The magazine for the staff of the University of Cambridge summer 2013 Public art A new f lowering

The joy of sets: Dons in the House: passing on passion from laws of motion to for maths page 8 laws of the land page 10 SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 1 snapshot

Murder most foul: The violence of everyday life in 19th-century Europe – contents handsome bandits to wicked women – is revealed in all its bloody detail in a new

TH e magazine for THe sTaff of exhibition at the University Library. Cover THe Un iversi Ty of Ca mbri Public art Dge ‘Read all about it! Wrongdoing in Spain Millions of pounds will be a new flowering sUmmer 2013 and England in the long nineteenth invested in public art at North century’ contains a catalogue of West Cambridge. But what criminality from the Library’s remarkable makes art public and what collections of books, broadsides, penny does public art bring to the The joy of sets: passing on passion Dons in the House: for maths from laws of motion to page 8 laws of the land SUMMER 20 13 | UNIVERS ITY OF CA page 10 dreadfuls and cheap, mass-produced MBRIDGE N University and the city? Turn Ew S lETTER | 1 ephemera. Runs until 23 December 2013. to page 6.

2-5 News round-up

Reaching the pole: ‘Re-imagining 6-7 Cover feature Scott: objects and journeys’ is a new 8-9 Making a difference exhibition of work by artist Professor For the past 25 years Cambridge students Paul Coldwell exploring Scott’s final have helped teach maths in local expedition and how it might be possible schools. We ask students and teachers to re-imagine aspects of the tragic final what makes the STIMULUS project so journey through the objects left behind. successful. The prints and sculpture are the result of the year Coldwell spent researching in 10-11 Feature the archives of the Scott Polar Research From 1603 to 1950 the University sent Institute, and explore the extraordinary two MPs to the House of Commons, but public reaction to Scott’s death. Runs to do academics make good politicians and coldwell 20 July 2013. do we need more of them in Parliament

paul today?

England’s first painter: Despite having 12 People no formal training and dying at the age of 29, Christopher Wood left a remarkable 13 Small adverts body of work. Running until 1 September 14-15 Prizes, awards and honours at Kettle’s Yard, a new exhibition unites paintings and drawings from the Front cover photograph: Chris Loades University and Kettle’s Yard collections – many not normally on display – with archival materials, including the artist’s own set of playing cards, to offer new insight into Wood’s life and work. newsletter The Newsletter is published for the staff of the University of Cambridge and is produced by the Zoology Museum wraps up until 2016: Office of External Affairs and Communications. Collections Manager Matt Lowe Please send in ideas for content and other ways carefully unveils the skeleton of a dodo – we can improve the publication. which has not been on public display Tel: (3)32300 or email [email protected]. for 40 years – to a lucky tour group. Suggestions for articles for the next edition should reach the Editor by 30 August. The Museum of Zoology closed on 1 Managing Editor: Andrew Aldridge June for three years as the Arup Building Editor: Becky Allen evolves into the new home of the Design: Creative Warehouse, Cambridge Cambridge Conservation Initiative. Printers: Labute Printers Staff and volunteers at the museum are Contributors: Andrew Aldridge, Becky Allen, now busy packing away millions of bones Alex Buxton, William Ham Bevan and specimens to protect them during the refurbishment. Newsletter online

SIR CAM www.cam.ac.uk/for-staff

2 | SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter WHAT’S NEW Your comments and contributions are always welcome. Please send them to the Editor at [email protected] The deadline for the next issue is 6 August.

Roger Taylor is new Director of Estates Strategy

Roger Taylor, currently Project Operations will look after the for mixed-use development for Director of the North West Cambridge day-to-day management of the Taylor Wimpey, the UK’s largest Development, has been appointed University’s estate. housebuilder. Director of Estates Strategy, taking up Mr Taylor will continue to lead He takes over from current post on 1 October 2013. and hold strategic oversight for the Director of Estate Management Mr Taylor will retain his current North West Cambridge scheme. Michael Bienias, who is retiring. position at the North West Until recently, the main body of work l A new team based in the Estate Cambridge Development, devoting had been concerned with planning Management Division has been approximately 25 per cent of his time and stakeholder engagement, most formed to recognise the increasing to work there and 75 per cent to the notably with the local authorities importance of environmental issues Estate Management Division. and the local community. But with within the University. He will be supported in both the Regent House having given The Environment and Energy roles by two new posts – that of approval for work to start on Phase Section will co-locate the currently Deputy Project Director at North West One of the development, and the separate Environment and Energy Cambridge and Head of Operations University securing planning consent offices, and make a number of new

at Estate Management – as well as ginns in February this year, the project team appointments to support carbon senior managers in both locations. will now focus on the design and reduction across the University.

The University hopes to fill these new marcus delivery of the first phase of works, Led by Joanna Simpson, the team positions by the start of Michaelmas Roger Taylor will focus due for completion in early 2016. will work closely with the Pro-Vice- Term 2013. on strategic planning in Before joining the University Chancellor for Institutional Affairs At Estate Management, Mr Taylor a new role in the Estate in 2008, Mr Taylor oversaw a wide and the Environmental Strategy will focus on strategic planning, Management Division range of mixed use developments in Committee to review the University’s decision making and forward places such as Docklands, Glasgow environmental policy and its practical planning on a number of key and Oxfordshire, and was a director implementation. University developments, including ongoing work at West Cambridge and development at the Cambridge Biomedical Campus and New Museums Site. The new Head of See our menu online at unicen.cam. ac.uk North West Cambridge update Imaginative, locally sourced, modern The Chancellor of the University, as being an exemplar of sustainable Lord Sainsbury of Turville, and the living. The first phase of the British food. Served Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek development will cost an estimated in a sophisticated Borysiewicz, attended a ground- £281 million, with whole scheme setting with views breaking ceremony at the North costing £1 billion. across the River West Cambridge site on 20 June to In other developments at North Cam. mark the start of the largest single West Cambridge, the University is capital development project in the seeking market housing developers University’s 800-year history. for Phase One, and the scheme’s Open Monday to Saturday Lunch 12.30-14.00 Members of the University first artists in residence have been Why not join us for Dinner18.30–23.00 Council, local authority appointed. They are Tania Kovats, Dinner & Jazz? (last orders 21.00) representatives, architects, Hannah Rickards, Nina Pope and See For reservations call consultants and community Karen Guthrie. www.unicen.cam.ac.uk 01223 337759 members were also at the historic for details event, which signalled the start of

Phase One for the development. University Centre, Granta Place, Mill Lane, Cambridge CB2 1RU The North West Cambridge find out more 01223 337759 | www.unicen.cam.ac.uk | fi nd us on facebook Development has been designed as For more on these stories and  an extension to the city. It will be of the scheme in general visit  the highest design quality, as well www.nwcambridge.co.uk

SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 3

RR Jazz Ad.indd 1 20/01/2013 20:32 what’s new

Globe Theatre celebrates Girton’s pioneers

Girton College arrives in London “There were brave, outspoken men this August when a new play inspired who gave everything up for the cause. Blue Stockings’ author, Jessica Swale by the pioneers of women’s education I wanted to ensure that the play didn’t at Cambridge opens at the Globe portray great women and awful men,” Theatre. Written by Jessica Swale, she said. Blue Stockings begins in 1896 – a year More than a century on, student before the University Senate voted protest is alive and kicking. “There down a proposal to grant women was a magical day when we were full degrees. rehearsing. We were practising the According to Swale: “It was a time riot, shouting ‘education for all’ and of turbulent social change; what we had to stop working because the with the momentum building in the student protests were marching down suffrage movement, you’d expect that Gower Street and they were shouting it might have been simple to allow the same things 110 years later,” them equal recognition, but the force said Swale. of the opposition was astonishing.” Blue Stockings opens on 24 August Drawing on hours of research in at the Globe Theatre, London and runs Girton’s archive, Swale based two until 11 October. of the characters, Dr Maudsley and Elizabeth Welsh, on historical figures ➔ For more information visit and was keen to show men’s role in www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/

the fight for women’s rights: whats-on/globe-theatre/blue-stockings HANNAHYATES

In brief Fly research in Africa gets flying start ➔ The life and friendship of US philanthropist Dennis Avery was honoured last month at a tree- Five Cambridge researchers tools available for the study of the year’s summer school is supported planting ceremony at the Stephen – including Professor Mike Bate brain makes it an attractive model by the International Brain Research Hawking Centre for Theoretical and Dr Berthold Hedwig of the organism used by many scientists Organization. Cosmology (CTC). Mr Avery, Department of Zoology – travel to in the West,” she said. “But without Following the success of the first who died last year, established Uganda in August to teach on an training, it can seem a major step summer school in 2012, together the endowment that led to the insect neuroscience summer school. for researchers to change to this with another former PhD student creation of the CTC in 2007. The Now in its third year, the three-week approach. Dr Tom Baden, she set up TReND ceremony was attended by his course introduces African scientists “Providing higher education and in Africa (Teaching and Research wife Sally Tsui Wong-Avery, family to fruit flies as model organisms for research capacity building locally in in Neuroscience for Development members and friends, the Vice- neuroscientific research. Africa is essential for the development in Africa). As well as running Chancellor of the University, So far 34 African scientists from of its societies,” Prieto Godino added. the summer schools, the NGO is the Master of Trinity Hall, and staff six countries have taken part in the “It empowers the local production supporting development of Uganda’s and students from the Department summer schools, which are the brain of knowledge and the capability first MSc course in Neuroscience of Applied Mathematics and child of former Cambridge PhD of addressing local problems and in collaboration with Kampala Theoretical Physics. student Dr Lucia Prieto Godino. After challenges in a more adequate and International University. ➔ Readers of the Newsletter meeting Professor Sadiq Yusuf from cost-effective manner.” According to Baden, now at the can now keep up to date with Kampala International University Joining the Cambridge scientists University of Tübingen: “In TReND news and events from across she realised most of her African and local organiser Professor Yusuf in Africa we aim to provide young the collegiate University at the colleagues used rats, rather than fruit will be researchers from Egypt, African university graduates with the Staff section of the new University flies, as a model system. Germany, Sweden, Switzerland and global perspective on science and website. If you have a story you “Rats are expensive model Portugal. society that we have enjoyed all our would like to submit email organisms with very limited Scholarships for participants, lives thanks to the privilege of going [email protected]. accessibility to genetic manipulation. plus reagents and equipment are through a Western education system.” ac.uk. To view the staff webpages, Drosophila, however, are easy and provided through funds raised visit www.cam.ac.uk/for-staff inexpensive to breed and maintain by Dr Prieto Godino, now at the ➔ For more information on TReND in in the lab, and the wealth of genetic University of Lausanne, and this Africa visit trendinafrica.org

4 | SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter WHAT’S NEW Your comments and contributions are always welcome. Please send them to the Editor at [email protected] The deadline for the next issue is 6 August.

Poems from behind the scenes at the museums

A collection of new poems “The poets understood the idea The Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology by Daljit Nagra has been published online as the and stepped inside the museums I am held apologetically in a seminar room. culmination of ‘Thresholds’, the ready to talk and learn and write and This is the dawn of my days as a poet-in-residence residency project that paired ten blur the artificial boundaries between who has been commissioned to produce a poem. of the UK’s best poets with ten the arts and sciences. Having seen all My host furnishes me with an apple strudel slice. University of Cambridge museums. the new poems, I’m stunned by what From National Poet of Wales Gillian they have achieved,” Duffy said. Yesterday, my slice was one upon many settled before Clarke’s poem Archaeopteryx, about “Every museum has had to think a the Prime Minister of Fiji who was visiting his island’s wares. the world’s oldest bird in the Museum bit differently about their collections, I overhear our tyrant was not exposed to the ‘cannibal forks’. of Zoology, to Don Paterson’s they’ve had a poet-in-residence But was most impressed by the kava bowl and whale A Pocket Horizon, based on an object who has asked them to look at the teeth whose curves he stroked with gloveless hands in the Whipple, the poets have each world through the lens of poetry before being won by a slice of the sweetest English apples… written at least one work based on and reading, as well as through their unique access to Cambridge’s their collections and research. This world-class collections. work must continue into the future, Speaking at the finale event at inspiring new writing and connecting the Fitzwilliam Museum in May, Poet collections and museums with each Laureate and ‘Thresholds’ curator other, and with new audiences who Carol Ann Duffy said the project had are eager to listen and learn.” touched the whole community, not All the poems – including only the poets and the museums. The Museum of Archaeology and Around 400 young people took part Anthropology in Cambridge by Daljit in workshops run by the poets during Nagra (opposite) – can be enjoyed their residencies. at www.thresholds.org.uk

In brief New research costing tool launched

➔ The MRC Epidemiology Unit the festival, which offers discovery X5, the new full economic cost the University of Cambridge, the transferred to the University on and intellectual adventure, a chance and pricing tool for research grant University of Oxford and commercial 1 May, creating a new department to reconnect with Cambridge, applications, has been launched supplier Unit4/Agresso, and the three in the School of Clinical Medicine. and to hear about the work of the across the University, replacing the organisations shared the cost. The transfer is part of a wider University’s leading academics. pFACT system, which reverts to A key benefit of this partnership strategic alliance between the Bookings for the weekend open on read-only access on 1 August. It is has been the development of a Medical Research Council and the 15 July. For more information about an essential tool for the research sustainable support structure for University. It will build on the MRC events and lectures, visit alumni. community, allowing users to manage the system: not only has X5 been Epidemiology Unit’s research and cam.ac.uk/festival13. complex costings and provide developed with key requirements of open up new scientific and funding ➔ A new centre for world-class accurate pricing for research grants. both universities in mind, but the user opportunities. Nick Wareham, Director research in the physical sciences Intuitive and simple to use, X5 group responsible for its progression of the MRC Epidemiology Unit, said: and how they translate to industry allows greater visibility of costings for is led by representatives from both “We are delighted by the successful will be created at the Cavendish principal investigators, departmental Cambridge and Oxford, meaning the completion of the transfer and look Laboratory, West Cambridge. The administrators and staff working in University has considerable influence forward to realising the opportunities Maxwell Centre will see scientists the Research Operations Office. over the progression of the system, that will arise from closer integration from industry occupying lab space A personal dashboard provides easy any future updates, and its relevance with the University.” alongside Cambridge research access to any costings a user may be and responsiveness to constantly ➔ The 23-year old Alumni Weekend groups, with the aim of developing involved with, and allows different changing research policies and is being given an overhaul: it will now a two-way flow of ideas and versions of the same costing to be requirements. be called the Alumni Festival and, exposing the best early career produced so that key data can be Those preparing applications with a this year, will run between 27 and 29 researchers to scientific problem- interrogated thoroughly before final deadline after 31 July 2013 should use September. More than 1,000 alumni solving that relates directly to submission. X5. For more information, visit www. and guests are expected to attend industrial need. The X5 project has been a admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/research/ collaborative partnership between applying/X5/

SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 5 cover feature

Bigger Bite by Nigel Hall was recently unveiled at the Sidgwick site loades chris : hotographs P

can walk in, so it’s for the whole of the University, the city and the region.” Art at Jesus brings other benefits, Art for our sake believes Senior Bursar Christopher Pratt: “We think it civilises the community in a very real sense. It stimulates discussion Over the next two decades, millions of pounds will and inevitably some controversy.” Not least, perhaps, among the porters tasked be invested in public art at North West Cambridge. with looking after First Court’s Bronze But what makes art public and what does public art Horse. “Some of the exhibits are an invitation to high jinks among students bring to the University and the city? wanting a ride on the horse,” says Pratt. Over the next two decades, public art in Cambridge will get a huge boost Standing, leaning back on their Modern’s Turbine Hall, and Theaster “Public art thanks to North West Cambridge. haunches, or kneeling on all fours, the Gates, whose 7.5 tonne American fire “It’s a major development, and a major white-suited figures behind yellow police truck daubed with tar is parked in the says something investment in public art amounting tape appear to be searching for clues. But middle of Second Court until September. powerful about to several million pounds over the the mysterious team in the grounds of “It’s an incredibly distinguished cast lifetime of the project,” says Professor Jesus is evidence not of crime, but of art. list,” says Dr Rod Mengham, a Reader in what you care Jeremy Sanders, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Called The bigger the searchlight the English Literature and Curator of works about, what for Institutional Affairs and Deputy larger the circumference of the unknown, of art at Jesus, home to the popular Chairman of the Syndicate steering the the installation is by Harland Miller, one of permanent sculpture collection as well you want the development. five artists whose work forms ‘Sculpture as the biennial Sculpture in the Close. public to know Akin to the Botanic Garden, West Road in the Close 2013’. Together with Miller’s “It’s a rich demonstration of how to bring about you” Concert Hall and the new Sports Centre, forensic scientists, the exhibition includes spaces alive, or make users think again he wants North West Cambridge to enrich pieces by Doris Salcedo, who famously about the places they use. It’s providing town and gown. “There is a lot we do for put a colossal crack through the Tate something for the college but anyone our own benefit that also benefits the

6 | SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter wider community, and that has to be the involved with commissioning a local Below top: Edmund de Waal right thing to do,” he explains. “One of my history and atlas, Edmund de Waal’s vitrine, Alison Richard Building Below middle: Confucius by priorities is to get people from the city pottery-filled vitrines for the Alison Wu Wei-Shan at Clare who aren’t involved with the University to Richard Building. “I was frightened by the Below bottom: Richard Bray’s visit North West Cambridge and to think fact that a lot of public art is genuinely Maple Three-Piece, Jesus of it as part of the city, not as a University undistinguished,” he admits. “Where it’s Right: Bronze Horse by enclave.” most interesting, it’s proved most Barry Flanagan, Jesus As well as drawing people to North controversial. We were not afraid of West Cambridge, public art will also controversy, but we were afraid of bad shape the new community, says Fabienne public art.” Nicholas of the Contemporary Art Society, He need not have worried. “It was a who produced the public art strategy significant commission so we had some for the project. “It’s the creation of a new first-rate artists apply. It was a genuine urban extension to Cambridge – a tabula treat,” says Goldhill, whose committee rasa. Public art and cultural activity are unanimously backed de Waal’s vision. key ways of creating the identity of the “We were charmed by its intellectual site as it develops,” she says. voice, by the fact that it understood this Two works – one for the western edge was a university, an academic place. One of the site and another for the local centre of the things public art does is to try and – are being commissioned, and three say something powerful about what you artists-in-residence have begun work care about, what you want the public experience of public space.” with three departments – Archaeology, to know about you. It does it by being Back in February, on a freezing Astronomy and Earth Sciences. But the beautiful, by being reflective, by being day in the muddy fields of North West strategy allows for many forms of public not just physical but intellectual,” he says. Cambridge, Nina Pope and Karen art, says Sanders: “It could be a tangible For staff whose daily commute takes Guthrie began their residency with the object, it could be a performance, it could them over the vitrines, the fact they Department of Archaeology by taking involve the public or children from local change with the seasons also matters. part in a volunteer dig. “It was absolutely schools. It’s entirely unpredictable what’s “We wanted something conceptually fascinating; very hard work,” Guthrie going to come out of it at this stage.” adept enough and artistically interesting remembers. “It’s a weird act, a perverse The unpredictability inherent in public enough that you want to look at it every thing, spending days with a tiny trowel art projects is something Professor Simon day, “ says Goldhill. when the diggers could do it in minutes.” Goldhill, Director of CRASSH, The vitrines’ success also reflects the Both artists found pieces of understands, having been closely fact that they are recognisably the vision animal bone that Cambridge of one artist, says Andrew Nairne, Director archaeologists identified as of Kettle’s Yard and chairman of the Public Roman because of the way Art Panel for North West Cambridge. they had been butchered. “They have that quality of not shouting “Archaeologists look like but encouraging thoughtfulness and builders, and the activity is reflection, and one of the advantages of very manual, but they have permanent public art is there’s time for a casual expertise that’s eye people to come across it. It hasn’t all got opening,” she says. to happen in the first year, it can take its Guthrie is unsure how the time,” he explains. dig will inform the work she Nairne agrees with Goldhill that public produces, but mud might be art needs to be intrinsically interesting to involved. “I’m not the kind of survive always being the thing you see, artist who makes sculptures for a quality he believes comes “from the roundabouts. I want to use my vision of an individual or group of artists, creativity to enhance public life – a not the pared down result of a thousand film, an object, an event,” she explains. planning decisions”. “There are lots of processes I want to do. In the same way the University I’m interested in clay, in mud architecture. attracts leading academics, the challenge It would be nice to do something with Find out more for North West Cambridge will be to that and do something in the city that commission leading artists and allow relates to the site.” ➔ Sculpture in them to produce excellent work. “It’s incredibly rare to find a project the Close: According to Nairne: “We’ve got to make of this scope with a budget in place. It’s www. art that is serious and long term and very visionary,” she says. “I think the air is jesus. enduring. To do that we have to back the different in Cambridge, there are so many cam.ac.uk vision of the artist and enable them to people here at the top of their game. ➔ Public art at North make strong work out of their own vision. There’s loads of scope in that. It’s a bit West Cambridge: www. If we allow them to do that, the work will like Butlins for artists. It won’t be easy but nwcambridge.co.uk/ by its quality engage, encourage thought it’s great to work with the best of British engagement-art.php and reflection and significantly add to the education and culture.”

SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 7 making a difference The joy of sets loades chris : photographs

Over the past 25 years, hundreds of Neil Kelly teaches maths at Chesterton She wanted to thank us for giving her the Community College, a large chance to see what teaching was all about.” Cambridge students have donated comprehensive in north Cambridge. Chesterton Community College is thousands of hours helping to teach maths One of the aspects of his job he likes one of around 30 schools and colleges in most is that no two days are the same. Cambridge that take part in STIMULUS. in local schools. By pairing undergraduates Each morning his email inbox is full of Part of the Millennium Maths Project, messages from colleagues and parents. STIMULUS gives University of Cambridge passionate about maths with school Most of them relate to details of day-to- undergraduates the chance to go into students who need extra help – or extra day life in a busy school so a recent email classrooms and help children and young came as a complete surprise. people of all abilities with their maths challenges – STIMULUS adds up to one “It was a message from a maths and science. great project graduate who had come here to work The programme, which celebrated with our pupils as a volunteer a couple its 25th anniversary last year, was set of years ago when she was a student at up by Toni Beardon, then a lecturer the University of Cambridge,” he explains. in the Faculty of Education. Its aim “She was writing to tell me that the has remained the same: not simply to experience of working in the classroom produce the teachers of the future but at Chesterton had encouraged her to take also to enable undergraduates to inspire a PGCE and that she was now teaching younger students to get involved in maths in a comprehensive in Essex. maths and science.

8 | SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter Left: A Cambridge student helping “When I was at Cambridge reading age group. I probably got my job at make maths exciting maths, and already interested in going Imperial on the strength of my research into teaching, I really hadn’t thought how rather than my teaching ability, so I don’t difficult it would be to explain a fairly know if STIMULUS really affected my life Each year STIMULUS gives around straightforward concept to a Year 10 pupil trajectory but I recently won a university 250 Cambridge undergraduates the who wasn’t remotely interested in maths. award for teaching.” opportunity to work in a local school or My experience of working at Netherhall The process of making maths college supporting maths and science School really helped me to focus on accessible on a one-to-one basis teaching. Approximately 40 per cent of how to break a concept down into easily is immensely valuable, as current the students who take part are doing accessible steps and encouraged me to Cambridge student Carina Negreanu degrees in science, 20 per cent are take up a career in teaching.” discovered when she volunteered at the studying maths and the remainder a Each year Percival sees the latest Manor School, a small comprehensive, variety of other subjects. The schools they cohort of STIMULUS volunteers grow in and the independent Perse School for work in range from primary to sixth form, confidence as they learn how to interact Girls. “One of the pupils I helped was and the majority are in the state sector. with pupils and how to communicate clearly extremely bright but not at all All the undergraduates who sign up clearly. He says: “Last term I had a third- focused. We worked together for several for the programme are partnered with year maths undergraduate assisting in weeks, doing questions in different ways, schools, their age group preferences my Year 7 classes. Generally, he helped and maths started to become really taken into account, and checked carefully with class assignments, moving between interesting. GCSEs no longer seemed according to legislation governing pupils to check they were on track. a problem and university became an health and safety and child protection During the last session he gave a ten- option,” she says. issues. Some volunteers go into their minute lesson on calculating the area of “I’m doing applied maths, and hope partner school for one term only, others a triangle. It wasn’t perfect but he did to do a PhD in astrophysics, so STIMULUS for two terms. really well and kept the attention of the is good for me too. It helps to refresh the Kelly says that the STIMULUS whole class.” maths that I haven’t used for five years. participants who volunteer at Chesterton Volunteering is about much more than contribute in many different ways to Making maths exciting simply getting something to put on your teaching in the maths and science Current maths undergraduate Zoe Wyatt CV – it’s about making a real difference departments. “They assist in the chose to work with younger pupils and “Volunteering and giving something important back to classroom, helping with classwork and she was partnered with Queen Edith’s is about more young people at a point when so many revision, they work with small groups, Primary School where she was assigned opportunities are opening up for them.” and they also work with pupils one-to- a group of six pupils who were showing than getting The continued success of STIMULUS one. They might be helping pupils who a particular flair for numbers. “I worked something is testament to the vision behind it. struggle academically but equally they with them for 45 minutes once a week When she set it up, Toni Beardon was might be challenging those who need during the lunch break and I was able to to put on motivated by the idea that the University stretching,” he explains. decide with them what to cover. One of your CV – it’s of Cambridge should connect with the “Before we get a new group of them had a parent who was doing extra local community and that STIMULUS STIMULUS undergraduates at the start of maths with her, and the others wanted to about making would be a win-win activity with benefits the school year, I give the scheme a bit of tackle some of the topics she mentioned. a difference to all involved. “Over the years many a push and tell our pupils just how lucky They were particularly thrilled by the students have told me how much they they are to have University of Cambridge idea of multiplying negative numbers,” and giving looked forward to their STIMULUS visits students coming in to work with them. she says. something to school and that the experience helped It’s a fantastic chance for our pupils to “The group was great fun to be important back” them to develop their interpersonal skills,” interact with someone studying maths or with. I strongly believe that I and others she says. science at a high level – and get a taste have a real responsibility to impart our And it’s a vision that has connected of their enthusiasm. We give STIMULUS enthusiasm for maths, a subject that Cambridge with communities thousands volunteers a tour of the school and a brief often isn’t too popular at school, which is of miles away. After 20 years teaching introduction, and they quickly find their a huge shame. I absolutely love teaching at Cambridge, and taking a leading role feet in the classroom.” and especially making maths exciting. in setting up other Millennium Maths I’m planning a career in maths and Projects, Beardon retired and became a Works both ways particularly want to lecture and teach at volunteer in Africa. Over the last decade One of the scheme’s strengths is that university level.” she has built the African Institute for benefits work both ways. For the past Kevin Buzzard, now a professor of Mathematical Sciences Enrichment two years STIMULUS has been run by Rob pure mathematics at Imperial College Centre, which trains local teachers using Percival, who teaches maths at the Perse London, was one of the first STIMULUS volunteer lecturers from Cambridge and School for Girls and was a volunteer 12 volunteers. In 1989 he went into a around the world. years ago when he was studying maths at primary school once a week for a term Cambridge. “The experience of studying and did some basic maths with a class of at Cambridge is highly demanding and eight-year-olds. He says: “My highlight intense – and taking part in STIMULUS was definitely the time I spent chatting provides a valuable chance to step out to the kids and getting to know how they Find out more of that Cambridge bubble once a week,” thought. I now have three children of my For more information on STIMULUS, he says. own and still enjoy teaching this young visit stimulus.maths.org

SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 9 behind the scenes bennett

felix : llustrations I

The constituencies would persist in this form, more or less, until their extinction at the 1950 General Election; Dons in the House and at various times throughout the next 350 years, the Oxbridge MPs were joined at Westminster by representatives of other seats of learning in the British Isles. From 1603 to 1950 the University sent two MPs to the House of The Cambridge University Commons, among them two Cromwells, two future Prime Ministers constituency observed several peculiar practices. Elections seemed subdued, and an FA Cup Final winner. But do academics make good politicians compared with the usual tumult of a and do we need more of them in Parliament today? Parliamentary campaign. The poll was generally open for several days, and took place a leisurely couple of weeks after the main election. Candidates were not From St Ives in west Cornwall to Orkney in Huddersfield could also vote for the Sir Isaac expected to canvass in person, and were and Shetland, there is scarcely a University MP, provided they had kept banned from coming within ten miles of parliamentary seat in Britain that has not their names on the college books by Newton’s Cambridge at this time. Many candidates been occupied by a Cambridge graduate. paying an annual fee.” only recorded stood as independents; and several But within living memory, the University The Parliamentary constituency of elections were uncontested ’coronations’. has also been a constituency in its own Cambridge University was established in contribution Members chosen by Cambridge right, and had the power to send its own 1603. On acceding to the English throne, to Commons graduates included prominent figures MPs to the House of Commons. James VI of Scotland decided that the from many walks of life. Though Dr Elisabeth Leedham-Green, archivist practice of the Scottish Parliament – debate was his Oliver Cromwell represented the town at Darwin and author of A Concise History which granted seats to the country’s five request to shut constituency, two of his sons became of the University of Cambridge, says: ancient universities – should be followed a window MPs for the University: Henry in 1654 “Those qualified to vote for the University south of the border. The universities and Richard two years later. Two prime MP also had another vote, so chaps in of Oxford and Cambridge were duly ministers were University of Cambridge Cambridge might be able to vote in, say, enfranchised by Royal Charter, each MPs, Pitt the Younger and Lord Huddersfield, and graduates domiciled sending two members to the Commons. Palmerston. And one MP, John Rawlinson,

10 | SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter had the unique distinction of playing in By the mid-20th century, Oxford and independence about them. Professors are an FA Cup final. The lawyer and jurist kept Cambridge University constituencies as prejudiced and as partisan as any other goal for Old Etonians in their 1882 victory represented quite an anomaly. They members of the population.” over Blackburn Rovers. were among a small number of surviving Crossman went on to state his From Francis Bacon in 1614, many multi-member constituencies and, preference for academics who “go Cambridge-educated scientists and unlike the geographical constituencies, through the usual rough and tumble of academics represented the constituency. they used the Single Transferable Vote an election and get elected to Parliament Most eminent was Isaac Newton, – the only example of proportional in the ordinary way”. And in the case of although his only recorded contribution representation ever having been used in Cambridge – the single seat that now to Commons debate is a request to shut a Westminster elections. encompasses town and gown – the late window. “The most celebrated Cambridge The rise of the Labour Party coincided politician’s wish has been granted, as the politicians were, speaking very roughly, with growing calls for abolition of the past two general elections have delivered not distinguished academics,” says university seats. One criticism was that University academics to the Commons. Dr Leedham-Green. “Newton was they offered a back door into Parliament “Professors are David Howarth, a Reader in Law and certainly a distinguished academic, but for those defeated elsewhere. The most Fellow of Clare, was succeeded in 2005 by notably not a great parliamentarian.” notorious case was that of the first Labour as prejudiced Dr Julian Huppert – an RCUK Academic Later academics managed to straddle prime minister Ramsay MacDonald who, and as partisan Fellow in Computational Biology at the both worlds more successfully. The in the words of one university MP, “having same college. “I went to school here so I mathematician and physicist Sir Joseph brought in a [failed] Bill to abolish the as any other feel part of both town and gown, to the Larmor (University MP from 1911 to university franchise, was himself members of the extent that they’re still separate,” Huppert 1922) was known in the House for his defeated in the General Election of 1935 population” says. “It’s important to represent all of zeal against Irish Home Rule and spoke and was glad to take refuge in a Scottish Cambridge, from leafy University areas to on such matters as vivisection, electoral university seat.” council estates.” reform and the upkeep of London’s Clement Attlee’s government finally Does he think that his scientific Science Museum. None of his citations called time on the university seats with background informs his approach to in Hansard, though, are as quotable as the Representation of the People Act politics? “Having a different background his 1920 plea to the governing body of 1948 – legislation that also swept away from other people is very valuable; St John’s, when the college proposed other forms of plural polling, such as the it means you can come in with an to install baths: “We have done without extra vote held by owners of a business insight others might not have,” he says. them for 400 years. Why begin now?” located outside their home constituency. “Amazingly, there are only two of us with Among the most successful But university seats had their champions science PhDs in the Commons, and I’m parliamentary dons was physiologist until the end. the only one who went on to do research.” Archibald Vivian Hill, one of the few Nobel Some suggested that the seats could Huppert thinks Trevelyan’s view Laureates to sit on the green benches. be retained, but graduates confined to that academics bring valuable skills to During World War II, Hill was an important voting in either a geographical or an Parliament has merit. “For instance, there’s member of the War Cabinet Scientific academic constituency. Prominent in this a real issue when the Government does a Advisory Committee but became best camp was the former Master of Trinity, U-turn,” he says. “But I’m actually quite in known as a fervent promoter of scientific George Macaulay Trevelyan. He wrote in favour of politicians changing their mind inquiry for its own sake. Most famously, a letter to The Times: “It seems a pity that after a consultation. Otherwise, what’s he asked: “Would you ask a mother what for the purpose of abolishing the plural the point of the consultation? practical use her baby is?” when pressed or alternative vote, a valuable institution “I think that’s something academics on the practical use of complex research like university representation should are good at: coming up with an idea, in the pure sciences. disappear ... It still supplies the House but when the evidence comes in, being with a number of men, most of whom prepared to accept that there’s a better An end to plural polling are not attached to either party and who idea. I’d like governments to do that a Though Cambridge’s history includes bring an element of which both parties lot more.” no shortage of friction between town stand in need.” and gown, little of it seems to have been Trevelyan lauded the contribution of played out in the Commons chamber. scientists to the Commons – mentioning A large quotient of town MPs were both Newton and AV Hill, who University alumni, prone to identify the “represented not a party but science”. interests of the one with the other. But there were equally fierce opponents Town-gown tensions were not the of the notion that academics were an only ones to concern University MPs. injection of independent, disinterested Dr Leedham-Green says: “Elections to wisdom into the body politic. University offices were very often along One outspoken critic was diarist party lines, with which inter-collegiate and future cabinet minister Richard rivalries roughly, but never precisely, Crossman. Debating the abolition bill, he coincided. The challenges would have told the House: “We have been told that included trying to keep both Trinity and we want plenty of dons in the House... St John’s on side – something that was so that we can have that peculiarly very difficult. But Pitt and Palmerston, for independent judgment which professors example, seem to have managed.” maintain. I have never found any peculiar

SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 11 people

New Masters at Downing, Fitzwilliam, Murray Edwards and Sidney Sussex

Downing has announced that Master – and the first ‘home-grown’ Professor Geoffrey Grimmett will Head of House – in July. One of the be the 17th Master of the college. college’s most distinguished alumnae, He takes over from Professor Barry she joins Murray Edwards after a Everitt in October. Currently a Fellow career in the NHS and in humanitarian of Churchill, Professor Grimmett is work, most recently as Chief Executive Professor of Mathematical Statistics, of Oxfam GB. and a keen walker and harpsichord Dame Barbara, who read Natural player. Sciences at New Hall, said: “This Nicola Padfield takes over from college gave me the confidence and Professor Robert Lethbridge as Master self-belief to make a contribution on of Fitzwilliam on 1 October and will be the global stage and I am immensely the first woman Master of the college grateful for that. I want to help today’s since its foundation in 1869. A Fellow Nicola Padfield Dame Barbara Stocking talented young women play their of Fitzwilliam since 1991, Mrs Padfield community of talented people, moving to Pembroke as Junior part shaping our future as tomorrow’s is Reader in Criminal and Penal Justice extending well beyond its current Research Fellow. After working at thinkers and leaders. There is still in the Faculty of Law at the University. students and beyond Cambridge.” the universities of Bath and Bristol much to be done for women to She was called to the Bar in 1978, and In July, Professor Richard Penty he returned to Cambridge, where he achieve true equality in the world, is a Recorder of the Crown Court and became the 27th Master of Sidney has been Professor of Photonics since whether in the UK or internationally, a Bencher of the Middle Temple. Sussex College, succeeding Professor 2002. He is a Fellow of Sidney and was and I am very excited to have this “I am delighted and honoured to be Andrew Wallace-Hadrill. Professor its Vice-Master. opportunity to continue to contribute entrusted with this responsibility,” she Penty was both an undergraduate Murray Edwards welcomed Dame to empowering women to reach the said. “The college is an extraordinary and postgraduate student at Sidney, Barbara Stocking DBE as its fifth highest levels.”

In brief

➔ Dr Joanne Martindale is the new Assistant Director for the School of Clinical Medicine at the Research Operations Office. Previously at King’s College London, Dr Martindale will be supporting the Clinical School departments’ strategy and research and helping ensure that the Clinical School’s newest departments, the CRUK Cambridge Research Institute and New Regius professor CUDO’s new director From Downing to Gates the MRC’s Metabolic Diseases Unit Professor David MacKay became the Alison Traub joined the University Gates Cambridge has appointed and Epidemiology Unit, continue first Regius Professor of Engineering in June as Executive Director of Professor Barry Everitt – who retires to thrive. in March. “The wonderful thing about Development and Alumni Relations. as Master of Downing in October ➔ Joanna Simpson has been this role is that I will have the chance She arrived in Cambridge from the – as its next Provost. Speaking for appointed to the new post of Head to work alongside some truly fantastic University of Virginia, where she Cambridge’s 225 Gates scholars of Environment and Energy. She engineers. My hope is that I will be was Associate Vice-President for Andrew Gruen, President of Gates will be responsible for developing able to bring new ideas about energy Development and Director of its Cambridge Scholars’ Council, said: and implementing long-term research to a department already $3 billion campaign. “I have every confidence he will be plans to reduce the University’s full of talent, and that can develop Welcoming her the Vice- a strong mentor to scholars and carbon emissions and improve prototypes and bring those concepts Chancellor, Professor Sir Leszek will make an already incredible its environmental sustainability. to life,” he said. Borysiewicz, said: “The need for programme even more successful.” Previously the University’s A leading researcher in machine philanthropic funding to sustain Professor Everitt added: “The Environmental Officer in the Estate learning, Professor MacKay is Chief Cambridge’s position as one of the scholarships are exceptionally Management Division, Simpson Scientific Advisor to the government’s best universities in the world has important to the University and also came to Cambridge in 2012 Department of Energy and Climate never been greater. To be a global globally. I look forward to building from HEFCE, where she led the Change and author of the acclaimed leader in education and research on the many achievements of the Council’s sustainable development Sustainable Energy – without the hot requires Cambridge to continue to be first two Provosts and, in particular, strategy and corporate social air, which is free to download at a leader in philanthropy. Alison’s is an engaging with the scholar and responsibility work. www.withouthotair.com. excellent appointment.” alumni communities.”

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SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 13 prizes, awards and honours

leadership and leadership policy. ➔ Professor Karl Laugwitz (Department Awards Professor Bridges has made important of Medicine) has led a successful British ➔ Suffrage Science celebrates the contributions to the philosophy of Heart Foundation UK Cardiovascular achievements of leading female education and empirical research in Regenerative Medicine Centre Award. scientists, and three Cambridge education, as well as capacity building in The £2.5 million award, made jointly academics – Dame Athene Donald Ethiopia, Lithuania and Kazakhstan. with the University of Oxford, will provide (Department of Physics), Dr Jennifer ➔ A team led by Professor Steve a platform to develop cardiovascular Nichols (Department of Physiology, Jackson from the Gurdon Institute has regenerative medicine and will allow Development and Neuroscience) been awarded a Wellcome Trust Strategic PhD students to work between the and Professor Susan Gathercole award of £4.3 million. The award will two universities. According to Professor (Department of Medicine) were among fund research into the factors causing Professor Jenny Clack Laugwitz: “The award will allow the 12 honoured at this year’s event on mutations in DNA, and how mutations cardiovascular scientists in Cambridge International Women’s Day. can give rise to cancer and other diseases. and Oxford to undertake ground- ➔ Emeritus Professor of Japanese Studies The work will illustrate how defining breaking research together, and Richard Bowring has been presented ‘mutational signatures’ in these diseases will catalyse new science in the field with the Order of the Rising Sun (Gold could improve diagnosis and treatment. of regenerative medicine for heart Rays with Neck Ribbon). The award was ➔ Professor Peter Kornicki of the disease.” given in recognition of his scholarship Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern ➔ Professor Brian Moore of the in the field of Japanese studies, his Studies has been awarded the Yamagata Department of Psychology has been fundraising activities to build up Banto Prize. The prize is given every three awarded the Thomas Simm Littler Japanese studies at Cambridge and his years by the Osaka Prefecture for the Lectureship for 2013 by the British Society contributions to Anglo-Japanese relations study of Japan. Professor Steve Jackson of Audiology (BSA). The biennial prize is over many years at Cambridge. ➔ Professor Michael Lamb (Department awarded to a BSA member who has made ➔ Professor Nicola Clayton FRS of the of Psychology) has received the Award for a significant academic contribution to the Department of Psychology and Scientist Distinguished Contribution to Psychology field of audiology. in Residence at the Rambert Dance and Law from the American Psychology- ➔ Professor Sir Bruce Ponder has Company received the Experimental Law Society. been named one of the first group of Psychology Society’s Mid-Career Award at ➔ Head of the Department of Fellows of the American Association the EPS’s Lancaster meeting in April. Her Pharmacology, Professor Peter for Cancer Research Academy. The new award lecture, delivered at the meeting, McNaughton, has been elected as a fellowship has been created to honour was on ‘Ways of thinking: from crows to Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences scientists who have made stellar scientific children and back again’. for his contributions to sensory physiology. achievements in cancer research. ➔ Professor Nicholas Cook (Faculty ➔ The 2012 BIAL Merit Award in Medical Professor Karl Laugwitz ➔ Professor George Salmond of the of Music) and Professor Jenny Clack Sciences has been awarded to Professor Department of Biochemistry has been (Department of Zoology) have been Peter St George-Hyslop of the elected a Fellow of the American Academy awarded honorary degrees by the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research of Microbiology. He was one of the first University of Chicago. Professor Cook, for his work on the causes and molecular researchers to demonstrate how bacteria whose work covers a wide range of topics mechanisms of neurodegenerative communicate via chemical signals, a in music theory, analysis, history and diseases such as Alzheimer’s and behaviour that researchers are now ethnomusicology, received an honorary Parkinson’s diseases. targeting as a way of combating infection. Doctor of Humane Letters. Professor Clack ➔ Hilary Mantel, author and double ➔ This year’s Adams Prize – one of received an honorary Doctor of Science. Man Booker prizewinner, received an Cambridge’s oldest and most prestigious A leading palaeontologist, her honorary degree at the University in June. – has been won by Professor Ivan Smith research has profoundly changed the Other Doctor of Letters were awarded Professor Brian Moore of the Department of Pure Mathematics understanding of the origin of terrestrial to Sir John Elliott, Regius Professor of and Mathematical Statistics. The topic vertebrate life. Modern History (now History) Emeritus at for 2012-13 was topology, and chairman ➔ PhD student John Gallagher (Faculty University of Oxford; Professor Jonathan of the judges, Professor Tim Gowers, of History) has been named one of Spence, Sterling Professor of History described Professor Smith’s work in this ten New Generation Thinkers 2013 by Emeritus at Yale University; and writer area as both “beautiful and important”. BBC Radio 3 and the Arts & Humanities and winner of the 2010 Nobel Prize for The prize is awarded jointly each year by Research Council. The scheme is designed Literature Mario Vargas Llosa. Doctor the Faculty of Mathematics and St John’s to find academic broadcasters of the of Science degrees were conferred on College to a young, UK-based researcher future, and Gallagher will spend a year Professor Daniel Kahneman, Eugene and is named after John Couch Adams to with Radio 3 presenters and broadcasters Higgins Professor of Psychology Emeritus commemorate his role in discovering the developing his research on foreign at Princeton University; Professor Joseph planet Neptune. languages in 16th and 17th century Stiglitz, University Professor in Finance ➔ The Wellcome Trust has named the England into radio and TV programmes. and Economics at Columbia University; University of Cambridge as one of its five ➔ Professor Peter Gronn and Dr Harold Varmus, Director of the Centres for Global Health Research, which Professor David Bridges of the Faculty National Cancer Institute; and Professor it is committing more than £3 million to of Education have both been made Ada Yonath, Martin S and Helen Kimmel over the next five years. As well as helping Academicians of the Academy of Social Professor of Structural Biology public health and tropical medicine Sciences. Professor Gronn’s work has at the Weizmann Institute of Science researchers develop their careers, the had a significant impact on educational in Israel. new centres will foster links between UK

14 | SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter institutions and those based in low- and middle-income countries. The Cambridge Centre will focus on researchers in Africa. Royal Society elects new Fellows for 2013 According to Professor David Dunne, Director of the Cambridge Centre: “The Five Cambridge researchers have been unravel the Galaxy’s history through strengthening of Africa’s indigenous announced as new Fellows of the Royal its chemistry, he played a major role in scientific research base is crucial to the Society: Professor Jon Crowcroft of selection of ESA’s Gaia mission. identification of its disease control and the Computer Laboratory; Professor Professor Raymond Goldstein is public health priorities, to the discovery Gerard Gilmore of the Institute of a leader in biological physics and and successful application of appropriate Astronomy; Professor Raymond nonlinear dynamics. His broad-ranging solutions, as well as to overall Goldstein of the Department of work includes the maths behind the development.” Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Professor Raymond Goldstein shapes of stalactites and using green ➔ PhD student George Gordon Physics; Professor Gillian Griffiths of algae as a model organism to study (Department of Engineering) won the Cambridge Institute for Medical biological fluid dynamics. Bronze in the SET for Britain competition Research and Professor Maria Grazia Professor Griffiths has made key in the House of Commons for his poster Spillantini of the Department of contributions to both cell biology and on increasing the data capacity of Clinical Neurosciences. immunology, introducing important optical fibres. “It was an honour in itself Professor Crowcroft has made new concepts into both fields. Her to have been invited to present a poster, seminal contributions to the work has been described as “elegant so to be awarded a prize was truly development of the internet, including and insightful”. something special,” said Gordon. standards for video and voice Professor Gillian Griffiths Professor Spillantini has made major “The greatest benefit of the day in over IP networks and satellite link contributions to our understanding my opinion was being able to share this techniques that paved the way for rural of neurodegenerative diseases. Her work with the UK’s top researchers, hear broadband. identification of alpha-synuclein in their opinions and also to discuss their Professor Gilmore’s research is Lewy bodies of Parkinson’s disease research, much of which was new to me.” largely related to Stellar populations, has opened up new areas of research which he says “are a great way to find and she has identified one of the first Do you have an award that you would like what matter really is, and where it is”. mutations in the Tau gene as a cause of publicising in the Newsletter? Email details A pioneer of using spectral surveys to Professor Maria Spillantini a form of dementia. to [email protected]

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SUMMER 2013 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 15 the pitt building … a conference centre of distinction in central Cambridge

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