor in the decision to move here. I am very happy to be a member of such a team."
ENDS
Further information and
press images
Contact Royal Holloway, University of London, Press Office:
Christine Long
Press & PR Officer
01784 443967, christine.long@rhul.ac.uk
Vicky Cousins
Assistant Press & Comms Officer
01784 414480, victoria.cousins@rhul.ac.uk
