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Our summer 2025 magazine spotlights the people in our community – near and far – who are making an impact and shaping the future for the better. Hear alumna Judith Sear's story and why she made a $1.3 million donation to the University's cancer research efforts, meet Radiohead legend Ed O'Brien and learn about his activism work, and get to know the latest Â鶹´«Ã½ Nobel laureate, Simon Johnson and his incredible research into wealth disparities.

Feature

Ed O’Brien / Musician, activist and honorary Mancunian

Foreword

Naa Acquah / Dear Â鶹´«Ã½

Feature

Enriqueta Rylands / Illuminating a hidden philanthropist

Feature

In conversation / Innovation at Â鶹´«Ã½

Feature

Simon Johnson / A Nobel mind

Feature

Professor Duncan Ivison / Collaboration is our superpower

Opinion

Computer intelligence / Past, present and future

Feature

Dr Pep Guardiola / A Â鶹´«Ã½ story

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The Lost Music of Auschwitz / The notes that survived

Feature

Judith Sear / The life and impact of the Sear family

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2025 / Celebrating milestones

Summer 2024

Foreword

Michael Wood / 200 years of Â鶹´«Ã½

Feature

Nancy Rothwell / Â鶹´«Ã½. Always Â鶹´«Ã½

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Then, now and next / Â鶹´«Ã½ pioneers making their mark

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Reckoning with our past / Exploring the University's historic links to the slave trade

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2024: A vintage year / Celebrating anniversaries

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Bicentenary Way / A celebration of Â鶹´«Ã½'s finest

Picture

Celebrating our bicentenary

Opinion

A future perspective / Energy

Feature

The Global Development Institute / What is its role in the 21st century?

Feature

Benedict Cumberbatch / Owens Park to Oscar nominee

Summer 2023

Foreword

Nancy Rothwell / Celebrating our University values

Feature

Â鶹´«Ã½ Museum / Inclusivity and cultural understanding

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Student entrepreneurs / Innovation for good

Feature

Chrissie Wellington OBE / Champion of courage

Feature

Â鶹´«Ã½ firsts / Transforming the Parkinson's prognosis

Feature

Nazir Afzal OBE / Made in Â鶹´«Ã½

Feature

UK-Med / 30 years of humanitarian aid

Feature

Global Â鶹´«Ã½ / Building cancer partnerships in Kenya

Feature

Ella Podmore MBE / Engineering change for women in science

Opinion

The RoundView / Climate change education

Picture

Lessons from a life in sport / Chrissie Wellington OBE

Summer 2022

Foreword

Nancy Rothwell / Together, we make an impact

Feature

The Paterson Building / A bold future for cancer research

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Gareth Owen / A man on a mission

Feature

Artificial intelligence / Putting the human back into the algorithm

Picture

Gift of Time / Lemn Sissay

Picture

Jodrell Bank / The First Light Pavilion has landed

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Making a difference / Greater Â鶹´«Ã½ graduates

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Black Excellence Network / Inspiring the Black leaders of tomorrow

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Research with impact / Solving the world's most urgent problems

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Students securing justice / The Innocence Project

Feature

Lemn Sissay / Lemn's legacy

Picture

A local artist's thoughts / Bex Mamo on Lemn Sissay

Opinion

Promoting fair and equitable access to medicines / Professor Anthony Green

Feature

The British Pop Archive / A real pop-portunity

Spring 2021

Foreword

Nancy Rothwell / Global challenges, Â鶹´«Ã½ solutions

Feature

Written in – and for – the stars / Ben Elton

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Rethinking productivity / The Productivity Institute

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Countering the cost of conflict / Northern Uganda

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For health, equality and sustainability / Delivering the UN SDGs

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Driving sustainability/ Graphene start-ups

Feature

Inspiring real change / Online and blended learning

Opinion

What did biotechnology ever do for us? / Professor Rob Field

Feature

Fighting back against COVID-19 / The Â鶹´«Ã½ response

Feature

Opening up the universe / The search for extra-terrestrial life

Feature

Recovery from brain haemorrhage / Improving chances

Opinion

Mind the gap / Professor Richard Jones

Illustration of Hamied Haroon

Opinion

A wake-up call on inequality / Bridget Byrne

Feature

Communities as a local asset / Fundamental volunteers

Picture

Â鶹´«Ã½ Guardian bicentenary / New exhibition

Picture

Dr Catherine Chisholm / Paediatrics pioneer

Feature

Tutoring the next generation / The Tutor Trust

Autumn 2019

Foreword

Nancy Rothwell and Luke Georghiou / Innovation at our heart

Feature

Creative Â鶹´«Ã½ / Music for the speed of light

Photo of Professor Camden Reeves, surrounded by musical instruments

Feature

Sarah Cartmell / A materials world

Photo of Professor Sarah Cartmell, stood in a labratory

Opinion

Patsy Perry / Cost of fashion

Illustration of Dr Patsy Perry, Senior Lecturer in Fashion Marketing and Retail, School of Natural Sciences

Feature

Cancer / Power couple

Photo of Dr Philip and Professor Emma Crosbie sat on a bench in Brunswick Park

Feature

Jodrell Bank / World Heritage

Lovell Telescope, Jodrell Bank Observatory

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Poetry / Â鶹´«Ã½ Lens

The vaulted ceiling of The John Rylands Library

Opinion

Francesca Gains / Diversity and devolution

Illustration of Francesca Gains, Professor of Public Policy

Feature

Immunity / Lydia Becker Institute

3d illustration of cells

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Stellify / Period poverty

Photo of university students India Burgess, BA History, and Gabriella Hartfield, LLB Law

Picture

Global inequalities / After Maria

Panels from graphic novella, After Maria: Everyday Recovery from Disaster

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Graphene / Smarter roads

Photo of tarmac with large capital letter G

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Enterprise / Invisible Â鶹´«Ã½

Photo of Danny, one of Â鶹´«Ã½'s Invisible tour guides

Picture

Equity and Merit / Tackling urbanisation

Photo Ntigulirwa Marie Amelie, MSC in Global Urban Development and Planning, stood next to the School of Architecture and Built Environment in Rwanda

Feature

Anthony Burgess / Realising a vision

Photo of Anthony Burgess's writing desk, on top of the desk sits a typewriter, pair of glasses, ash-tray and some of his written work

Picture

Ellen Wilkinson / Firing up social change

Hand-drawn illustration of Ellen Wilkinson, leading a march with a large banner behind her, with the words 'Jarrow Crusade' in bold letters.

Opinion

Hamied Haroon / Social identity

Illustration of Hamied Haroon

Feature

Luke Collinson / Tenacity to succeed

Photo of Luke Collinson holding his award for undergraduate of the year

Summer 2019

Foreword

Nancy Rothwell and James Thompson / Social responsibility at our core

Opinion

Jen O’Brien / Empowering students

Illustration of Jen O'Brien

Feature

School governors / Making a difference in schools

Stephen Gabriel, headteacher

Feature

Stellify / Their time

Stellify students

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Social Development Goals / Answering the world’s call

Bertrand Taithe, Director of the Humanitarian and Conflict Response Institute and Professor of Cultural History

Feature

Vaskar Saha / Taking on the challenge

Professor Vaskar Saha

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Windfarms / Blowing in the right direction

Wind turbine

Feature

David Olusoga / History through a different lens

Professor David Olusoga

Picture

Purple Wave / The extra mile

Thousands of staff, students and alumni together in a ‘Purple Wave’ for the Simplyhealth Great Â鶹´«Ã½ Run, raising money for good causes.

Opinion

James Mason / Net zero

Illustration of James Mason

Feature

Campus Masterplan / Building better futures

David Seville

Feature

Public contributors / Shaping Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s work

member of the public, contributing to Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s research

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MIF / Futures in creativity

Students standing in the sunshine in Â鶹´«Ã½ city centre

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Roy Conway / Inspiring by example

Roy Conway

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Shaping the future / Health care in Rwanda

Olivier Ndahiriwe, studying his master’s in Clinical Immunology at Â鶹´«Ã½

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Dams / Powering development

Image of a dam

Feature

IntoUniversity / Helping the next generation

high school students

Opinion

Simon Ross / Â鶹´«Ã½ University Press

Illustration of Simon Ross

Picture

Sir William Arthur Lewis / Development done differently

Illustration of Arthur Lewis

Spring 2019

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / Placing Â鶹´«Ã½ at the heart of our University

Opinion

Kirk Malone / Future for plastics?

Illustration of Kirk Malone

Feature

Graham Lord / A healthier Â鶹´«Ã½

Photo of Professor Graham Lord

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Chester Zoo / Placements that protect

Image of zeal of zebras

Feature

Maxine Peake / Fearless creator

Maxine Peake

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Bone bricks / Rebuilding bodies

Professor Paulo Bartolo and Dr Glenn Cooper

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Between the lines / World War I remembrance

Fifty drama students in the University’s Old Quadrangle in remembrance of those who fought in World War I

Feature

Peterloo / Remembering the fight

Historical artefacts from the Peterloo Massacre

Picture

Lasting legacy / Urban regeneration

Painting at GT Blagg, West Didsbury, by Mateus Bailon.

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Storytelling / Public engagement

University of Â鶹´«Ã½ scientists recount the moments that have challenged and driven them at an inspiring event in Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s city centre.

Feature

Protons / Fighting against cancer

Karen Kirkby, Professor of Proton Therapy Physics at the University

Opinion

Neil Allen / Care home consent

Neil Allen

Feature

ScienceX / Science and engineering festival

Young people at ScienceX

Feature

Today’s winner / Tomorrow’s research stars

University of Â鶹´«Ã½ undergraduate Amelia Halls

Feature

Age-friendly cities / Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s challenge

Elderly Â鶹´«Ã½ resident

Picture

Sir John Charnley / Medical pioneer

Illustration of Sir John Charnley

Autumn 2018

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / Demonstrating the value of our university

Opinion

Mark Corbett / A catalyst for cleaner growth

Illustration of Mark Corbett

Feature

Social Responsibility / Local, national, international

Social Responsibility / Local, national, international landmarks

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Rosie Garland / A novel approach

Rosie Garland in John Rylands Library

Picture

Jodrell bank / Art piece

American artist Addie Wagenknecht

Feature

Graphene / A runaway success

Fellrunner wearing Graphene trainers

Feature

Energy / Joined-up thinking

Radiator

Feature

Smart screens / Aiding sleep

Woman using smartphone in the dark

Picture

Social justice / Picture competition

Social justice challenges captured in pictures

Opinion

David Hulme / The changing face of poverty and inequality

Illustration of David Hulme

Picture

The Baby / #MadeAtUni

Tom Kilburn and Geoff Tootill in front of 'the baby' computer

Opinion

Elaine Ferneley / The age of digital and blended education

Illustration of Elaine Ferneley

Summer 2018

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / Importance of reputation

Feature

Creative Â鶹´«Ã½ / Hive of creativity

A bee on a flower

Feature

Culture / The Â鶹´«Ã½ way

Esme Ward

Feature

Dental health/ Students making a difference

Illustration of smiling mouths

Feature

Fighting for justice / Legal students' success

Student volunteers at the University's Legal Advice Centre

Feature

Parental leave / Shaping the future

Parents and their two children standing in a garden

Picture

Christabel Pankhurst / Queen of the Mob

Illustration of Christabel Pankhurst

Opinion

Bina Agarwal / Everydayness of harassment

Illustration of Bina Agarwal

Feature

Reaching further / Widening participation

Photo of Ilyas Nagdee

Feature

Lung cancer / Scans during the weekly shop

Shopping list

Picture

HV Lab / 60 electrifying years

High voltage Tesla coil

Picture

Purple Wave / Staff runners make a splash

University staff running at the Great Â鶹´«Ã½ Run

Opinion

Anna Scaife / Football and data science

Illustration of Anna Scaife

Picture

NHS 70 / Our part in a proud story

Timeline of the University's role in the history of the NHS

Spring 2018

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / The value of universities to society

Feature

Power of learning / International success for our undergraduate

Farhana Choudhury

Feature

Change-makers / How students are helping our outreach work

Letitia Budu

Opinion

Joseph Lampel / Creating a culture for breakthrough innovations

Opinion

Alexander Baratta / Let’s talk about accent

Feature

Â鶹´«Ã½, UNESCO City of Literature / A look at the University’s role

Tim Price

Feature

Driving force / How will future cars be powered?

Electric car at charging station

Feature

Making a Difference / a poem by Lemn Sissay

Lemn Sissay

Opinion

Vidyadhar Peesapati / Expecting more from electrical infrastructure

Vidyadhar Peesapati

Feature

Preventing stillbirth / Pioneering research giving parents hope

Picture of baby's hand

Feature

Alan Turing / 80 years since a heroic enigma joined us

Alan Turing

Autumn 2017

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / Our commitment to widening participation

Feature

A vast cosmic arena / Daleks, deep space and distant galaxies

Jodrell bank

Feature

Lighting the way / University initiatives helping to widen participation

Light bulbs

Opinion

Iain Buchan / Time to address the north-south health divide

Iain Buchan

Feature

A man of the city / When it comes to Â鶹´«Ã½, it’s personal

Sir Howard Bernstein

Feature

Research / Propelling the aviation industry towards hypersonic speeds

Airplane flying across the sky above skyscrapers

Feature

A bright future in The Works / Previously homeless people tell their story

Frezghi Teklemichael

Opinion

Ajmal Hussain / Radicals with a cause? Young Muslims and the underbelly of the city

Ajmal Hussain

Feature

Be // Longing / Raising the curtain on Â鶹´«Ã½ Migration Lab

Dr Cathy Wilcock

Picture

Equity and Merit / Scholarship student becomes Rwanda’s youngest ever government minister

Jean de Dieu 'Jado' Uwihanganye

Picture

Heritage / Lost Turing letters give unique insight into his academic life prior to death

Alan Turing letters

Opinion

Andrew Hosty / A materials renaissance to spark disruption

Andrew Hosty

Picture

Rutherford / Splitting the atom and saving lives

Illustration of Ernest Rutherford

Summer 2017

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / Explaining our University's finances

Feature

Defending the bee / The emblem of Â鶹´«Ã½

University beekeepers maintaining one of two urban beehives on top of the Rutherford Building on campus

Feature

Artist fellowship / Giving a voice to the oppressed

Silvanos Mudzvova

Opinion

Gunn Grande / Putting the spotlight on the invisible workforce of family carers

Gunn Grande

Feature

Social responsibility / Big numbers, real lives

Alvin Bell

Feature

Energy / Getting graphic: Bioenergy for the future

Page from bioenergy graphic novel

Feature

Research / Sustaining our future

Illustration of two different interpretations of a future city

Opinion

Tom Arnold / A ‘Metrolink Mayor’?

Tom Arnold

Feature

Research / Cleaner water, bluer skies

View of city from aeroplane in flight

Feature

God particle / The physicist, the rabbi and the quest to understand the universe

Dr Justin Evans

Opinion

Lynne Bianchi / Inspiring the engineers of the future

Lynne Bianch

Feature

Citizen science / Understanding allergies

Dandelion seed head

Picture

Â鶹´«Ã½ / #weloveÂ鶹´«Ã½

we love MCR graphic

Spring 2017

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / An international city and university

Feature

Research / Wealth of experience

Co-researchers walking through Alexandra Park

Feature

Teaching / Sparks and explosions

Sparks

Feature

Innovation / Doing things differently

Â鶹´«Ã½

Feature

Our inspiring scholars / A journey of discovery

Andrew Amara shows a local child how to build in Nabweru

Feature

Opinion / Impact of US politics

American flag / Donald Trump

Feature

Social responsibility / Real lives, inspiring women

Rhys Archer

Picture

Anthony Burgess / Slovos and warbles

An ashtray shaped as a cog with a single cigar smouldering on its edge

Feature

Advanced materials / Big business, global solutions

Dr Andrew Hosty

Winter 2016

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / A global reputation

Feature

Research / Making history in health care

Busy hospital corridor

Feature

Research / The man who is building a brain

Steve Furber standing in front of a wall of computers

Opinion

David Allison / Spreading the word, not the worry

David Allison

David Allison

Feature

Global inequalities / Born unequal

Newborn baby on scales

Feature

ESOF 2016 / Science as revolution

he Lovell Telescope during the bluedot Festival at Jodrell Bank Observatory

Feature

Teaching / A Renaissance in learning

Massacre of the Innocents. Marcantonio Raimondi. ca. 1512–13

Feature

Research / Bring me sunshine

Will Dixon, Professor of Digital Epidemiology in the University’s School of Biological Sciences

Feature

Research / Grown for home

Row of houses and chemistry equipment

Opinion

Sarah Mander / The second 'dash for gas'

Sarah Mander

Picture

Margaret Murray / The Grand Old Woman of Egyptology

The Grand Old Woman of Egyptology

Feature

Winnie Byanyima / We Belong

Winnie Byanyima standing in Â鶹´«Ã½'s Whitworth Hall

Summer 2016

Foreword

Dame Professor Nancy Rothwell / The value of a university education

Feature

Research / Ahead of the curve

Feature

Cancer / The personal approach

Opinion

Hema Radhakrishnan / Let's make women count in science

Hema Radhakrishnan

Feature

Research / Â鶹´«Ã½'s mechanical opus

Feature

Michael Wood / A storyteller in China

Feature

Research / Robots doing the dirty work

Feature

Teaching / A tale of two continents

Feature

Research / The gifts of life and learning

Opinion

Jonathan Darling / Housing asylum seekers

Jonathan Darling

Feature

Social responsibility / Governing change in education

Feature

Widening participation / Mapping out futures

Opinion

Julia Segar / Health and social care devolution

Julia Segar

Picture

Desmond Paul Henry / The Picasso of the machine age

Spring 2016

Feature

Jodrell / A journey into the unknown

Foreword

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell / A chance to transform through science

Feature

Powerhouse / Honorary Professor Jim O'Neill

Feature

Research / An education in conservation

Feature

Campus masterplan / A vision of transformation

Feature

Industrial biotechnology / Feed, fuel and heal the world

Opinion

Chris Martin / Sharing can be better

Opinion

Rathaven Gunaratnarajah / Little things make a big difference

Feature

Student experience / Giant steps for student interns

Feature

HCRI / A rare glimpse behind the scenes of a humanitarian crisis

Picture

Beatrice Shilling /
A flaming pathfinder of women's lib

Feature

Outreach / A symphony of science and art

Opinion

Francis Livens / A nuclear future

Clarissa Gabriel

Feature

Student experience / What does it take to be a student of the year?

Winter 2015

Foreword

Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell / The spirit of revolution

Feature

Research / Charting a shifting political landscape

Feature

Global inequality / One globe, a world of solutions

Opinion

Clarissa Giebel / How can we improve things for people affected by dementia?

Clarissa Gabriel

Feature

Chancellor Lemn Sissay / Inspire and be inspired

Picture

Mother of the Sea / Research has the power to make lives better – sometimes for an entire nation

Feature

Teaching / An inspiring adventure on campus

Feature

Teaching / Pioneering tomorrow's patient care

Opinion

Kevin Anderson / Climate change: a global cause, an individual's duty?

Feature

Advanced materials / The 2D revolution

Opinion

Tanja R Müller / What can history teach us about migration?