Lightbulb Moments at Magdalen
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FLORISSUE 17 | 2018 EATMAGDALENA A history of innovation Lightbulb moments at Magdalen Also in this issue Ten books that changed the world Teach by example On an even keel The impact of ten science and Teachers Richard Ogden and Alex Women’s rowing captain Maria Zuberek technology first editions in our Ryzak discuss the importance of talks about how she balances the collection outreach on a trip back to College demands of her sport and her subject 1 FLOREAT MAGDALENA Contents 7 Up front 2 3 4 From the President Your view The big picture Letters, emails, posts and tweets By Elizabeth Nyikos I’ve met many “remarkable, talented, accomplished women at Magdalen, but would like to salute just two of them 4 9 today” 3 6 7 8 Fellows’ news Do you speak emoji Online Introducing new faces at Magdalen Professor Simon Horobin explores the If you’re missing Magdalen, there are effects of technology on the English plenty of ways to stay in touch online language. Is it really all ‘sad face’? 9 10 12 AI will save us College news Events Professor Daniel Kroening discusses Renovations, reintroductions Look back at another great the future of autonomous software and an emu year of alumni events Magdalen College, Oxford, OX1 4AU, UK 13 Magdalen College: Registered charity number 1142149 The opinions expressed in Floreat Magdalena are those of the contributors and do not necessarily reflect those of Magdalen College. All content The total amount raised thanks to our incrediblem donors correct at time of going to print. £2.56 32 Features Dissertations written in absinthe sessions (6) 14 A history of innovation Lightbulb moments at Magdalen 18 Ten books that changed the world The impact of ten science and technology first editions in our collection 22 Teach by example 18 Teachers Richard Ogden (2005) and Alex Ryzak (2009) discuss the importance of outreach on a trip back to College Back pages 25 26 28 We’re missing you Tools of my trade On an even keel We have very little in the College College Archivist Charlotte Berry Women’s rowing captain Maria Archive which documents the student shares some of the unusual and useful Zuberek talks about how she experience. We need your help to fill items in the Archive balances the demands of her sport the gaps and her subject 30 31 32 Leading questions Inside job Crossword Dr Barbara Domayne-Hayman (1980) Mark Blandford-Baker has been Home For a chance to win How English answers questions about her time at Bursar at Magdalen for 17 years. He Became English: A short history of a global Magdalen and explains why she gives talks about his job, his love of rowing language by Professor Simon Horobin back to College and what he does to relax £2.56The total amount raised thanks to our incrediblem donors 26 1 FLOREAT MAGDALENA From the President his year Magdalen celebrates If we are to maintain our innovative its 560th anniversary. And community we need to ensure we T ever since Bishop William appeal to promising students who Waynflete founded our College on may not have considered applying to 12th June 1458 Magdalen has become a Magdalen. In order to achieve this, we beacon for some of the brightest people are increasing our outreach work in a and the best ideas. significant way. On page 22 we meet The influence and impact of our state school teachers and Magdalen community spans generations and alumni, Richard Ogden and Alex disciplines. It has helped shape global Ryzak, on an outreach visit back to politics from the Houses of Parliament Magdalen with their pupils. They share to the US Senate and Australia’s their memories of living and studying Parliament House, contributed to the here, and talk about the importance of development and upholding of law for making Oxford more open to all. centuries, and supported economies Richard and Alex’s visit was just one around the world, one new business at of 70 visits from schools and colleges a time. And few academic institutions over the last 12 months, but we know have had a deeper impact on the arts there is more we can do. That is why than ours. the College is currently developing a In this issue of Floreat, however, we major new strategy to encourage and focus on how Magdalen has changed, support students who may otherwise and is changing, the world of science miss out on a chance to benefit from and technology. all that we offer. We will need the In A history of innovation on page 14 continuing support of the members The influence we look back at some of the innovators of the College to take this strategy and impact of our of our past, including Magdalen forward. “ Fellow Erwin Schrödinger who has Our 560th anniversary is a chance community spans recently had a building named in his to give thanks to William Waynflete generations and honour at the College-owned Oxford for having the foresight to found Science Park. We also look forward to our College, but also to recognise disciplines” the innovators of tomorrow such as his generosity. He believed that no Magdalen Fellow Professor Constantin academically talented student should Coussios who is revolutionising organ ever be deprived of an education for transplantation. lack of financial means - a sentiment Even the brightest people need so many in the Magdalen community inspiration so on page 18 Librarian believe in. I would like to take this Daryl Green discusses the ten science opportunity to thank all of you who and technology first editions in our have made a gift this year. Your support library that have changed the world, really does make a difference. from Aristotle’s Physica to Schrödinger’s As we celebrate 560 years of What is Life? Magdalen College, I hope that you will take pride in all that we have achieved together and join me in looking forward to our achievements to come. Professor Sir David Clary FRS 2 Your view Letters, emails, posts and tweets >8,300 The number of page likes we have on Facebook Students from King Solomon Academy enjoying the Floreat Magdalena survey view on a visit to Magdalen Thank you to everyone who took part in our survey. We listened to what you said, and we’ve made a few tweaks here and there to improve things. We were really pleased to see that most people rated Floreat Magdalena as ‘good’, but with your continued feedback we can make it ‘excellent’. Let us know what you think of this issue. Follow the herd We know our deer are popular, but we were surprised when this Facebook post reached almost 90,000 people A heartfelt thank you International Women’s Day worldwide. Dear Dr Ed Dodson I’ve met many remarkable, talented, [Our new Outreach Officer], accomplished women at Magdalen, but Morning at Magdalen. The herd I am writing to you to say a huge would like to salute just two of them is waking up. thank you for welcoming us and today: introducing us to Magdalen College. We Dr Christine Ferdinand [Emeritus really enjoyed the trip and the visit and Fellow, formerly Magdalen’s Fellow we had a great experience thanks to you. Librarian], a powerful inspiration and One thing I enjoyed learning about advocate for women everywhere, and was the lecture about magnetism an absolute champion in my eyes. because it was very different to my I would also like to honour Dr Jo every day school lessons. I found it Myers Thompson (1993), biological quite interesting and I learnt a lot of anthropologist, conservationist, new facts from it. primatologist - and my best and I found Magdalen College very most beloved friend since we met at beautiful and it was very different to orientation in October of 1993. how I thought it would be before I These two women shine in my eyes visited it. It looked stunning and gave for their compassion, intelligence, grace, me more positive opinions on going to and the generosity of spirit to empower university. Also, I discovered that a lot and mentor others. With wholehearted of colleges look very different and you gratitude and admiration I honour have a variation of designs and types of Christine and Jo, both of whom make buildings. this world a better place. My visit to Oxford has really helped me understand what going to university Deanna McHugh (1993) is actually like. Oxford University is a place full of kind warm-hearted people. You can see the new portrait of Thank you so much for helping me Dr Christine Ferdinand on page 6 If you would like to share your view, shape my future and I wish you the email us at [email protected] very best in yours. Thank you. or contact us on Kind regards MagdalenCollegeOxford magdalenoxford Kadra, a Year 9 pupil at magdalenoxford King Solomon Academy 3 FLOREAT MAGDALENA The big picture hen Elizabeth Nyikos (2009) isn’t working towards her DPhil in WMusic at Magdalen she is taking photographs. And it’s clear from the remarkable results that her eye is as a good as her ear. Elizabeth’s talent hasn’t gone unnoticed. She was awarded top prize in the University of Oxford graduate photography competition and first prize in the College’s recent Flora and Fauna art competition. I ask her what went into creating this beautiful prize-winning shot of our herd in the snow. “The deer usually gather at the far end of the deer park in winter so last December, when it snowed two days before the herd was due to be moved from the Water Meadow, I knew it was my one chance to take close shots of the deer in snow.