BRIGHT FUTURES Univ Alumnae Making Their Mark
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OXFORD ISSUE 10 | AUTUMN 2019 BRIGHT FUTURES Univ alumnae making their mark ALSO IN THIS ISSUE OPPORTUNITY OXFORD LEADING QUESTIONS HIDDEN HISTORIES Univ inspires University’s new access scheme Anna Cross (1988, PPE) of Barclays College women 1249-2019 Contents From the Editor elcome to Issue 10 of The Martlet, Contents Wthe magazine for all members and friends of University College Oxford. I would like to thank all those who contributed to this issue. In particular, my colleague Dr Robin Darwall-Smith, College Archivist, for compiling the In College Memoriam section, Ariane Laurent-Smith and Justin Bowyer for their proofreading prowess, and Ariane for compiling the clubs and societies’ reports. From the Master 04 Opportunity Oxford 05 Sir Ivor Crewe discusses a sea-change in How Univ’s pioneering access programme Oxford admissions inspired the University’s new scheme This issue includes a number of interviews and articles that were commissioned alongside activities taking Fellows’ news 06 Switching Perceptions 07 place at Univ throughout the year to College appointments Using art to reflect on the links between mark 40 years since women were first genes and psychiatric illnesses admitted as students to the College. Land of the Pharoahs 08 Florence Barker (2016, Oriental Studies) I hope that you will enjoy everything Nuclear fusion 09 discusses her trip to Luxor Naomi Mburu (2018, Engineering) that this issue has to offer. If you have reports on her research trip to the USA any comments or news, please email [email protected]. Univ online 10 40 years of women at Univ, web profiles Sara Dewsbery and Instagram success Communications Officer My view of Univ 11 Sage Goodwin (2017, History) College news 12 News from the High University College, North Oxford 14 Life at “Stavs” and the College’s new 12 development Cover: photograph by John Cairns Back cover: photograph by Justin Bowyer Event news 16 Development news 17 New appointments and awards Annual Fund update and a Day for Univ University College, Oxford, OX1 4BH www.facebook.com/universitycollegeoxford www.twitter.com/univoxford www.instagram.com/univcollegeoxford Registered charity no. 1141259 ©University College, Oxford, 2019 Whatever the path we Produced by B&M Design & Advertising follow, our ability to www.bm-group.co.uk The opinions expressed in The Martlet are those of the contributors communicate with and not necessarily those of University College. All content correct at the time of going to print. and compel others to If you would like to share your view, please email: [email protected] or write to us at the above address. a course of action is a A large print version of this magazine is life skill.” Friends image created by pikisuperstar - www.freepik.com pikisuperstar image by Friends created available on request. Anna Cross (1988, PPE) a drum. playing Animals and other from Nonsense Botany Illustration Tortoise Lear ©The Edward British Library by and drawn written Board poems Contents The best support then, and still often now, are the friends I made at Univ.” Corinne Stuart (2011, Engineering Science) Features Endnotes 18 22 32 Hidden Histories Professor Bosh: Edward Lear in Tools of my trade 36 Dr Laura Varnam reflects on the role of Oxford Dr Catherine Pears, Old Members’ women at Univ, past and present Dr Sara Lodge (1994, English) Tutorial Fellow in Biochemistry Leading questions 38 Anna Cross (1988, PPE), Group Financial Controller of Barclays Honourable mentions 39 Professor Sir Simon Wessely (1978, Medicine) and Emeritus Professor John Finnis, QC (1962, Law), Honorary Fellow Sports and societies 40 24 28 Announcements 46 A Univ Conversation Einstein in Oxford Lindsey Stewart (1979, Law) and Andrew Robinson (1975, Chemistry) The Cawkwell Teaching Fund 49 Grace Mallon (2013, History) In memoriam 51 Bright futures 32 Music at Univ 44 Univ alumnae making their mark Giles Underwood, Director of Music A walk around the quad 54 Lady Jill Crewe Friends image created by pikisuperstar - www.freepik.com image pikisuperstar by Friends created Tortoise playing a drum. playing Animals and other from Nonsense Botany Illustration Tortoise Lear ©The Edward British Library by and drawn written Board poems College From the Master A sea-change in Oxford admissions. f imitation is the sincerest form of summer schools, bridging programmes and flattery, the Vice Chancellor hugely foundation years. flattered the College by launching There are two Univ identified the limits to an “Opportunity Oxford” in June. This principles for outreach-led strategy five years ago. Iis one of two major schemes for giving It was investing considerable sums, disadvantaged school leavers a better fair admissions energy, and goodwill in reaching out opportunity of an undergraduate place at to deprived schools and communities; Oxford, modelled on Univ’s homegrown to a fiercely applications rose in response but actual access initiative, the Opportunity competitive recruitment was barely affected. But we Programme. (The second is “Foundation discovered that a significant number of Oxford” based on Alan Rusbridger’s university: disadvantaged applicants who missed out innovative foundation year at LMH.) proven academic on a place, sometimes narrowly, went on Opportunity Oxford is likely to be much to obtain excellent A level grades, well the larger scheme, adopted by the majority performance above the threshold for admission. The of colleges. At steady state the expected and unprovable aptitude tests and interviews were not annual admission of 250 disadvantaged capturing some disadvantaged applicants students through the Scheme will academic who, judging from their A level results, constitute the most significant change to potential.” had the potential to thrive in Oxford. the social make-up of the undergraduate From there we decided to earmark 35 body since the admission of women additional undergraduate places for to the men’s colleges in the 1970s. Our “near-miss” disadvantaged applicants and Senior Tutor, Andrew Bell provides take them into a bridging programme further detail about Oxford’s new access that promoted study skills a month prior schemes in his article opposite. to their starting as freshers. The scheme Together with an earlier access scheme, enters its third year in October, after two the UNIQ summer schools, which give years of academic and social success. sixth formers from non-selective state There are two principles for fair schools at the end of their first year a admissions to a fiercely competitive one week taster of learning and living in university: proven academic performance college, these initiatives represent a major and unprovable academic potential. The switch in Oxford’s approach to diversifying first is measurable and a safe option for its intake. Hitherto the University has Oxford; the second is ultimately impossible strained every sinew to increase the volume to measure and always a risky basis for of applications from poor communities an admissions decision (for the college and schools, but with disappointingly and student alike). The incorporation of limited impact on the demographic profile bridging and foundation-year programmes of the eventual intake. Outreach activities in the Oxford admissions system of will of course continue, but with better aptitude tests, interviews and high A-level college coordination and targeting. The grade thresholds is probably the closest University’s new initiatives concentrate that the University can get to a reasonable on “converting” prospective candidates balance between the two. from discouraging backgrounds into successful applicants by boosting their confidence, study skills and familiarity with the Oxford system, through residential Sir Ivor Crewe 4 | The Martlet | Autumn 2019 College Opportunity Oxford How Univ’s pioneering access programme inspired the University’s new admission scheme. ne Oxford undergraduate in Foundation Oxford, a full year four will be from the UK’s programme starting in 2021, is to most under-represented be offered to students from under- backgrounds by 2023, thanks represented areas who have also Oto two ambitious admission schemes experienced personal disadvantage or unveiled by the University of Oxford in severely disrupted education. They will May – one of which is directly inspired have high academic potential but not yet by University College Oxford’s pioneering be able to make a competitive Oxford Opportunity Programme. application. Offers for Foundation The two new programmes – Oxford will be made on the basis of Opportunity Oxford and Foundation lower contextual A-level grades, rather Oxford – will increase significantly than the University’s standard offers. undergraduate places for the most Successful students will undertake a promising students from less advantaged year-long, bespoke, subject-specific backgrounds and areas. When fully up and programme, building their capacity for running, they will offer transformative independent study. The participants paths to outstanding education for up will all be based at Oxford colleges and, to 250 students a year, representing 10% provided they successfully complete the of Oxford’s UK undergraduate intake. programme, will move on to the Oxford This will be a major step change for the undergraduate degree of their choice. University, boosting the proportion of Both programmes will be introduced students coming to Oxford from under- on a phased basis, building up to 200 represented areas from 15% to 25%.