His Royal Highness,The Duke of Kent tours University research facilities

Monday, 12 March 2012

Visiting the ICMA dealing rooms

The University was delighted to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent to its Whiteknights campus on Thursday 8 March as part of a visit to Berkshire hosted by the Lord Lieutenant.

Vice-Chancellor, Sir David Bell welcomed His Royal Highness and the Lord Lieutenant of Berkshire, The Hon Mrs Mary Bayliss, to the campus at midday. They joined Chancellor Sir John Madejski and senior staff for a drinks reception and lunch at the University's Blandford's restaurant.

The tour began with a visit to the University's Institute for Cardiovascular & Metabolic Research. The Duke learnt how the Centre is seeking to understand the development of cardiovascular and metabolic conditions in order to help prevent heart attacks and other related diseases.

His Royal Highness then heard from staff and students working in the Hugh Sinclair Human Nutrition Unit about the impact of food and diet on the risk of chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cognitive decline and cancers.  Donning a white coat, The Duke went on to visit the University's Food Process Research Centre. The Centre is used to carry out product and process research and development on a pilot scale and is the largest of its kind in the UK.

The Duke then traded his coat for a stocks and shares demonstration in the University's ICMA Centre. Students gave His Royal Highness a feel for the exciting atmosphere a trading floor generates in the Centre's simulated dealing rooms.

Sir David Bell said: "The University was honoured to welcome His Royal Highness The Duke of Kent and to show him some of the excellent work being undertaken by staff and students. His Royal Highness was very impressed by our work which is making a real difference to people's lives, here and across the world."