Vlume Vlume oo 22 22 N Noo 1 1 | |M Michaelmasichaelmas 2009 2009 Oxford Today The Universi t y M a g a z i n e

Which way forward? The superhumans debate intensifies

How to keep your head in a crisis Denis Healey, Nigel Lawson

Sharpening up a satirist Ian Hislop on life before Private Eye

Spin-offs pay off Taking research to market From the Office of the Vice-Chancellor Professor Andrew D Hamilton, MA, PhD, FRS

October 2009

Dear Friends and Colleagues

The challenge of the new is always and more widely. So, Oxford may I do not want to end this first letter invigorating; it forces us to see be a new location for me, but it is without paying tribute to the work of and think afresh. Little surprise, by no means an unknown quantity. my predecessor, John Hood. A great then, that as the incoming Vice- I am greatly looking forward both many important and necessary things Chancellor of one of the world’s to continuing my own research here have been achieved in his time here. greatest universities, my strongest and to becoming a closer part of this His own qualities and leadership were sense is a mixture of excitement outstanding scholarly community. a vital part of those achievements. and expectancy. I have a great deal I hope and believe that working I am coming to Oxford at a to learn but what a place to do that together with colleagues throughout challenging moment for the world of learning! the University and across the wider higher education. Great universities Oxford family of which you are part, As I begin that journey, I am delighted like ours cannot expect to be we will build strongly upon them. to have this early opportunity to make significant players in enhancing the contact with you and to share with world’s well-being and to be entirely I also hope that in the months you some initial thoughts about our immune to its travails. There will be and years to come I shall have the University. time and opportunity in the period opportunity to meet many of you ahead for me to discuss the particular personally and to learn more of your One measure of Oxford’s importance challenges that are likely to face us sense of what makes our University is the fact that round the world as a university, locally, nationally and so special now and for the future. it needs no introduction. In globally, in the coming years. But this conversations in recent months in Yours sincerely is not that moment. What I do want to many different countries, as I have state unequivocally now, though, is my prepared to take up this new role, I confidence that Oxford is more than have felt a surge of pleasure and pride capable of meeting the challenges and in the admiration and esteem that indeed that it will do so. Oxford attracts. It is a confidence based upon what Andrew Hamilton Being the oldest university in the I have seen already of the talent English-speaking world probably of my colleagues in every part of helps, but mere longevity would be a the University; of the outstanding pretty flimsy basis for a reputation of quality of our scholarship; of the real, perhaps unequalled, substance. It extraordinary mixture of rich is what we are doing today, and what intellectual diversity, and of unique we aspire to do in the future, that opportunities to weave those diverse must be the true measure of Oxford strands together: opportunities in and its greatness. which our colleges play such an I have had the good fortune to work important part. in several fine universities on both But it is also a confidence based upon sides of the Atlantic and the standards what I have experienced in so many Oxford sets are rightly of the very places, of the loyalty and affection highest. To be part of an institution of the worldwide Oxford family; the and a culture with such expectations Oxford that is located not on a map for and of itself is truly exhilarating. but in tens of thousands of hearts and In one important sense, though, it is minds. These are the bonds that do an excitement with which I am already so much to sustain the University, and familiar. My own academic career as help also, I hope, to sustain your own a lecturer and researcher has brought sense of what is truly of enduring extensive contact with colleagues at value and significance. the University, both in my own field Editor: Greg Neale Designer: Richard Boxall Head of Publications and Web Office: Anne Brunner-Ellis Editorial Assistants: Janet Avison, Martin Harrington, Anthea Oxford Today Milnes, Elizabeth Tatham The Universi t y M a g a z i n e Picture Editor: Joanna Kay Editorial Advisory Board: Michaelmas highlights Alan Bell Anne Brunner-Ellis dden

David Clary, a

13 23 34 M 56 President, Magdalen College flatliner by keith lepor o Paddy Coulter T

Sue Cunningham, benwood/corbis Director of Development Mary Dejevsky, The Independent Zoe Flood Jeremy Harris, Director of Public Affairs Nancy Kenny, Director of Alumni Relations Oliver Rawlins, UK Film Council Richard Repp, Past Chairman, Oxford University Society Gillian Reynolds, Ethics man: this New horizons: taking Caught in conflict: News for you: the The Daily Telegraph way superhumans? research to market a new life in pictures making of an editor Sally Shuttleworth, Head of the Humanities Division Rachel O'Kane, Wiley-Blackwell Editorial enquiries: University News Features Janet Avison Public Affairs Directorate 2 News 13 Woe, Superman? Tel: 01865 280545 Fax: 01865 270178 Charter for world resources; changing Peter Snow talks to Oxford bioethicists about the perils and [email protected] Vice-Chancellors; spin-out successes; prospects of human enhancement. Advances in medical science www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk and what Oxford Today readers want could see health enhanced and some human lives extended – Alumni enquiries, including 10 Appointments and awards but what are the dangers of such developments? change of address: Claire Larkin 27 Science findings 16 Driving down Electric Avenue Alumni Office Georgina Ferry meets the scientist behind a new development Tel: 01865 611610 30 Student scene in electric-powered cars. At a time of increasing concern over [email protected] Oxford journalism: hack to the future? www.alumni.ox.ac.uk climate change and depleting energy reserves, is this the shape University of Oxford 38 The 2009 Alumni Weekend of transport to come? University Offices 43 Sport Wellington Square 19 When war came again Oxford OX1 2JD Scrumdown with the kids A s we mark the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second Advertising enquiries: World War in Europe, Chris Sladen examines its impact on Landmark Publishing Services Oxford, and hears from survivors of the wartime generation – 7 Adam Street Arts and Ideas London WC2N 6AA a period of austerity, grim humour and ingenuity amid Tel: 020 7520 9474 adversity Fax: 020 7520 9475 36 Preview [email protected] A rts, music and exhibitions this term 23 Innovation by the Isis A s the University’s spin-out company reports an increase Publisher: 45 Reviews Wiley-Blackwell in revenues, Michael Gross talks to one of the architects of 9600 Garsington Road New books and music turning academic innovation into commercial opportunities Oxford OX4 2DQ 48 Distractions Tel: 01865 776868 28 The Broad view Fax: 01865 714591 Prize crossword, bridge and chess www.blackwellpublishing.com 49 Poetry 56 My Oxford Printed in Great Britain by Ian Hislop, Editor of Private Eye, on a student career that Headley Brothers Ltd, Kent sharpened a satirist’s skills issn 0954–1306 Oxonian Extra Oxford Today is published in VOLUME VOLUME 22 22 NO NO 1 1 | |MICHAELMAS MICHAELMAS 2009 2009 February, June and October. It COVER PICTURE Oxford Today is free to Oxford graduates and 32 Oxonians at large THE UNIVERSITY MAGAZINE is available to non-graduates R unning the economy; photographing on subscription. For further Change of direction: it is an jameswhitaker war; bringing faiths together – Which way information and to subscribe Oxford tradition to find new forward? Oxonians at work around the world The superhumans online, please visit debate intensifi es www.blackwellpublishing.com/oxto uses for old buildings. This 40 Oxford University Society How to keep and click on ‘Subscribe/Renew’ your head weathercock sits atop the former in a crisis (see page 53 for further details). Working with, and for, a new generation Denis Healey, Indian Institute, at the corner of Nigel Lawson © The Chancellor, Masters and of students; events, travel programme Sharpening Scholars of the University of Catte Street and Holywell Street, up a satirist 51 Obituaries Ian Hislop on Oxford which is now home to the History life before Private Eye The opinions expressed in 54 Letters Faculty Library and the James Spin-offs Oxford Today are those of Secondary education and Oxford pay off Martin 21st Century School. Taking research the contributors, and are not admission; college histories; Oscar to market necessarily shared by the University of Oxford. Wilde’s reading habits; climate change Advertisements are carefully vetted, but the University can take no responsibility for them. O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 1 TOCK S

APHIC R G O E G News ATIONAL N / N Charter aims to lift MICHAEL ichols ews ‘resource curse’

N A n international charter aimed at helping the world’s developing nations benefit from their natural resources has been launched by a high-profile group of economists, lawyers and political scientists, including several leading Oxford academics. Natural resources can be a mixed blessing. In countries such as Sierra Leone, Gabon and Nigeria, vast oil or University University mineral wealth has failed to translate into economic and social well-being for Miners digging for gold in Gabon. Developing countries often fail to translate potential the majority of the population. These wealth from natural resources into economic well-being for a majority of their citizens countries have fallen victim to the so- called ‘resource curse’, their resources of volatility, and ensuring that decisions Britain’s Department for International fostering political instability, social about natural resources are easily Development (DFID) gave it formal conflict and environmental damage, available to the public. ‘Governments support in the White Paper ‘Eliminating instead of generating prosperity for future have to be held to account, which requires World Poverty’. generations. information to be publicly available’, said Other contributors include Paul The NaturalR esource Charter sets Tony Venables, BP Professor of Economics Collier, Professor of Economics at Oxford out to tackle this problem. It comprises and Director of the recently formed Oxford and Director of the Centre for the a 12-point plan, offering guidance on Centre for the Analysis of Resource Rich Study of African Economies; Jim Cust, the core decisions that governments in Economics, one of the contributors. Coordinating Author, Department of resource-rich countries face. To generate maximum impact, the Economics; Michael Spence, winner of The charter’s recommendations charter will be presented at the World the Nobel Prize in Economics, and Karin include: using competition to ensure Bank–IMF annual meetings this autumn, Lissakers, Director of the Revenue Watch that governments secure the maximum as well as a range of other conferences. It Institute in Washington DC. value; managing revenues to take account received a welcome boost in June when www.naturalresourcecharter.org

New degree aims Oxford forum hears climate warning at creating Al Gore, former Vice-President of the recreating wildlife habitats to lure back sustainable cities United States, and Professor Sir David tourists. ‘Not only government officials, but King, Director of Oxford’s Smith School the population at large, have to buy into Oxford’s Department for Continuing of Enterprise and the Environment and the reality that the environment is a critical Education and The Prince’s Foundation former UK Government Chief Scientific element for their subsistence, and that they for the Built Environment are Advisor, were among the speakers at the have a stake in conservation’, Kagame said. collaborating to create a new part-time first Times/Smith School World Forum on President Nasheed, whose country master’s degree course in Sustainable Enterprise and the Environment, held at is seriously threatened by sea level rise, Urban Development, starting next Keble College in July 2009. announced plans earlier this year to make September. The aim of the event, which attracted his country carbon-neutral within 10 The programme is designed for more than 200 business leaders, academics years. He said: ‘We face a very challenging early- and mid-career professionals in and politicians, was to find ways of future. Another 2°C rise and we will not be the fields of development, sustainability, converting the world’s economies from here. Climate change is not necessarily just architecture, engineering, surveying high to low carbon, to slow the rate an environmental or scientific issue. It’s a and planning. It will help participants to of climate change and halt runaway security issue and human rights issue.’ understand the causes and consequences temperature rises. Gore said that the US, Sir David hailed the World Forum of urban growth and decline, as well led by Barack Obama, had now taken its a triumph and said Mr Gore had left as looking at alternative approaches first steps towards tackling climate change. delegates ‘totally energised’. He added: ‘One to urban development. Two-thirds of President Kagame of Rwanda and of the most important things to emerge the world’s population will live in cities President Mohamed Nasheed of the from the World Forum was that the in 50 years’ time, according to a 2007 Maldives also spoke at the event. President technological solutions we need are already projection by the UN Population Fund. Kagame described the work being done in there. The business world realises that our The Prince of Wales presided over his country to restore forests and wetlands competitive future depends on companies the signing of a Memorandum of after the ravages of genocide 15 years ago. that understand that moving to a low- Cooperation in May at Clarence House. Restoration was reducing flooding and carbon econony will give them an edge http://cpd.conted.ox.ac.uk/msud/ improving soil, cutting fossil fuel use and over their competitors.’

2 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Eitoriald Forever changes h P il sayer Another new Oxford year begins, and the familiar sights unfold. New students and staff arrive – this year accompanied by a new Vice-Chancellor – while others return from summer breaks to resume their work. The changing seasonal colours of Oxford in autumn have a reassuringly timeless quality. But though Oxford may sometimes present an image of serene continuity, this is surely just

the picture postcard view of ancient quads and ews never-ending summers by the river. The truth N is nearer that expressed by Dr John Hood, who completed his term as Vice-Chancellor as this issue of Oxford Today went to press. The history of the University is one of constant adaptation to changing circumstances, he says. ‘Oxford is always changing.’ Oxford Today reflects that process, too. What, though, do Oxford Today readers want from their magazine? This term we have the benefit, in addition to the regular correspondence we enjoy University with our readers, of the results of our online readership survey, conducted last term. Gratifyingly, your responses were encouraging, with 92 per cent of respondents describing the magazine as ‘interesting’, ‘high quality’ and ‘enjoyable’. But there were those who feel the magazine is not particularly independent in its outlook, and some 10 per cent feel that it should be ‘less formal’, ‘more interesting’ and ‘controversial’, Professor Hamilton: ‘The opportunity to serve is both inspiring and energising’ among suggested changes. News about the University remains the most popular section of the magazine, followed by the Transatlantic crossing as Andrew Hamilton longer features. The biggest change from previous surveys, which have used paper questionnaires, is succeeds John Hood as Vice-Chancellor in the use that Oxford Today readers make of the internet. Most readers – 85.9 per cent – want to Professor Andrew Hamilton was set to the introduction of the ongoing Oxford continue to receive their magazine in its traditional, be admitted as Vice-Chancellor of the Thinking campaign, which has already printed format, but there is an increasing appetite University as this issue of Oxford Today raised more than £750 million towards for more information and other services online. went to press, succeeding Dr John Hood. the University’s future development. Dr That appetite reflects changing times: based Professor Hamilton was previously Hood said: ‘I’ll miss working with the on our survey, 93 per cent of readers own a Provost of Yale University, and had taught extraordinarily talented staff and students mobile telephone, 76.7 per cent a laptop computer. in US colleges since the early 1980s. of the University.’ Commenting on his Traditional sources of information, entertainment In an introductory letter as Vice- term of office, he added: ‘When you and recreation remain, however, with books being Chancellor, to friends of the University read the history of this University, it’s a cited as a main interest (80.2 per cent), followed (see inside front cover of Oxford Today), history of constant adaptation to changing by music (58.7 per cent) and travel (54.5 per cent). Professor Hamilton writes: 'I am coming circumstances. The last five years has just And the increasingly internationalist outlook of the to Oxford at a challenging moment for been a continuation of that evolution. I University is reflected in the distribution of Oxford the world of higher education. Great don’t think you can ever sit back and men and women in every part of the globe. universities like ours cannot expect to say “Oxford’s changed”. Oxford is always How does Oxford Today respond to these be significant players in the making of changing.’ changes? First, we can assure readers that there is

the world's well-being and to be entirely s e no intention to move away from a printed format. g

immune from its travails. There will be d u

J But we will be looking at how we can use our time and opportunity in the period ahead b o

R website to bring you more information, regularly for me to discuss the particular challenges updated, and involve readers in new ways. Both that are likely to face us as a university, in print and online, we will continue to present as locally, nationally, and globally, in the objective and independent a picture as is possible of coming years. But this is not that moment. Oxford, its diversity and its achievements. What I want to state unequivocally now, Some changes are forced upon us. Increasing though, is my confidence that Oxford distribution costs, together with fluctuations in the is more than capable of meeting the price of paper and energy, have forced us to reduce challenges and indeed that it will do so.' the size of this issue from 64 pages to 56. I hope, Dr Hood, who was the first Vice- though, that our contents are as stimulating as ever. Chancellor in Oxford’s history to be We appreciate your thoughts and suggestions appointed from outside the University, is for the magazine’s development as a reliable, to become president and chief executive independently edited source of news and opinion of the Robertson Foundation, a New from Oxford and its growing international York-based charity. During his five years community. as Vice-Chancellor, Dr Hood oversaw New York-bound: Dr John Hood Greg Neale, Editor, Oxford Today

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 3 THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD SHOP CHRISTMAS SHOPPING Christmas Gifts & Exclusive Alumni Products from The University’s Official Shop All products 10% cheaper online than in store*

Alumni Watch: Men’s: £410, Women’s: £390

Alumni Business Card Case: £25.00 Red Logo Silk Scarf: £42.00 Alumni Silk Tie: £39.95

Oxford Italian Luggage: From £50.00 Silver Charm Bracelet: £78.40 Pewter Hip Flask: £29.12

Bodleian Map Jigsaw: £10.72 Crystal Whisky Glass: £35.00 Conway Stewart Pen: £357.23 106 HIGH STREET www.oushop.com Tel: 01865 247414 OXFORD OX1 4BW *excludes sale shop Register online at www.oushop.com/alumni to save a further 10% & access exclusive Alumni products

Michaelmas09.indd 1 15/09/2009 09:30:13 THE UNIVERSITY OF N E W S I N B R I E F

OXFORD SHOP adrian brooks University tops four tables Oxford has been placed first in all four rankings CHRISTMAS SHOPPING guides to British universities published annually Christmas Gifts & Exclusive Alumni Products from The University’s Official Shop by leading national newspapers – the first time All products 10% cheaper online than in store* this has been achieved. The latest, in the Sunday Times, named Oxford as the 'University of the Year'. Oxford has also headed rankings published

by The Times, The Guardian, and The Independent. ews

Criteria assessed included staff-student ratios, N graduate employment, teaching quality and student satisfaction. Oxford has also come top in the RAE (Research Assessment Exercise) funding table, receiving £118.9 million for 2009-10. £1m gift for China Centre St Hugh’s College has received a gift of £1 million towards the building of a new University of University University Oxford China Centre from an individual based in Hong Kong. The new building will be built on the 14½-acre site at St Hugh’s College and will bring together academics working on a range of research interests. The total cost of the new building will be £20 million, £2 million of which has already been raised this financial year. Major Sumner, an elder of the Australian Ngarrindjeri people, performing one of the smoking ceremonies held in Oxford in May, when three sets of Ngarrindjeri remains – Award for composer Alumni Watch: Men’s: £410, Women’s: £390 skulls and lower jaws – which had been held in the University Museum of Natural History The composer and broadcaster Howard Goodall, since the 19th century were repatriated. Their return had been requested by the Australian an alumnus of Christ Church, has won the government. ‘Our belief is that when our people’s remains are not with their people and in Composer of the Year title in this year’s BPI our country, then their spirit is wandering’, Major Sumner said. Classical Brit Awards for his work Eternal Light: A Requiem. The EMI recording features soloists Natasha Marsh, Alfie Boe and Christopher Spin-outs pay off as technology Maltman, together with Christ Church Cathedral Choir and London Musici. Conducted by the transfer revenues increase choir’s director, Stephen Darlington, it headed the Isis Innovation, the University’s Report. ‘Many companies are moving to a classical charts for several weeks. technology transfer company, increased more outsourced model and use academic Conservation diploma Alumni Business Card Case: £25.00 Red Logo Silk Scarf: £42.00 Alumni Silk Tie: £39.95 its revenue to £5.6 million in the recent experts to provide guidance and input’, financial year, up from £4.7 million in said Hockaday. A new Postgraduate Diploma in International the previous year. Some £2.9 million was The company’s third division, Isis Wildlife Conservation Practice at Oxford is helping given back to the University to support its Enterprise, provided increased technology developing countries to protect endangered core activities. transfer training and innovation wildlife species. The eight-month diploma, Isis saw growth in all management advice to launched in May, is a joint venture between three of its business divisions. organisations across four Oxford's Department for Continuing Education ‘The opportunities for business continents. The group and WildCRU (the Wildlife Conservation Research to capitalise on University also set up in Singapore Unit), part of the Department of Zoology. technologies have never been to provide mentoring and A donation from Dr and Mrs Thomas Kaplan, greater’, said managing director Tom management expertise to companies in founders of the Panthera Foundation, has enabled Hockaday. the Asia Pacific Region. the programme to be developed. The gift will also Oxford Italian Luggage: From £50.00 Silver Charm Bracelet: £78.40 Pewter Hip Flask: £29.12 In the technology transfer During the year, Isis Innovation set up allow WildCRU to offer fully funded scholarships division, the company struck 69 four new spin-out companies and filed 64 for conservationists from developing countries. deals with organisations to develop new patent applications protecting Oxford www.wildcru.org Oxford technologies. These included inventions, bringing the total number of a licence to the newly formed Oxford- patents Isis manages to 400. Art blossoms in the Garden Emergent Tuberculosis Consortium to The company’s success is continuing The University Botanic Garden has been awarded commercialise a new, more effective into the current financial year, despite a grant of £50,000 by the Calouste Gulbenkian vaccine for TB. The vaccine entered Phase the recession. Over the last three Foundation to fund a reciprocal artist-in- IIb clinical trials in April 2009. months, Isis has marketed over 20 residence project between Oxford and Lisbon. Another division of Isis, Oxford new Oxford technologies to industry The Botanic Garden will host Portuguese artist University Consulting, saw a 50 per cent in areas including DNA sequencing, Gabriela Albergaria for a year, during which she rise in the number of consulting contracts communications security, stem cell will work in association with the Ruskin School of Bodleian Map Jigsaw: £10.72 Crystal Whisky Glass: £35.00 Conway Stewart Pen: £357.23 it arranged, enabling Oxford academics cryopreservation, health outcomes Drawing and Fine Art. In Portugal, British artist to offer their expertise to industry and the questionnaires, solar cells, microwave 106 HIGH STREET Rob Kesseler, a former artist-in-residence at the Tel: 01865 247414 public sector. These included contracts for amplifiers and a new malaria vaccine. Garden, will be based at the Instituto Gulbenkian www.oushop.com www.isis-innovation.com/news/newsletter OXFORD OX1 4BW *excludes sale shop academics involved in the development de Ciência in Lisbon. of the latest UN Human Development Innovation by the Isis, page 23 Register online at www.oushop.com/alumni to save a further 10% & access exclusive Alumni products

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 5

Michaelmas09.indd 1 15/09/2009 09:30:13

News S E G MA I International TTY E G internships help / B students prepare for world of work PAULA ronstein ews

A new international internships scheme N involving alumni has been launched to help Oxford students become even more competitive in the worsening job market. Graduates leaving university in 2009 Young girls at the Jamia Hafsa madrasa in Islamabad are facing the toughest competition for jobs in decades. A report by the Association of Graduate Recruiters in June suggested £400,000 fellowship funds new study that there are an average of 48 candidates University University chasing every vacancy. into the rise of Islamic girls’ schools Despite this, Jonathan Black, Director D r Masooda Bano, a postdoctoral fellow at militants and the Pakistani state in 2007. of the University’s Careers Service, remains Queen Elizabeth House, has been awarded Dr Bano already has support from the upbeat about prospects for graduates. a three-year ‘Ideas and Beliefs Fellowship’, Department for International Development Alongside organising the usual skills worth more than £400,000, by the Economic (DFID) to study a similar phenomenon in workshops and recruiter events, his focus and Social Research Council to study the Nigeria, and backing from the John Fell Fund over the past year has been to encourage growth of female madrasas – Islamic schools for a project in Syria, enabling her to consider undergraduates to get on-the-job experience. for young women. the role of female madrasas comparatively. ‘Giving our students something they can put The madrasas of Pakistan, particularly She will look at why female madrasas are on their CVs is just as important as getting those in the North-West Frontier Province, gaining ground, teaching conservative them to come to a careers fair’, Black said. have been the object of attention for their religious values and orthodox conceptions Under the new International Internships alleged role in fostering extremism among of women’s roles, at a time when state and Programme, Oxford alumni offer summer young men. Statistics suggest the influence development agencies have been promoting placements to current students. Thirty- of female madrasas is also growing, with liberal ideas on gender roles. ‘A close study nine internships were offered this year, in nearly 236,000 girls now studying at almost of the demand for female madrasas and their organisations ranging from the Vermilion 2,000 religious schools across the country. working, combined with in-depth analysis of Partners, a financial services firm focusing Dr Bano’s research will include a study processes of radicalisation as witnessed in the on China, to Tradewind Books, a children’s of Jamia Hafsa, the madrasa attached to case of Jamia Hafsa, provides an opportunity publishing house in Vancouver. the Lal Masjid (Red Mosque) in Islamabad, to understand the factors that lead to the Laura Jackson, who is studying PPE which was the site of a stand-off between radicalisation of a society’, she says. at Corpus Christi, recently completed an internship at Disney, one of the world’s biggest entertainment companies. ‘During a How red ants brought back the blue butterfly typical day you can expect to be delivering tapes to producers, work with editors, attend A 40-year research effort led by an Oxford everything, including their behaviour, how voice-over sessions, carry out research scientist has resulted in the successful many eggs they laid, the survival of individual for content and assist the production reintroduction of the large blue butterfly eggs, how many caterpillars were in the coordinators with forthcoming projects’, she (Maculinea arion) to the United Kingdom. plants’, he recalled. enthused. ‘Each day is really different.’ Ecologists led by Professor Jeremy Thomas Thomas compiled tables showing the Alumni who can offer internships can go to marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of number of new eggs and those that survived www.careers.ox.ac.uk/internships

. brary

the initial reintroduction of the butterfly each year from 1972 to 1977. These tables i L ■ In another new scheme, the Oxford by publishing a report on the project in the were published for the first time in the cture i

Student Consultancy programme, groups of journal Science. Science study. ‘We are confident this will help P The disappearance of the large blue those attempting to bring other species back

students offer their services for free to small ture a N and medium-sized enterprises, charities butterfly in the late 1970s was originally from the brink’, he said. / g and community organisations in the Oxford attributed to insect collectors – but There are now tens of thousands of large i area. They gain work experience and a Thomas and his colleagues discovered that blue butterflies on specially created sites T a chance to contribute to the community, it was suffering because of the decline in across the south-west of England. It is one of D vid plin while sponsors gain an innovative, outside a species of red ant (Myrmica sabuleti), just three UK butterflies on course perspective. which nurtured large blue caterpillars in its to meet the Convention ■ The University Careers Service underground nests. The grassland in which of Biological is committed to supporting alumni the ants lived became overgrown as a result Diversity’s throughout their careers. Two-and-a-half of changes in grazing and the wild rabbit target to thousand graduates have already signed up population, so soil temperature dropped, reverse species’ to the University’s new online system as job and the number of red ants diminished. declines by 2010. seekers. Alumni can also offer help to those Thomas’s fieldwork in the 1970s was seeking jobs, by signing up to the Oxford critical. ‘From May to late September, I was Careers Network as mentors, advisors or living with the last UK colony, measuring The large blue butterfly potential employers (www.careers.ox.ac.uk).

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 7 News s e g d u J Pleased to meet you: ROB Newcomers’ Club marks its jubilee

In 1958 Professor Michael Argyle, on sabbatical leave in the United States, ews published a letter in the Oxford Magazine,

N claiming that some scholars from abroad were refusing invitations to Oxford because of the chilly reception they and their wives received. Lady Wheare, wife of the Rector of Exeter College, took up the challenge, gathered a small committee and, the following year, started the Oxford University Newcomers’ Club. This June the Newcomers’ Club University University celebrated its golden jubilee at a reception at Rhodes House attended by some 140 people, including Lady Wheare. For 50 years, the club, run by volunteers, has welcomed to Oxford the wives, husbands or partners of newly appointed academics, visiting scholars and graduate students. The club, which found its first home in two rooms in Museum Road, has since Lecture, books and music mark Berlin centenary moved via Keble Road and Norham Gardens to its present accommodation in the Oxford has been celebrating the centenary took place as far afield as ENKINS J University Club in Mansfield Road. centenary of the birth of Sir Toronto, Madrid, Potsdam, Riga Dr Jennie Turner, Social Secretary of the Isaiah Berlin, one of the and Jerusalem. most prominent of its In his work, Berlin club, said: ‘The remit of the club has always STEPHANIE remained the same – to ensure that newly 20th-century thinkers, argues that values and arrived members feel welcome in Oxford with a series of events cultures are irreducibly and enjoy their stay. Last academic year we and publications plural, and that this welcomed about 140 new Newcomers, from stressing his continuing pluralism requires us to 37 different countries.’ importance. be deeply tolerant. The The focal point of the club is the Berlin, a philosopher, distinction he made between Wednesday coffee morning during each historian of ideas and positive and negative liberty University term, but other events include political theorist, spent – ‘freedom to’ and ‘freedom guided tours of the Bodleian Library and his early years in Riga and from’ – still provides the starting the Ashmolean Museum, as well as walking St Petersburg (then Petrograd), point for discussions about political tours of Oxford and visits to other major where his formative experiences included freedom. Dr Henry Hardy of Wolfson College, attractions. witnessing both the Russian Revolutions of who edits Berlin’s work, said: ‘In my view, his Newcomers with children meet again on 1917. His family moved to Britain in 1921, ideas are ever more relevant. Globalisation a Friday morning. An informal conversation and Berlin went to St Paul’s School before and population movement make questions of group, a book group and an art group are also studying Greats and PPE at Corpus Christi multiculturalism and tolerance central to our very popular. College. He was the first Jew to be elected to time.’ In their turn, Newcomers’ Club members a Prize Fellowship at All Souls and went on Dr Hardy and Oxford alumna Jennifer have helped to arrange such events as to become Chichele Professor of Social and Holmes have co-edited a second volume of international dinners. Japanese members, Political Thought and founding President of Berlin’s letters, Enlightening: Letters 1946–1960 for example, have organised special tea Wolfson College. Berlin died in 1997 and is (Chatto and Windus). The letters reveal ceremonies. Other social occasions include buried in Wolvercote cemetery. Berlin’s sharp observations on the events of fund-raising events such as the Christmas On the day of the centenary, 6 June, the post-war years and on the politicians Fair, and the sale of home-made marmalade. Wolfson’s annual Isaiah Berlin Lecture, who shaped them, many of whom he knew The University gives the Newcomers’ amalgamated for the occasion with the personally. Dr Hardy has also edited The Book Club a grant each year. ‘The ethos of this British Academy equivalent, was given by of Isaiah: Personal Impressions of Isaiah Berlin is that if the spouse of the person working Dr James Billington, Librarian of Congress. (Boydell Press), a collection of memoirs by for the University is happy and contented, As part of the same celebration at Wolfson, those who knew Berlin or were influenced then that allows the person employed by Murray Perahia gave a piano recital (Berlin by him. In addition, Wolfson College the University to concentrate on their work was a lifelong music lover) and an exhibition commissioned a compilation of quotations more effectively’, Dr Turner explained. www. entitled Images of Isaiah was mounted. Other from letters and extracts from recollections oxforduniversity.newcomersclub.googlepages.com commemorative activities included a seminar about Berlin’s Wolfson years, Isaiah Berlin and on Berlin’s thought, held at All Souls, and the Wolfson College. unveiling of a blue plaque outside Berlin’s former home, Headington House, by two of A selection of Berlin’s lectures and broadcasts is available his stepsons, to mark the four decades he spent online, both on the Oxford University website and on there. Outside Oxford, events inspired by the Oxford’s iTunesU channel

8 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 News

Wraps come off as Ashmolean prepares for its reopening Oxford Today photographer Rob Judges was on hand as staff at the Ashmolean Museum set about unpacking some of ews the museum’s treasures in advance of its reopening in November after a £61-million N redevelopment programme. Among the paintings in the new Art of The Netherlands Gallery are (left) A View over Flat Country, by Philips Koninck (1619–88), and (right) Portrait of Sir Dudley Carleton, by Michiel van Mierevelt

(1567–1641). The Stone Nandi, the Bull University of Shiva (centre), sculpted in southern India around 1600, is one of the attractions in the new Asian Crossroads Gallery.

SePeviewe r , page 36:

‘Audio tours’ added to new digital aids for applicants Summer school places set to double The University has launched a range of digital but other tours are planned and under JENKINS recruitment tools designed to help internet- development. Oxford summer school places are set to savvy prospective students find out more This summer, the University also launched double by 2014. The new UNIQ Summer about the reality of studying at Oxford. a Twitter stream for those wishing to follow

STEPHANIE Schools will give high-performing state A series of audio admissions tours is Oxford news, comments and events. Early school and college students at the end of their being developed for downloading from the tweets covered celebrations to mark the first first year of A-level studies the chance to University website on to MP3 players. The Apollo moon landing and research findings spend a week experiencing life at Oxford. tours, which take 60–90 minutes, enable about the importance of fathers in teenage Five hundred places will be available in students to follow different routes around girls’ lives, published on Fathers’ Day. The 2010, rising to 1,000 places by 2014, thanks to Oxford according to the subject area they stream joins those from the Environmental a donation from the Helsington Foundation. are interested in. They take in colleges, Change Institute, the Saïd Business School, Selection will be based on academic departments and central locations while the James Martin 21st Century School, and attainment, the context in which this was telling listeners more about the University and others. Oxford’s Facebook page has already achieved, and the student’s passion and drive the admissions process. signed up over 14,000 users. for his or her chosen subject. The scheme will Currently, the only tours available follow (www.facebook.com/the.university.of.oxford) particularly target schools and colleges where living sciences and physical sciences routes, (www.twitter.com/uniofoxford) students are achieving Oxford-level entrance grades but are not applying to the University. The University is seeking alumni to talk at Bust of Persian poet celebrates college links to Iran the UNIQ Summer School in July 2010 about their time at Oxford and the opportunities it e

g A s Wadham College prepares to celebrate A cademy and one of the first co-founders led to. If you are interested, please register via lle

o the 400th anniversary of its foundation next of the British Institute of Persian Studies, www.careers. C the Oxford Career Network at year, a bust of the Persian poet Abu-l-Qasim welcomed a donation to construct the building ox.ac.uk/alumni/ocn. dham

a Ferdowsi has been unveiled in the college of the new library in the college, where the W library. The gift of the bust celebrates not emphasis would be given to Persian Studies. rson, a

C only Wadham’s strong cultural links with Iran Making history of the OED but also the 1000th anniversary in 2010 of ■ Wadham has launched a competition for The Historical Thesaurus of the Oxford English

o Firdousi’s epic work, Shahnameh (The composers as part of its 400th anniversary C rnelia Book of Kings), possibly the longest celebrations next year. A prize of Dictionary, said to be the world’s first such poem written by a single author. £500 is being offered for the best publishing project, is published this autumn. The bust, by the UK-based hymn setting of the poem, ‘In The thesaurus, the work of academics at the Iranian sculptor Mehran Ghahari, Wadham Chapel’, by the Norwegian University of Glasgow, and 40 years in the was unveiled by the Iranian playwright (and Wadham scholar) making, not only groups nearly every word ambassador to the UK, Rasoul Nordahl Grieg. Details of the in the 20-volume Oxford English Dictionary Movahedian. competition can be obtained from with other words of similar meaning, but Wadham has enjoyed a special the Director of Music, Wadham also organises the words within each of the link with Iran since the end College, Oxford OX1 3PN, 236,000 plus categories, with the oldest words of the 1960s, when the or at www.wadham.ox.ac.uk/ first, and those that have entered the language then Warden, Sir Maurice alumni. The closing date for most recently shown last. Bowra, President of the British entries is 22 January.

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 9 A ppointments and awards

New appointments Abrahamic Religions /

oto Guy Stroumsa, Martin Buber F op

T UPP Professor of Comparative Religion at xtra Principal of Somerville the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, E Alice Prochaska, Librarian of Yale University, niversity U has been elected Principal of Somerville Israel, was appointed Professor of the ale Y College with effect from 1 September 2010. Study of Abrahamic Religions with Dr Prochaska studied at Somerville College effect from1 October. He became a and received her undergraduate degree and Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall. DPhil in Modern History from Oxford. She trained and worked as an archivist at the Michael Frayn Operations Management

Oxonian Oxonian National Archives of the United Kingdom David Upton, Albert J Weatherhead

and had an increasingly high-ranking career ondon III Professor of Business as archivist and librarian in the UK before Administration at Harvard Business being appointed head of Yale University School, has been appointed American Standard Companies Professor of

Libraries in 2001. L LIBRARY, COME Operations Management at the Saïd WELL Business School with effect from 4 Professor of Musculoskeletal Differential Equations January 2010. Sciences and a Fellow of St Gui-Qiang Chen, Professor of Catherine’s College with effect Mathematics at Northwestern Visiting from 1 July. Fiona Powrie University, USA, Visiting Chair professorships Professor of Mathematics at Fudan Gastroenterology University, PRC, and Visiting Contemporary Theatre Professor in the Centre for Advanced Fiona Powrie, Professor of The playwright Michael Frayn has Study, Norwegian Academy of Immunology and Wellcome Trust been appointed Cameron Mackintosh Science and Letters, was appointed funded Senior Research Fellow in Visiting Professor of Contemporary Professor in the Analysis of Partial Basic Biomedical Science at Oxford, Theatre, based at St Catherine’s Differential Equations with effect was appointed Sidney Truelove College. He will succeed the actor and from 10 August. Professor Chen is a Professor of Gastroenterology in director Kevin Spacey in October. Fellow of Keble College. the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine with effect from 1 October. Carol Robinson Broadcast Media Professor Powrie became a Fellow of Mathematical Modelling Stephen Garret, joint managing Green Templeton College. Alain Goriely, Professor in the director of Kudos Film and Television, Department of Mathematics at the Islamic Studies the makers of Spooks, Hustle and Life University of Arizona, Tucson, USA, on Mars, has been appointed News has been appointed Professor of Tariq Ramadan, Research Fellow International Visiting Professor of Mathematical Modelling with effect at St Antony’s College, at the Broadcast Media and a Fellow of from 4 January 2010. Professor Lokahi Foundation, London and Green Templeton College for the Goriely will be a Fellow of St at Doshisha University in Kyoto, academic year 2009–10. Catherine’s College. Japan, and Visiting Professor at Erasmus University, Rotterdam, was Guy Stroumsa Control Engineering appointed His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani David Limebeer, Professor in Professor of Contemporary Vice-Chancellor’s Circle Control Engineering and Head, Islamic Studies with effect from Trinity term saw the inaugural meeting of the Vice- Department of Electrical and 1 October. Professor Ramadan Chancellor’s Circle, which recognises the support of many Electronic Engineering, Imperial will be associated with St Antony’s donors to the collegiate University. Launched by the outgoing College, London, was appointed College. Vice-Chancellor, Dr John Hood, the celebrations included a Professor of Control Engineering reception and debate over dinner, ‘Poetry is Beautiful, but and became a Fellow of New College Chemistry Science is What Matters’, led by a panel of Oxonian speakers. with effect from 1 October. Carol Robinson, Professor of Mass Speaking for the motion were Professor David Warrell and Musculoskeletal Spectrometry at the University Professor Irene Tracey; against were Professor John Carey of Cambridge and Royal Society and Mr Michael Symmons Roberts. The debate was chaired Sciences Research Professor, took up the by Geoffrey Robertson QC, with comments provided by Sir Udo Oppermann, Professor in post of Royal Society Professor in Simon Jenkins. Molecular Biology, Principal the Department of Chemistry with The Vice-Chancellor’s Circle has 100 founding members, Investigator: Dehydrogenases and effect from 1 October. She holds including University and college donors, individuals, trusts, Metabolism, Structural Genomics this position concurrently with the foundations and corporate organisations. For more information, Consortium, Botnar Research Dr Lee’s Professorship of Chemistry. please contact Andrea Roger on 01865 611524 or Centre and University Research Professor Robinson is a Fellow of [email protected]. Lecturer at Oxford, was appointed Exeter College.

10 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Appointments and awards

Queen’s Birthday Honours British Academy Fellows David Womersley, Thomas Warton Professor of English Literature and F our Oxford academics were recognised in The British Academy has elected seven Fellow of St Catherine’s College. the Queen’s Birthday Honours list: academics from the University as new In addition, Professor Sir Adam Roberts, Fellows: Ian Brownlie, Chichele Professor Emeritus of Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public International Law, Fellow of All Souls William Beinart, Rhodes Professor of Race International Studies within the Department College, and former member and chairman of Relations and Professorial Fellow, St Antony’s of Politics and International Relations and an the UN International Law Commission, was College. Emeritus Fellow of Balliol College, took up xtra knighted for services to public international law. the position of British Academy President.

Robin Briggs, Senior Research Fellow, E David Hendry, Professor of Economics and All Souls College. Fellow of Nuffield College, was knighted for Jean Dunbabin, Senior Research Fellow, Royal Society Fellows services to social science. St Anne’s College. Three researchers have recently been elected Christopher Ricks, Professor of Poetry 2004– Malcolm Godden, Rawlinson and Bosworth Fellows of the Royal Society: 9, Fellow of Balliol College and Professor of Professor of Anglo-Saxon and Fellow of the Humanities, Boston University, received a Nicholas Harberd, Sibthorpian Professor of

Pembroke College. Oxonian knighthood for services to scholarship. Plant Sciences and Fellow of St John’s College. Roger Pearson, Professor of French and Andrew Ashworth, QC, Vinerian Professor Angela McLean, Professor of Mathematical Fellow and Praelector, The Queen’s College. of English Law, Fellow of All Souls and Biology and Senior Research Fellow of All Chairman of the Sentencing Advisory Christopher Pelling, Regius Professor of Souls College. Panel, received a CBE for services to the Greek and Student of Christ Church. Richard Passingham, Professor of Cognitive administration of justice. Neuroscience and Fellow of Wadham College.

ENCAENIA This year’s Encaenia HonoraryD egree Ceremony honoured a poverty campaigner and Other Honorary degrees humanitarian, together with leading figures from the worlds of science and the arts. On 9 May, the Degree of Doctor of Letters was conferred upon Mr Roger Boning, Doctor of Letters Doctor of Science formerly Group Finance Director, Oxford Mr Fazle Hasan Abed, Chairperson and Professor Erwin Hahn, BSc, PhD, DSc, FRS. University Press: ‘An honourable and founder, BRAC (formerly Bangladesh Rural Physicist, Professor Emeritus, University of admirable businessman, a great friend and Advancement Committee); Commissioner, California, Berkeley: ‘Wise investigator of bulwark of this University.’ UN Commission on Legal Empowerment of the nature of things, whose fame the world Also on 9 May, the Degree of Master of the Poor: ‘A tireless defender of the needy, a re-echoes …’ Arts was conferred on Mr Antony Willis, citizen of Bangladesh and the whole world Professor Barry Marshall, AC, MB BS, FRS, Research Technician in the Department …’ FRACP. Professor of Clinical Microbiology, of Biochemistry, latterly in the MRC Dr Santiago Calatrava Valls, Dipl Architect, University of Western Australia: ‘An Immunochemistry Unit: ‘An expert Dipl Engineer, Hon Fellow, RIBA. exceptional physician … in whom sense and collaborator, a devoted scientific investigator.’ A rchitect and structural engineer: courage have been uniquely combined …’ ‘Superlative architect, in whose works On 23 May, the Degree of Doctor of Letters function and beauty are conjoined …’ Doctor of Music was conferred on Ms Susan Reece, formerly Mr Philip Pullman, CBE, MA, FRSL. Prize- Dame Mitsuko Uchida, Classical pianist: Managing Director, International Division, winning author: ‘A most skilful weaver of ‘Enchanting mistress of the keyboard, whose Oxford University Press: ‘A masterly tales … for whose imagination one world fingers reveal both the beauty and the publisher, a great friend and support to this has not sufficed …’ profundity of musical compositions …’ University.’ On 18 July, the Degree of Doctor of Letters udges was conferred on Darcey Bussell, CBE, J ob

R formerly Principal Ballerina with the Royal Ballet: ‘Mistress of lovely movement, who have wordlessly touched the hearts of those who have watched you …’ and Natalie Zemon Davis, PhD, FBA, FRHS, FAAAS, Adjunct Professor at the University of Toronto, Professor Emerita of Princeton University, and George Eastman Visiting Professor at Balliol College 1994–5: ‘Learned and perspicacious historian, who have described the lives of ordinary people with a pen as keen as it is elegant …’ Encaenia HonorandS: Mr Fazle Hasan Abed, Dr Santiago Calatrava Valls, Professor Erwin Hahn, Dame Mitsuko Uchida, Professor Barry Marshall and Mr Philip Pullman

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 11 12 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 flatliner

Woe, Superman? Science is opening up the possibilities of significant human enhancement – and provoking a debate on the ethics involved. Peter Snow reports

rtificially engendered humans Fukuyama branded ‘transhumanism’ (the I first heard Savulescu lecture to a group have long been a science fic- radical enhancement of humanity by tech- of businessmen – brewers: purveyors, no less, tion staple ­- from Mary Shel- nological means) ‘the world’s most danger- of that ancient mood enhancer, alcohol – A ley’s Frankenstein to Huxley’s ous idea’. But genetic technologies are only and was impressed by his ability to cut Brave New World and, most recently, Mar- one, if perhaps the most controversial, sector through the fog of assumption to the hard garet Atwood’s Oryx and Crake and Michel on the enhancement front. utilitarian specifics. But could it really be Houellebecq’s The Possibility of an Island - Mood and cognitive enhancers such as that simple? their heroes dehumanised figures depicted Ritalin and Modafinil are now widely used. At the Uehiro Centre Savulescu heads a amid bleak, biotechnologically devastated In sport, sophisticated performance en­-hanc- group of some thirty research associates, landscapes. ers consistently stay one jump ahead of the plus graduate students and international But in the year of Darwin’s bicentenary, detecting authorities. At what is called ‘the visitors. A medic before he turned philoso- science fact presses hard on the heels of sci- mind–machine interface’ there are already pher and recently hailed in a poll as ‘Aus­ ence fiction. Three decades since Louise treatments based on needles inserted into the tralia’s top emerging thinker’, Savulescu Brown, the first ‘test tube baby’, woke to the brains of sufferers from Parkinson’s disease. openly stakes out his position on human world, breakthroughs are now trumpeted In future we may well see genetically engi- enhancement: ‘I’m an enthusiast. To be almost every month. Chinese scientists neered, digital or nano-level implants. human is to strive to be better. We have a recently announced that they had cloned the Beyond these lies the vista of life extension. duty to use our knowledge to achieve worth- first animals from skin cells. Earlier, British ‘There is a significant chance that my own while goals. scientists revealed they had manufactured children will live beyond the age of 120’, says ‘Think of the comparative benefits. Esti- artificial sperm using stem cells from a five- Julian Savulescu, Director of Oxford’s Uehiro mates have been of as much as a 20 per cent day-old male embryo. Centre for Practical Ethics. ‘Thereafter we reduction in poverty and welfare depen- Human enhancement provokes violent could be looking at two- or three-fold dency as a result of relatively minor rises in controversy: the American writer Francis increases in human life spans.’ average IQ across the population.’ He

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 13 Woe, Superman?

emphasises that increases at the lowest IQ Darwin himself, Savulescu points out, levels – below 70 points – could bring the was under no illusion about the imperfec- biggest benefits. tions of nature and the blind mindlessness Perhaps most controversially, Savulescu of its own selection processes. In a letter of favours what he calls ‘procreative beneficence’. 1856 to his friend Hooker he included the At present, screening is limited by the num- comment: ‘What a book a Devil’s Chaplain ber of eggs women normally produce and might write on the clumsy, wasteful, allows scientists to screen only for certain blundering low and horridly cruel works of specific diseases. If scientists could scan a far nature.’ ‘We should be careful’, concludes larger number of embryos, using artificially Savulescu. ‘We should gather sufficient manufactured sperm and eggs, this would evidence and act according to a justifiable set allow couples to choose their ‘perfect child’. of values. But I believe that we can under- ‘I would only be opposed to changes here stand human nature and that we should on safety or very clear and significant public intervene.’ interest grounds’, he says. ‘And this is not But by embracing human enhancement merely about reproduction. Many of these aren’t we ultimately signing our own suicide techniques provide knowledge and generate Nick Bostrom: ‘Man will have been radically note as a species? Savulescu deplores what other valuable technologies. Embryonic transformed by the end of the century’ he calls ‘species-ism’: ‘I do not believe there stem cell research is one example. That arose, is any structural difference between human- in part, because of the ability to artificially But won’t we nevertheless be creating a ism and racism or sexism. It is a club privi- create human embryos. The prize involves ‘genetic divide’ in society, a hostile faultline lege, which gives greater weight to the possibly saving hundreds of thousands of between the enhanced and the unenhanced? interests of the club members and is lives. Since the arguments against stem cell ‘The best way to avoid such a divide is to endorsed by the club members … Humans research, for instance, are so weak I see no make enhancements generally available’, says may become extinct just as Neanderthal reason to stop it.’ Savulescu. ‘Like education, they should be man gradually became extinct. It is charac- Nick Bostrom, an associate of the centre freely provided by the state. There is a paral- teristic of evolution for species to come and and member of Oxford’s James Martin 21st lel with plastic surgery. If the benefits are go, to be replaced by others. There is some- Century School, co-founded the World trivial, leave it to the market; if the benefits thing special about Homo sapiens. But that Transhumanist Association (now known as are central to a good life, provide a basic specialness will continue in posthumans or Humanity Plus or H+) in 1998, sees human level.’ another life form, unless we are annihilated enhancement as potentially valuable in the A third objection could be called the against our will.’ face of the formidable global risks we face: ‘If ‘wisdom of nature’ argument: nature is infi- In place of humanism he would substi- we were smarter we would be better able to nitely complex, and we depart from her at tute ‘personism’. ‘There are candidate prop- anticipate, analyse and devise counter– our peril. ‘Certainly, humans are very com- erties – rationality and the abilities to measures to existential risks’, while conced- plex, finely tuned organisms, and there are cooperate and to empathise – that if these ing that ‘radical forms of human often very good reasons why we are the way other beings possess, then we should treat enhancement can also increase some risks or we are,’ says Savulescu. ‘But that is not to say them no differently than other human create new ones. It is a non-trivial challenge every single component is optimal. Some beings, say, from other cultures or conti- to figure out how this plays out.’ aspects simply had a better chance to repro- nents. And they should treat us with the ‘Enhancers that extend the healthy duce or have just survived.’ same respect.’ human lifespan would be well worth devel- e oping’, he adds. ‘Anti-aging research, in par- g ticular, deserves a much higher priority, robs jud since age-related disease is the most com- mon cause of death globally.’ Ultimately, he predicts ‘our risk of dying in any given year might be like that of someone in their late teens or early twenties. Life expectancy would then be around 1,000 years.’ Objections to human enhancement come from four main directions. The first is that genetic enhancements infringe the rights of those not yet born. Bostrom con- cedes that the issue of reproductive enhance- ment is complicated. ‘There the person is not deciding for themselves, so from a moral or philosophical point of view more questions arise. That said, my view is that increases in cognitive capacity and functioning, if they can be safely brought about, are a good thing and we should try to achieve them. The choice should lie with the parents.’ Julian Savulescu: ‘I’m an optimist. To be human is to strive to be better’

14 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Woe, Superman? ON

If Savulescu and Bostrom are radicals in T like bacteria in Petri dishes). Further in the X A P this debate, a more moderate, gradualist future, she envisages reverse cochlear position is taken by Roger Crisp, Fellow in implants that can not only turn sound into

Philosophy at St Anne’s and also an associate CATHERINE brain waves but also the reverse. Fitted with of the Uehiro Centre. ‘The debate tends to tiny radios, these open up the amazing pos- be very polarised’, he says. ‘I think you need sibility of directly transmitting thought from to specify exactly what is under discussion. brain to brain – a prospect Greenfield says I’m in favour of some enhancements if they she finds ‘scary and exciting in equal mea- are freely available to all as opposed to only sure’. Greenfield outlines four possible sce- a few and if the side-effects aren’t too serious. narios for human identity: our present ‘Others espouse more extreme scenarios selves (‘Someone’); a hedonist deperson- involving, for instance, creating a new spe- alised version (‘No one’); a socially oriented cies. I would not really endorse that position self (‘Anyone’); and ‘Eureka’, an autonomous and would ask two questions. If we spent creative individual. ‘For the first time in money on this would we be doing something human history, the technology is there to morally wrong (like using torture, for enable us to have not just the technological instance)? I incline to think not. Secondly, toolkit but also the space and the time to though, there is the question: is this the most shape a world that creates an environment effective way to achieve the desired goals? Roger Crisp: ‘Philosophy can take you in which all four personas can be developed Probably not, in my view. I think we could down to the intuitive bedrock’ into an integrated portfolio’, she says. To be giving up too easily on the resources that achieve this, she proposes joint action by we have already got. An example of this kind A doctoral student supervised by Crisp, government, media, schools and the elec- of thinking that passes over less ambitious Alexandre Erler, author of a prize-winning tronic products industry to encourage indi- alternatives is the idea that we might come essay entitled ‘Authenticity, Self-creation and vidual creativity, group working and a to terms with environmental change by Self-respect’, also believes that human stronger orientation towards society. S

E enhancement raises ‘legitimate worries’. He At Oxford, as elsewhere, the debate goes G UD J

is particularly concerned that memory on – but do not look for simple solutions.

ROB enhancement and especially memory editing ‘Philosophy does not provide answers’, says could infringe individual authenticity. His Crisp, ‘What it can do is take you down to papers explore a series of human predica- the intuitive bedrock and say: here is the ments: a sexually abused daughter or a con- issue; here are the things you could think centration camp victim wanting to forget the about it; now it’s up to you to decide.’ ‘Issues past, a born-again violent criminal who of practical ethics are best handled by peo- refuses therapy and locks himself away. ple who are not simply specialists in that ‘There are appropriate responses to life field’, he adds. ‘In Oxford we have people events such as mourning’, Erler says. who know about larger questions such as ‘Enhancers might help us to escape the pain the philosophy of mind, etc. And that’s but also disconnect us from the reasons why important, because what questions of practi- we have to feel in a certain way. The hard cal ethics do is bring you quite quickly up way might be the best way.’ against the old standard philosophical ques- Susan Greenfield, Professor of Pharma- tions like what is our nature and what’s the Susan Greenfield: ‘For the first time, the cology at Oxford, has just published a book, world like.’ technology is there’ ID: the Quest for Meaning in the 21st Century, ‘While the terms of this emerging politi- on the challenges technology poses to cal disagreement are still being negotiated,’ adapting our bodies so we can live easier in human identity. Pharmacological enhance- writes Savulescu in Human Enhancement, very hot climates. That strikes me as crazy. ments alarm Professor Greenfield more than which he has just co-edited with Bostrom, ‘Human beings, if faced with a problem, neurological interventions which, being ‘there might be a window of opportunity tend to like exciting solutions. They ignore more elaborate procedures, are more consid- open for academic bioethicists to influence the probabilities of their working out in ered. She stresses the role of whole brain the shape and direction of this debate before unexpected ways, and the dangers. The view interaction: ‘A better brain is not simply one it settles into a fixedly linear ideological tug- of people on the “radical wing” is that this armed with a better memory. You shouldn’t of-war … the job of practical ethics is to could happen, so we’ve got to get it right. But just be trying to be a better computer. There increase the confidence in certain proposi- isn’t it more likely to happen if we develop is a danger that enhancement will become a tions where there is unjustified lack of confi- the technology? It is also important to assess competitive endeavour. But it is not a linear dence. The other job of practical ethics is to the probabilities of success in relation to the arms race. We should be encouraging people introduce uncertainty where we have unjus- size of the investment that you are making. to become better individuals all round.’ tified certainty. And I think we have unjusti- If you have a few million pounds, would it Even so, Greenfield describes a startling fied certainty that we’ll continue to exist as a be better to spend it on cognitive enhance- range of neurological possibilities: devices species in the next hundred years … Our fate ment or, say, Sightsavers International, who enabling paraplegics to activate prosthetic is, to a greater degree than ever before in achieve remarkable results treating eye prob- limbs by thought alone, and marrying brain human history, in our own hands.’ lems in developing countries for very little cells with silicon chips (apparently neurones outlay per person.’ can be very successfully cultured on silicon, Peter Snow is an Oxford-based writer

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 15 FeatureFeature

The era of the internal combustion engine may be almost over: Georgina Ferry meets an engineer who is preparing for a radically different future in transport Driving down E lectric Avenue E

G leave others to think about the source of J energy to drive it. ‘Very efficient vehicles ROB S needud to be as light as possible’, he says. ‘A conventional motor might weigh as much as 200–300 kg. The question was, how could we make it lighter?’ The answer came from advances in materials. Conventional motors have fixed and rotating magnetic components that are made from rolled iron or steel, wound round with copper wire. In contrast, modern soft magnetic composites contain powdered iron and can be formed into three-dimensional shapes. ‘That allows us to rethink the way the motor looks’, says McCulloch. ‘We have developed a topology of motor that allows us to minimise the amount of material, and at the same time create paths for the mag- netic flux that minimise how much gets lost on the way. Of the two main components of ot many scientific researchers get all future. LIFEcar runs on hydrogen, with a motor, the stator and the rotor, we have to see the fruits of their labours an electric motor driving each wheel: it reduced the weight of the stator by a factor exhibited in the grounds of an emits nothing but water. of three or four, while the rotor is about the elegant Italian lakeside villa, sur- In 2003 McCulloch decided to focus his same. Overall, the weight is about half that N of a conventional motor of the same power, rounded by crowds of admiring visitors. So research on sustainable energy, creating it was a rather special moment for Dr Mal- some of the technology that would enable us and because we have minimised losses the colm McCulloch, who heads the Electrical to function in a post-oil and carbon-neutral efficiency is about 95 per cent. So there are Power Group in the Department of Engi- future. Transport is his priority: with Profes- lots of virtuous circles.’ The new design is neering Science, when the LIFEcar showed sor of Transport Studies David Banister and called a YASA motor (Yokeless and Seg- its paces in the Concept Car category at the his colleague in Engineering Colin Axon, he mented Armature). Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este on Lake recently received funding from the James The point of the LIFEcar project – the Como in April last year. From the outside, Martin 21st Century School to set up an brainchild of Hugo Spowers (Oriel 1978; see LIFEcar has a body that combines sharp Institute for Carbon and Energy Reduction OT 7.1 and box), founder of vehicle design- futuristic edges with the wonderful curves in Transport. ‘By 2050 we’re going to need at ers OSCar Automotive and more recently of a bygone age of motoring. But inside it is least a 94 per cent reduction in carbon diox- Riversimple – was to see if it was possible to ide emissions per kilometre travelled’, he produce an electric vehicle that performed says, and as an electrical engineer he has set like a sports car. With funding from the gov- out to show how electric motors might con- ernment, Morgan Motor Company, Mal- tribute to that reduction. vern-based makers of classic sports cars for Electric vehicles are not a new idea, but a century, provided a streamlined body the standard milk-float, golf buggy or street- cleaning vehicle is powered by batteries and Above left: Freewheeling: Malcolm McCulloch, a conventional electric motor, both of which head of the Electrical Power Group are heavy and not geared to high perfor- Left: The lightweight YASA motor mance. Working with his graduate student above Right: Delta Motorsport’s new four-seat Tim Woolmer, McCulloch decided to focus coupé , which will incorporate the new motor on improving the electric motor itself, and Above, far right: The Morgan LIFEcar

16 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Driving down Electric Avenue

Like all hydrogen-powered cars, LIFEcar not only “How much carbon are you emit- faces an immediate problem: there are only ting per kilometre?” but also “What is the around 100 hydrogen filling stations in the economic cost of that drive train going to be?”

delta motorsportdelta world at the moment, and the car manufac- and “What is environmentally acceptable?” turers and gas distributors are each waiting It’s a much more holistic picture.’ for the other to make the big investment that Asked for his prediction about our future will make hydrogen power more than an driving options, McCulloch forecasts that interesting research project. ‘How do you electric cars, with batteries charged from the break the catch-22 – no infrastructure with- national grid, will be the dominant model in out cars, no cars without infrastructure?’, 10 years’ time. ‘In 10–20 years I think there says McCulloch. ‘One of our partners, BOC, will be multiple sources – electric, hybrid, has developed a small filling station that will hydrogen, perhaps some liquefied petroleum fit on the back of a truck. You can put it gas – there’ll be a whole ecosystem of based on its Aero 8 model; McCulloch’s down anywhere, and it will supply a variations coming through.’ But the group developed the motors; QinetiQ small city with a fleet of about 100 greatest change might not be in provided the fuel cell that generated electric- vehicles. After that, you can build up what we drive, but the way we drive.

n motor company ity from compressed hydrogen, and Cran- the infrastructure piecemeal. We think ‘We need to address the whole issue a g field University researchers ran simulations Oxford would be the right size of of personal mobility. The problem mor of the vehicle’s performance. The prototype, small city to try this out.’ at the moment is that most people shown at the Geneva Motor Show in 2008, In the meantime, the LIFEcar want to own a vehicle to do achieved a range of 250 miles, acceleration consortium has just received funds everything from dropping kids of 0–60 mph in 7 seconds, and fuel con- from the government’s Technology at school and picking up shop- sumption equivalent to 150 miles to a gallon Strategy Board to develop a sec- ping to going on holiday. My of petrol, with zero carbon emissions. ond generation of LIFEcar that view is that we are going to have ‘We asked ourselves how we could get the will use the same electric motors different vehicles doing different acceleration that would make it feel sports- and ultracapacitors, but be fuelled tasks. You won’t own a car at all. car like’, says McCulloch. ‘The trick was to either by a small diesel engine and generator, There will be providers who will lease you the separate the power requirement for cruising or a battery. The aim is to commercialise the right vehicle for each task. You might cycle from that for acceleration. If you look at the electric motors developed for LIFEcar, by or walk to work, but when you want to shop normal way that you drive, most of the making them versatile enough to work in you’ll hire a small car for a few hours. If you power is used for accelerating. So we other vehicles and be driven by other forms want to go camping in Wales, you’ll hire a installed ultracapacitors that allow you to of power. Delta Motorsport, another small vehicle geared towards that particular task.’ store and release energy quickly.’ The LIFE- British-based company, has recently agreed By the end of this year, Oxford YASA car has a bank of 150 of these components, to use the motors for the battery-powered Motors will be established as a University which capture the energy generated during four-seat coupé it plans to have ready for test spin-out, with the aim of developing electric braking and provide the power for bursts of drives by the end of this year. motors suitable for commercial production. acceleration. Meanwhile, the fuel cell – ‘A number of people are coming to us Oxford could be one of the first cities to ben- which generates energy by reacting hydro- because we produce very good motors’, says efit from a smaller carbon footprint, cleaner gen with oxygen from the air – has only to McCulloch. ‘We can see what different tech- air and quieter streets as a result. meet the energy requirement for cruising, nologies are around, and look at what is the www.icert.ox.ac.uk and so can be remarkably small for the size optimum combination of the different com- and performance of the car. ponents. We are modelling a system that says Georgina Ferry is an Oxford-based science writer

Urban runabout unveiled riversimple In June this year, the company Riversimple, founded by Hugo Spowers (Oriel 1978) to ‘move people sustainably’ unveiled its two-seater hydrogen-powered urban vehicle, the Hyrban, in London. Like the LifeCar, it has YASA motors on each wheel and is powered by a fuel cell backed up by ultracapacitors storing the energy from regenerative braking. Despite the fuel cell’s tiny 6 kilowatt output, the Hyrban can reach speeds of 50 mph and has a range of 200 miles on one tank of hydrogen: its consumption is the equivalent of 300 mpg. The demonstration model was backed by the Piech family, who have close associations with the Porsche marque, and Spowers is now raising the funds for a fleet of 10 production prototypes. If all goes well, he hopes to be building vehicles for members of the public to put through their paces in 2011. But you won’t be able to buy one: the Riversimple business model is based on long leases that include all the fuel you need. Spowers is also making all the designs available online so that suitably adventurous people can make their own, and even suggest improvements. www.riversimple.com

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 17 Tours for the Intelligent Traveller Travel l Understand l Enjoy www.jonbainestours.co.uk

Ethiopia – Historical & Contemporary Vietnam & Cambodia – Culture & Egypt and Libya - Historical and Con- 12 February - 26 February 2010 Society 19 February - 7 March 2010 temporary 16 - 27 March 2010 www.jonbainestours.co.uk/ethiopia www.jonbainestours.co.uk/vietnam www.jonbainestours.co.uk/libya Ethiopia’s dramatic scenery and ancient Witness how ancient traditions survive This dramatic tour sweeps along the north heritage is still relatively unexplored. Ethiopia alongside modernity in these richly rewarding coast of Africa from Alexandria to Leptis expert Dr Richard Marsh will give specialist countries, finishing at Cambodia’s magnificent Magna and examines the region’s ancient his- talks providing context to the tour. Temples of Angkor Wat. tory and contemporary society.

Persia – Historical and Contemporary Bulgaria – Culture and Traditions Cuba – Culture and Society with Lavinia Byrne 18 April - 1 May 2010 8 - 16 May 2010 12 - 24 May 2010 www.jonbainestours.co.uk/persia www.jonbainestours.co.uk/bulgaria www.jonbainestours/cubaculture Enjoy exquisite teahouses and gardens, spec- Explore glorious mountain scenery, medi- The time to visit Cuba is now. Explore Cuba’s tacular architecture and archaeology and gain eval villages and Thracian tombs, and travel music, art, architecture, dance, culture and so- insight into Iran’s history and modern society. through a Europe that is fast disappearing. ciety and enjoy its natural beauty and vivacity.

The Golden Road to Samarkand Syria and Jordan with Lavinia Byrne Florence Nightingale in Istanbul September 2010 October 2010 October 2010 www.jonbainestours.co.uk/uzbek www.jonbainestours.co.uk/syria www.jonbainestours.co.uk/fn Uzbekistan boasts some of the world’s oldest This popular tour visits dramatic sites, vibrant Explore Istanbul and follow in the footsteps cities in Samarkand and Bukhara. Discover the towns and sweeping desert landscapes, with of Nightingale with a visit to Scutari and a fascinating and little known desert republic of talks by Lavinia Byrne. number of talks and specialist visits. Turkmenistan.

For a full itinerary please contact Jon Baines Tours on: Tel: 020 7223 5618 / 9485 or email: [email protected] Or write to: FREEPOST (RRJY-STSS-KGXT), Jon Baines Tours, 1A Salcott Road, London, SW11 6DQ www.jonbainestours.co.uk

JBT 1pp Oxford AD '09.indd 1 17/9/09 13:56:51 Feature uncil o C unty o C ordshire f x O ices, o V s & e g a m I

Chris Sladen marks the 70th anniversary of the outbreak of the Second Whena w r World War in Europe with an assessment of its impact on the University came again s it had done 25 years earlier, war aged 25 or under volunteered. traditional Oxford pleasures – broke out during the Long Vaca- As a result, student numbers skating on Port Meadow, and tion of 1939. How it would affect fell from 4,500 (850 of them punting on the Cherwell A university life was, for a while, women) in 1938 to 3,400 (750 while, as he now recalls, ‘the uncertain; Freddie Madden (Ch Ch 1935) women) in 1939. British army was fighting for recalls some concern, as he was about to Where Madden settled its life on Dunkirk’s beaches.’ embark on his DPhil, as to whether Oxford down to his doctoral thesis, As conscription was suc- would be ‘in action again’ at all. After mini- David Morris, arriving as a cessively extended (from 1941 mal delay, however, term duly began and, Fresher to read Modern His- it also applied to single he says, ‘work went on as usual … well, as tory at BNC, decided there was women aged 20–30) student usual as it could in the circumstances … old ‘absolutely no point in doing numbers continued to fall college rules continued … tutorials, semi- any work at all’: at the end of until, in 1944, the total was nars and lectures went on fairly normally.’ their first year, undergraduates were to be set about 2,500, of whom nearly one-third were At first, it was the time of the ‘Phoney War’. some simple papers (no more testing, he women – the highest proportion yet For Oxford, the most immediate impact came claims, than the school leaving examination recorded. Even so, the nadir of 1918, when from the flood of young evacuees, some tem- of those days) and would then be entitled to only a few hundred undergraduates porarily lodged in colleges (at Christ Church, a BA degree following war service. In the remained in Oxford, was avoided. From some were found not to have been baptised, understandable belief that ‘it was all soon 1942 onwards only new matriculands aged and this was hastily put right). When term coming to an end’, he determined to sample under 18 were accepted, augmented by short began, Madden and others settled service military students, among ALL H back into routine. Numbers of them, towards the end of the war, RET

A a handful of Americans (thanks to

undergraduates had fallen sharply; G AR M

conscription initially applied only the US ‘GI Bill of Rights’ of 1944). ADY

to men aged 20 and 21, thus L By the time Rosemary Maples excluding many younger students, (now Rosemary Jameson and liv- but by agreement between the War ing in retirement in south Oxford- Office and the University a recruit- shire) came up to Somerville to ing office was set up at the Claren- read English in 1942, the degree don Building and some 2,000 course had been fixed at two years undergraduates and postgraduates (plus an extra six-week term dur- the principal and fellows of ing the Long Vacation); only those above: An Officer Training Corps who committed themselves in parade in the Schools Quad of the advance to becoming teachers Bodleian Library, c.1940 qualified for the three-year course. Right: Digging for victory at LMH It was, she thinks, hard work for

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 19 When war came again E the two-year students, who got to skip only G OLLE C two or three of the Finals papers: ‘It wasn’t S ’ H like ordinary peacetime Oxford, but we G U H

thought we were jolly lucky to be up at ST Oxford at all.’ Dons, and other college and University staff, were also conscripted. By 1940 nearly 25 per cent of Oxford’s academic staff were either in the forces or working as temp- orary civil servants. Less predictably, one (unnamed) professor is celebrated in a his- tory of Morris Motors as ‘one of the most skilful fitter-assemblers’ at the Cowley works, helping turn out 40 Tiger Moth aircraft each week, plus parts for more sophisticated machines. Many from the poorly paid ranks of col- lege servants – ‘scouts’ – were either con- scripted or joined the dextrous professor at Cowley. John Spencer (CCC 1940) is one of several contributors to a college anthology who remembers female ‘bedders’ coming back from retirement to serve as ‘scouts’. Freddie Madden, who went on to a long As in 1914, the Examination Schools Innovation might, however, be taken too far: and distinguished post-war career as a his- became a hospital, as did St Hugh’s (where the wartime marriage of a Corpus under- torian – Reader, Professorial Fellow and pioneering work was done on head injuries) graduate to the daughter of his female ‘scout’ Emeritus Fellow of Nuffield College – was and Ruskin College. London’s Slade School was ‘much frowned upon’, writes Spencer. fortunate, in 1939, to find a room in his old of Fine Art was decanted into the Ash- While the number of ‘scouts’ diminished, college; others were shunted unceremoni- molean. The New Bodleian was first hiding their duties increased. Many served alongside ously into neighbouring colleges: from BNC, place for college paintings, stained glass and dons in the Local Defence Volunteers (LDV), David Morris found himself following the other valuables, many later shifted to more later the Home Guard. Maurice Bowra, War- pagan evacuees into Christ Church’s remote places, while the lowest level of the den of Wadham, was second-in-command of Meadow Building. Several colleges were req- building became an air raid shelter for 2,000. the Oxford South Company, drilling 150 uisitioned for civil servants. Balliol hosted A static water tank was erected in Radcliffe postal workers in the quad (‘our mails are safe bits of the Foreign Office; Merton the Min- Square, but Merton designed and built its at any rate’, wrote Isaiah Berlin). Bowra took istry of Transport, Queen’s the Ministry of own, claimed the local press, ‘to harmonise command of the Company from Frank Pak- Home Security. Much of St John’s was occu- with the surroundings’. Individual colleges enham when the latter – never the snappiest pied by the Ministry of Food’s controllers of prepared refuges in cellars and basements; dresser on campus – was reprimanded for fish and potatoes – ‘the biggest fish and chip the Oxford Mail alleged that one college had being ‘improperly dressed’ on parade. shop in the world’, quips Whitehall historian converted its cellar but provided only one During the day, undergraduate and post- Peter Hennessy. entrance; if this became blocked, the report graduate students would exercise with the said, egress was to be effected with a pickaxe: University Training Corps. Others joined col- ‘This useful tool will be kept in the porters’ L lege fire brigades, exercising with city crews. lodge – the non-arrival of dons at high table

Dons, scouts and students served PUNCH wouldibrary be signal for excavation to begin.’ together as fire-watchers on college rooftops. Another chore for the scouts was daily A round-the-clock team of 20 was stationed erection and dismantling of the black-out. at Merton, control centre for all buildings on For colleges, the cost of blacking out hun- that side of the city. John Croft (Ch Ch 1941), dreds of windows of assorted sizes in medi- who would become head of the Home Office eval, Tudor or 19th-century buildings was Research Unit in the 1970s, has written of considerable. Before term began, Oxford’s ‘many a starlit night on the roof of the library shops had reported that blinds, curtains, watching bombers limping home from raids on Germany’. At several colleges the ladders ABOVE: Nurses and patients at St Hugh’s or stout ropes provided as escape routes in College, which became a military hospital case of fire proved invaluable to those wish- specialising in head injuries, treating some ing to climb into college in the black-out. 13,000 patients between 1939 and 1945 Rosemary Maples, whose home was south of left: A 1942 cartoon by Acanthus (Harold London, where the reality of the Blitz was all Frank Hoar) in Punch reflects the Whitehall too evident, remembers Somervillians help- takeover ing out at the Radcliffe Infirmary, but above Right: Sir William Beveridge, then thought the fuss Oxford made of air raid ˝Balliol may be a bit earlier, but this is one of Master of University College, greets evacuee precautions ‘ludicrous’. the oldest Ministries in the University." children from Ashford, Kent

20 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 When war came again E G did return in 1946 finding, he writes, ‘the OLLE C

indolence and hedonism that had character- ised the pre-war period … had given way to

NIVERSITY application and austerity’. And Sir Roger Ban- U

F O nister writes in his 2004 autobiography, The First Four Minutes, of Exeter College being ELLOWS F ‘given a new unity and enthusiasm’ by the ND A influx of ex-servicemen who formed 90 per

M cent of the undergraduate population in

THE aster 1946: ‘If they spoke to us and gave us the ben- efit of their wartime experiences we were surprised and grateful to be noticed. If they chose to ignore us we were not hurt.’ David Morris, who had registered as a conscientious objector in 1940, working first with bombed-out families in Bermondsey, then with the Friends Ambulance Unit in China (his 1948 memoir is titled China Changed My Life), switched, at BNC, to law in 1946, later practising as solicitor, barrister and judge. He remembers post-war Oxford being ‘full up – three or four times the num- black paint and brown paper been requisitioned), she says that ber of students compared to pre-war. Every- were already in short supply. ‘most of the time we were jolly one I knew had been in the war [and] we Watchful over his charges’ well- ‘Pre-war indolence hungry’. There were frequent sor- worked bloody hard. After six years’ absence being, the then Master of Pem- and hedonism ties to the Little Clarendon Street [study] was quite a strain,’ but ‘we were just broke asked what action was bakery, whose loaves would be so pleased to be back’. There was nothing to proposed to protect undergradu- had given way to devoured whole, without butter drink save weak beer and – oddly – rum; col- ates against the solicitations of application and or jam. lege food was ‘infinitely worse than during prostitutes in Oxford’s darkened Other shortages – of ciga- the war ... but we didn’t mind.’ Even at its streets. He might have been austerity’ rettes, razor blades and soap – drabbest, rationing yet more severe than in cheered by the recollection of may have irked more; Maurice wartime – bread now rationed: no crumbs of another ‘Corpuscle’, Peter Wake- Bowra is said by his biographer comfort for Somervillians – David remem- field (CCC 1939 – his post-war career would to have found the lack of lavatory paper ‘par- bers Oxford as ‘still magical’. be in the Diplomatic Service) that ‘life … ticularly galling’, telling Penelope Betjeman Outwardly, the Oxford of the late 1940s sobered up in the face of the war … the that he used the Daily Mirror, until it blocked might look much the same as it had a decade black-out reduced the temptation to sally out Wadham’s drains. A common hardship was earlier, albeit shabbier. Colleges and Univer- of an evening’. On the other hand, the mem- lack of heating. David Morris found Meadow sity, however, were about to embark on oirs of John Harper-Nelson (Trinity, 1940) Building rooms unbearably cold: one jug of decades of radical change. How much of that tell not only of afternoons devoted to rugby hot water a day was provided and, when he change might be attributed directly to the and rowing, but evenings of ‘jazz, pubs and came back after the Christmas vacation, the war compared with other engines of change publications’, concluding: ‘to the relief of its sheets were so cold and damp that steam is debatable. Prominent among those engines adherents and the exasperation of its critics, rose when he got into bed. Things were was the Education Act, 1944 – nicknamed life at Oxford flows, like the Isis, with inex- scarcely better at Somerville, where, Rose- the ‘Butler Act’ – a crucial lever in determin- orable tranquillity in peace or war.’ And the mary Jameson says, students quit their ing the future composition of Oxford’s budding Labour politician Christopher May- rooms and huddled in the library to work. undergraduate population. hew, on leave in Oxford in 1941, wrote to his Some who tasted Oxford’s charms before Writing in the Oxford Magazine earlier mother, ‘less butter is eaten with crumpets; going off to war never returned: John this year, Michael Lee (Ch Ch, 1950) high- inferior brands of sherry are drunk … [but] Harper-Nelson’s memoirs are dedicated to lighted what he saw as the ‘sheer amazement’ fundamentally Oxford is just the same.’ ‘those who made being at Oxford such fun of the first generation of those ‘Butler’s schol- Historian Paul Addison concludes that but never survived to enjoy the memories’. ars’ who benefited from central and local food was one of the more depressing aspects Soon after the war, theOxford Magazine esti- government funding for undergraduates. In of life in wartime Oxford: ‘unappetising mated that 1,719 members of the University 1947, Lee points out, around 10 per cent of meals … meagre rations of milk, tea and had lost their lives and, although this was an Oxford undergraduates were dependent on sugar, and a pound pot of marmalade per underestimate, the real total was still smaller, local authority awards, but nearly 50 per cent term.’ Others disagree: Freddie Madden says: both absolutely and as a proportion of all received ex-service grants; by 1960 over 80 ‘I don’t think there was noticeably any ration- those who served, than was the case in 1918. per cent of all undergraduates enjoyed some ing [in 1939]’; David Morris found Christ Some survivors, like Richard Burton (Exeter form of state finance. Church food, that first year of the war, to be 1944), chose to perform in other arenas. Chris Sladen (Ch Ch 1953) is a regular contributor. He ‘magnificent’.A t Somerville Rosemary Maples Before embarking on his career as journalist, acknowledges, with particular thanks, Paul Eros, Deputy seems not to have been so lucky. Living in broadcaster and author, Ludovic Kennedy, Director of Development, Corpus Christi College, as well as college (just one Somerville building had after ‘a year of self-indulgence’ in 1938–39, John Harper-Nelson’s Oxford at War (1994).

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 21 Oct_OxfordToday_OXFM16.indd 1 Oxonian Extra G N I N I D A M E N I C S E I R A R B I L S E G N U O L S M O O R D E B S E I D U T S TAKING FURNITURE TO NEW HEIGHTS NEW TO FURNITURE TAKING sameconcept createdcanbe from simple finishes such gloss,as painted a colour oreven a combination of both with a dramatic wood grain. The choices are simply endless! With our huge range of finisheshowever,thecontemporarymoreoflook rangeprefer huge youa our With if of the lengths we go to for our clientsforourultimateto createbespokethelengthsfurniture wegothe tosolution. of creatingbeautifula backdrop for the hallway. Underneath the stairswe have designed a more period property in mind. Shown here as a library/study concept,thewithcreatedIntroducing been newCotswold ithasour AlderthatrangeandisCherry just one example Within this latest conceptlatestWithin thishave weamountincorporatedvastelegant of a storage space Address: Name: Mr/Mrs/Miss: Alternatively, complete and return the coupon to the address below. Please tick if you do not wish to receive information concerning other Neville Johnson products Neville Johnson Ltd, Broadoak Business Park, Ashburton Road West,TraffordRoad Park,Ashburton Business Park,BroadoakManchester, Ltd, Johnson Neville 1RW.M17 8335.Fax:0161 873 products Johnson Neville other concerning information receive to wish not do you if tick Please solutions to Wellington Boots to a desk area and seat for somewhere to deal with paperwork or make a quick phone call. With Neville Johnson every inch of space is unique to each client. Pscd: e: Email: Tel: Postcode: bespoke handcrafted furniture designed to unlock your home’s true potential true home’s your unlock to designed furniture handcrafted bespoke uit the client’stheuit personal specification. Fromsomewhere family’sthehide to *Buy now pay nothing for 12 months, finance offer is available on orders over £3,000 0161 873 8333 873 0161 placed 29/10/2009 between and 31/12/2009. Finance offer is subject to acceptance, terms balance £5,625 and nothing to pay for 12 months. Option 1 pay balance in full £5,625. full in balance pay 1 Option 12months. for pay to nothing and £5,625 balance and conditions apply. Typical finance example: total cash price £7,500,£1,875price deposit, cash totalapply. Typicalexample:conditions finance and Option 2pay48monthlyrepaymentsof£154.07. Total amount repayable on option 2 is £9,270.30 (inc. deposit), finance charge £1,770.30. CALL TODAY FOR A A FOR TODAY CALL QUOTE CODEOXFM16 www.nevillejohnson.co.uk/oxford PAY IN 12 MONTHS BUY NOW free local design service lifetime guarantee craftsmanship bespoke design & free 96pagebrochure LINES OPEN 7 DAYS FREE FREE Typical APR 9.9% OXFM16 BROCHURE * . + VAT 08/09/2009 14:34 Feature

What is the best way to turn the intellectual work of academics into something commercially viable? Michael Gross reports on an Oxford success story

xford’s experience with com- mercial ventures could be said to go back to 1586, when the Uni- O versity obtained the privilege to benwood/corbis print books, an operation that evolved into Oxford University Press. However, the Press has never been ‘spun out’ as an independent company, the pattern for commercial ven- tures in more recent years. During the Second World War, Britain consciously chose not to patent key inven- tions such as radar and penicillin, for stra­ tegic reasons. But in 1949 the government set up the National Research Development Cor- poration, which in 1991 merged with the National Enterprise Board to form the Brit- ish Technology Group (BTG); this was then privatised as BTG plc. Success stories of BTG and its predeces- sors include the development of cephalo­ I nnovation sporin antibiotics, which generated more than £150 million of licence income for their inventor, Sir Edward Abraham, who donated large parts of this fortune to Oxford. How- by the Isis ever, there have also been missed opportuni- ties, including the development of the After this crucial change, some universities backers and management, and the researchers. hybridoma technique for producing mono- commissioned BTG to look after their intel- ‘There are no firm rules about this,’R ichards clonal antibodies (by Milstein and Köhler at lectual property, while others chose to handle says, ‘except that the total must add up to Cambridge), which was never patented. technology transfer locally. And in 1988, 100 per cent!’ However, in a typical case, the Graham Richards, a professor emeritus Oxford set up Isis Innovation Ltd as a wholly investors may take 30 to 40 per cent of the of Oxford’s Chemistry Department, has been owned subsidiary company. Whenever any shares, reserve 10 per cent for the manage- heavily involved with technology transfer – results of potential commercial interest ment and leave the rest to be split between the conversion of academic results and ideas emerge, Isis Innovation covers the entire cost the University and the researchers. into commercial ventures – in a variety of of patent applications. Previously, researchers Richards has personal experience as an roles. He firmly believes that Oxford alumna held their own intellectual property, but also academic researcher whose work was com- Margaret Thatcher (Somerville 1943) had to pay these costs up front, which often mercialised. In 1989 he co-founded Oxford deserves the credit for the recent boom in deterred them from trying to commercialise Molecular Ltd, based on molecular model- academic company foundations in the UK their ideas. ling software he and his group had developed and dedicated his recent book Spin-outs: Cre- Tom Hockaday, the managing director of in the Physical and Theoretical Chemistry ating Businesses from University Intellectual Isis Innovation, thinks that contact with the Laboratory. Property (2009) to the former prime minister. academics is crucial for the success of tech- Oxford Molecular went through the Mrs Thatcher made two key innovations, nology transfer. ‘The most important thing typical rollercoaster ride of spin-out compa- Richards argues. First, she changed tax rules for us is to talk to the researchers as much as nies, with various rounds of funding and to make venture capital available in the UK. possible and to encourage them to come and expansion, flotation on the London Stock More importantly, he says, in 1987 she gave share their new ideas with us’, he says. When Exchange in 1994 and acquisitions of other the rights to intellectual property generated it comes to starting a company, the staff at companies. At its high, the company had a from government-funded academic research Isis Innovation’s office in Summertown puts market share of 25 per cent in the global bio- to the universities, on condition that they set all the pieces together. ‘Our role is to build informatics market and 400 employees in the up mechanisms to facilitate its commerciali- the team that becomes the company,’ Hocka- UK and the US. sation. day explains, ‘bringing together the research- But the dream came to an abrupt end in ers, the investors and the management. We 1997, when the company’s share value ABOVE: Charting new courses: Oxford want to assemble a cohesive team around dropped by 80 per cent during a general research has had unexpected potential world-class technology.’ crisis of biotech stocks. As the investors commercial applications, such as new The ownership of the new company is turned against the management, Richards materials that improve surface qualities for split three ways between the University (as resigned from the company, which was liq- ocean-going yachts. represented by Isis Innovation), the financial uidated in 2000 and its parts sold off to

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 23 Case study: Oxford Nanopore Technologies foreign companies. At the end of the day, In July this year, science minister Lord In order to develop this technology into however, the University made a profit of Drayson inaugurated the new home of a working DNA sequencer, the researchers £10 million out of this story. Oxford Nanopore Technologies at the Oxford now have one extra step to accomplish. They The lesson he learned from this experience, Science Park, marking the rapid success of need to attach an enzyme that cuts the DNA says Richards, is that one needs three key ingre- the University spin-out company that is only into its building blocks (an exonuclease) to dients for a successful spin-out company: good four years old and now has 65 employees. the nanopore. In that step, they will have science, good management and the funding. The company was founded in 2005 to to ensure that both the cutting and the While funding may be more readily available at commercialise ideas based on the work and transportation across the pore that leads some times than at others, he says it’s often the long-standing experience of Hagan Bayley, to the electronic detection of each building lack of experienced chief executives that is Professor of Chemical Biology at Oxford. block, can happen under the same conditions holding back British start-ups. By comparison, Bayley’s research specialises in the molecular and at the same speed. in California it would be easier to find CEOs gateways in cell membranes that selectively With this extra feature, the researchers who have been through the process before and allow the passage of small molecules or ions. hope, the nanopore technology will be ready could bring in their valuable experience. In the cell, these structures are normally to become the next generation genome Other successful businesses created by known as ion channels or pores, but as sequencing technology, which could allow Isis Innovation include PowderJect, the com- Bayley modifies them in order to use them in routine sequencing of human genomes at a pany co-founded by engineering professor new technological applications, he refers to price of $1,000 or less. Brian Bellhouse and the current Science them as nanopores. Dr Gordon Sanghera, the company’s Minister, Paul Drayson, and Oxford Asym- The key to their use in detecting CEO, says: ‘We are developing a sequencing metry, founded by Steve Davies. While Pow- molecules is that a current passing through system that for the first time analyses DNA derJect has not achieved its target of bringing a nanopore can change in a characteristic at the single molecule and without a label. needle-free injection to the clinic, its pur- way when a single molecule passes through That means that the system can achieve chase of a vaccine manufacturer turned out the pore. Therefore, the passage of each levels of speed, cost and simplicity, enabling to be extremely fortunate, and eventually molecule can be recorded as an electrical many more researchers to conduct much earned large sums for the founders and the signal. more DNA analysis. A dramatic fall in the University (see OT 19.3). Oxford Asymmetry, Oxford Nanopore is currently focusing cost of sequencing will have a profound founded in 1992, is now part of Evotec, a on using this technology for genome effect on medical research, affecting the leading drug discovery company. sequencing. In a paper published in Nature drug development process, disease risk Among the more recent foundations is Nanotechnology in February, the company’s management, the tailoring of drugs to an Oxford Catalysts, spun out in 2005 to com- researchers show that a nanopore based on individual and much more.’ mercialise research conducted by Malcolm the natural pore protein alpha haemolysin, When this development comes to Green and colleagues at the Inorganic Chem- but with the chemical modification of an fruition, however, Oxford Nanopore will leave istry Laboratory (see OT 21.1). The company additional binding site built into the narrow the sales and marketing of the sequencing is developing green solutions to today’s envi- passageway, produces distinct electrical technology to Illumina, a company based ronmental problems and is thus very much signals for each of the four standard in San Diego, California, with which it in demand and growing rapidly. building blocks of DNA. The system can has already signed contracts. Staying in Commenting on the technology transfer even recognise when a building block is the research and development field, the culture at Oxford, Oxford Catalysts’ Chief modified with a methyl group, which is a very company will then be able to focus on other Operating Officer Dr Will Barton says: ‘It’s important feature for the understanding of applications of their technology, for example clear that the visibility of successful spin-out how genes are switched on and off during for sensors that could detect environmental companies like Oxford Catalysts or Oxford development. hazards, explosives or drugs. Advanced Surfaces is helping to fuel the interest among researchers at Oxford in com- mercialising their technology. I saw evidence of this a few weeks ago in the Department of Engineering Science at an exhibition of spin- outs … and the trend is also clear … around particularly the scientific disciplines. With government funding now targeting a number of key “societal challenges” where techno- logical innovation has a major role to play, the time could well be right, despite the chal- lenging financial situation.’ Another recent foundation is Oxford Nanopore Technologies, based on the research of Hagan Bayley’s group at the Chemistry Department (see sidebar). Gra- ham Richards thinks that ‘Oxford Nanopore Schematic visualisation of a protein nanopore (blue) coupled with a processive enzyme (green) is the most exciting new company right now. to sequence DNA If it succeeds in making human genomes

24 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Innovation by the Isis

accessible for less than $1,000 per person,’ he When eventually introduced to the clinic, The first company to be spun out says, ‘this could become Oxford’s first one- these tests should replace risky procedures under this new deal was again based on billion-pound company.’ The $1,000 price like amniocentesis and thus save the lives of Richards’ own research. Inhibox produces tag is widely seen as the threshold healthy babies. a screensaver that enables computers that below which genome sequencing Raising the game of tech- would otherwise be idle to do something could become a routine diagnostic nology transfer to a whole new useful for cancer research, namely model tool used in every hospital. It’s increasingly level, Richards was also the how potential cancer drugs might fit Technology transfer doesn’t important for driving force behind the deal together with their designated targets in always mean founding a new com- the UK to create that helped to build the new the cell. Following his retirement from the pany. In some cases, Isis Innova- Chemistry Research Labora- Chemistry Department, Richards occupies tion may make a deal to license the new technology. tory. Investors paid £20 million a modest office at Inhibox HQ in Oxford intellectual property to an existing We need this in exchange for one-third of city centre, where he also finds time to company that already has the right the University’s equity in any reflect on 20 years of technology transfer. infrastructure and people in place innovation’ spin-out companies generated ‘When we come out of this crisis, the Chi- to continue developing the new over a 15-year period. These nese will still produce cars cheaper than technology and eventually to take rights are now held by IP we could,’ he says, ‘so it’s increasingly it to the market. This is what happened in the Group (formerly IP2IPO – ‘intellectual important for the UK to create new tech- case of the work of Dennis Lo and James property to initial public offering’), of which nology. We need this innovation.’ Wainscoat at Clinical Laboratory Sciences. Richards has been Senior Non-Executive Their development of safer tests for prenatal Director since 2007. IP Group has also Michael Gross is a science writer based in Oxford. diagnostics of conditions including Down’s struck similar deals with other universities, Spin-Outs: Creating Businesses from University Intellectual Property, by Graham Richards, Harriman House, 2009. syndrome and rhesus incompatibility has including Southampton, York and King’s www.isis-innovation.com been licensed to the US company Sequenom. College London.

ARE YOU UNHAPPY WITH THE RETURNS ON YOUR CURRENT INVESTMENTS? For gross annual yields of 5% plus then look no city and village living further than the Oxford property market. “After I moved from Cambridge I wished to remain in the property scottfraser, Oxford’s leading property investment market until I needed to buy a permanent home. scottfraser helped me buy and then managed a small house and two apartments in consultancy, specialises in the purchase of investment property Oxford for 5 years. and in residential lettings and management in Oxford, the UK’s At all times and in every way I found them to be professional, courteous and helpful. It was a relief not to have to worry about strongest letting market. finding suitable tenants and negotiating rental agreements and to know that the properties one rented would be inspected regularly and well cared for. Outstanding issues were addressed promptly and I considered their services good value for money.” l Good long term capital growth Sir Terence English l Consistent, high demand from visiting tenants scottfraser is a comprehensive Residential l Quality properties in prime locations available from £175,000 Practice covering Oxford and the surrounding l villages, offering expert advice on: Minimum capital required around £50,000 l Net yields from 4% l Property Search and Acquisition l Refurbishment and Furnishings To enable you to own a quality property in the heart of Oxford, l Residential Lettings whether for investment or occupation, we provide a complete l Property Management service, all or any parts of which may be utilised. l Residential Sales To find out more(without obligation), call us on 01865 760055 to order our brochure, look at our website or visit us to discuss your requirements.

scottfraser scottfraser, 10 Lime Tree Mews, 2 Lime Walk, Oxford, OX3 7DZ scottfraser.co.uk

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 25 SM0264_OxfordToday_29Oct:Oxford Today 4/9/09 15:15 Page 1

OUR DONATIONS ARE DOWN 22%

CHILDREN COMING TO US FOR HELP UP 50%

Mr/Mrs/Ms We need I want to give a Address donations now child a second Postcode Email Telephone more than ever. chance at life. Charge my gift to my: I Visa I MasterCard I Maestro Your support can help provide Card No. Will you PLEASE free treatment for poor children Valid From Exp. Date Issue No. with clefts and other problems. Signature help us give a I My cheque is enclosed, ¡ Please tick: made payable to The Smile Train UK I £150 towards surgery for child a second one child Send this coupon with your donation to: I £75 could cover half the cost The Smile Train UK, PO Box 910 chance at life? of one surgery Northampton NN3 0BG

I £30 towards medications for I Tick the box to make every £1 of your gift worth at least 25p more for FREE. I am a UK one surgery taxpayer. Please treat all donations I make or have made to The Smile Train as Gift Aid donations for the past six years until further notice. You must pay an amount of Income Tax and/or Capital I £______(We’ll gratefully Gains Tax at least equal to the tax that The Smile Train reclaims on your donation in the tax year. accept any amount) Currently 25p for every £1 you give. These details, including your email address / telephone number, may be used to keep you informed about our future Z09101U118FYY25 developments. If you do not want to receive such information please tick this box

Donate online: www.smiletrain.org.uk OR call: 0870 127 6269

Registered Charity No. 1114748 © 2009 The Smile Train.

A healthy diet is a crucial part of pregnancy for every woman and it can help to prevent birth defects. Make sure you eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and take a multivitamin with 400 micrograms of folic acid every day for a month before conception and throughout early pregnancy. Folic acid has been shown to reduce the risk of neural tube defects of the brain and spinal cord (such as spina bifida) in unborn children by between 50 and 70% when taken before conception and during the first trimester, and it could also help to reduce the risk of cleft lip and palate. It is also important to stop smoking when you are pregnant and to avoid foods such as raw or smoked seafood, raw shellfish and eggs, soft cheese, unpasteurized milk, and pâté. Speak to your GP for further advice about having a healthy pregnancy, and if you would like any more information about why clefts occur, how clefts can be repaired with surgery, or about caring for a child born with a cleft, please visit www.smiletrain.org.uk today. Feature S cience findings Quantum sensor is the cat’s whiskers One of the most mind-bending concepts with a central phosphorus atom surrounded in modern physics could form the basis of by nine hydrogen atoms. Like the cat in ews

highly sensitive magnetic field detectors the Austrian physicist’s famous thought N mon benjamin i with a variety of applications, according to S experiment, which was both alive and dead an Oxford research group’s recent paper in at the same time, all ten entangled nuclei Science (29 May 2009). were spinning clockwise and anticlockwise ‘Quantum entanglement’ means that the simultaneously. o quantum states of two or more subatomic J hn morton and In a weak magnetic field, the spins particles – such as photons or atomic change in a way that can be measured using nuclei – are inextricably correlated. For nuclear magnetic resonance. ‘In order to example, while you cannot know whether make the measurement,’ says Jones, ‘we have University University an individual particle is spinning clockwise to disentangle the system. We then find that or anticlockwise, you do know that all the spin of the central atom has changed entangled particles are spinning in the almost ten times as much as it would have same direction. OT 21.3 p. 20) and his colleagues created done in a non-entangled system – in other Jonathan Jones of the Centre for a ‘Schrödinger cat state’ by applying radio words, our system is ten times as sensitive to Advanced Electron Spin Resonance (see frequency pulses to a star-shaped molecule a magnetic field.’

Drink, drugs and drug or alcohol problems are only 1.2 times Disappearing ash more likely to be convicted of violence than schizophrenia: a the general population, as opposed to 4 times can mislead potentially violent mix for those who also have problems with drink volcano watchers or drugs. The fear that people with schizophrenia Writing in the Journal of the American Volcanic eruptions have long-lasting effects might commit violent crimes seems borne Medical Association (20 May 2009), Dr Fazel on the surrounding environment, displacing out by figures that show they are twice as argues that mental health professionals people, disrupting economies and affecting likely as people without the condition to have should be vigilant about detecting and agriculture and ecology. When the Chaitén committed such an offence. But a study byD r treating substance abuse. ‘These problems volcano in southern Chile erupted for the Seena Fazel of the Department of Psychiatry, are prevalent in schizophrenia,’ she says, ‘but first time in thousands of years in May 2008, together with colleagues in Sweden, shows there are evidence-based treatment strategies Sebastian Watt (a DPhil student at Worcester that most of the increased risk is due to drug for drug and alcohol abuse and so the risk of College) travelled to South America within or alcohol abuse. Those who do not have violence can be reduced.’ weeks to measure what happened to 160 million tonnes of ash that showered down

alth on an area of over 200,000 square kilometres, e H Keep pigs under surveillance, say flu experts mostly in neighbouring Argentina. imal

n Working with Argentinian scientists, A Watt was able to collect samples from An international team of experts in Writing in the journal Nature (25 over 200 sites and make the first scientific the evolution of infectious disease has June 2009), the authors point out that stitute for assessment of the size and impact of the n I warned that influenza viruses in pigs flu viruses from many sources, including eruption. But they found that a few months must be monitored much more closely birds and humans, have mixed in pigs to later much of the ash had been blown or if the world is to avoid pandemics such produce new strains. ‘Lack of systematic washed away by the elements. as the current swine flu outbreak. swine surveillance allowed for the As most volcanoes can lie dormant for Dr Oliver Pybus from the undetected persistence and evolution of years before blowing their tops again, it is Department of Zoology, with this potentially pandemic strain for many important for emergency planning to be colleagues from the Universities of years’, they say. able to evaluate the likely impact of another Edinburgh, Hong Kong and Arizona, eruption. compared the genomic sequences Watt and his co-authors argue in the of viruses taken from the current Journal of Geophysical Research (28 April outbreak in humans with almost 800 2009) that estimates of the size of historic samples from pigs, birds and humans eruptions may be too low, because much of collected over recent decades. Using the evidence has disappeared. computational methods developed in ‘This makes it extremely difficult for Oxford to reconstruct the evolution of vulcanologists to reconstruct a past eruption’, the current H1N1 strain, they found says Professor David Pyle of Earth Sciences, that it had been circulating in pigs for Watt’s supervisor and a joint author on the a decade before it emerged in humans paper. earlier this year.

Science Findings is edited by Georgina Ferry

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 27 Alice Fraser Anthony BoShen Wu Ben Calverley Caroline Daly Eliza Preston

Charlotte Gorman Charlotte Yan Daisy Moffatt Danny Soos Drew Foxall

Feng Guo Fiona Stuart Frances Baird Hannah Boston Harriet Rowling

Helen Bentley Helen McCabe Henry Shevlin Imogen Black James Fox

Joe Marshall Jonathan Lafferty Jonny Vaughan Laura Blattner Marbre Stahly-Butts

Olly Davidson Pavan Mamidi Peter O’Driscoll Rahul Sarugaser Rebecca Fields

Rhys Jones Rob Hemmens Robert Kirchmann Rory Considine Sally McLaren

Sanjoy Bhattacharyya Simon Lutterbie Sophie MacClancy Stephen Backhouse Ville Lehtonen

Joseph Morpurgo Lorena Vila Louisa Coulson Lucy Hamilton Margrét Ögmundsdóttir

Patrick Milner Paul Sweeten Rory Brown Sarah Chu Sha Hua

28 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Yuan Gao Natasha Vashisht Nick Thomas Peter Adam Dixon Alex Gyani

Zoë Hallam Naieya Madhvani Olga Friedmann Alison Weetch Chris Turner

Alex Latham Nabeel Qureshi Olivier Jarda Craig Holmes David Egan Faced up Alex Parker Mia Blundell Finn Toner Some walls encircle, barring access. But a wall just put up in Oxford should be anything but daunting. The ‘Wall of 100 Faces’, a series of short filmed interviews with 100 students, is a new feature on the University’s website, designed to help prospective Ben Williams Mark Elliott applicants get a better idea of what Oxford life is like. Irum Ali The students interviewed for the project are a mixture from Britain and overseas; undergraduates, graduates and visiting students, men and women, selected in proportion to the University’s current make-up, and were filmed talking about various Chang Liu Emily Paulin Jennifer Peng aspects of their lives at Oxford. The films, on average 1 minute long, were made by Hannah Madsen (Hertford 2003), a recent graduate, and the project overseen by Christopher Eddie, Oxford’s Web Officer. The ‘Wall’ will help dispel some persistent Sally Rushton Emily Barritt stereotypes about Oxford students, Eddie hopes, in Lara Green ways not possible through traditional prospectuses, or even open days. ‘Imagine being able to meet 100 current students any time you want, without having to leave your seat. That is what the Wall of 100 Faces offers’, he said. Will McCallum Colleen Reding The ‘Wall’, which also links to the students’ Kylie Murray courses and colleges, will be updated regularly with around 30 new films each year. www.ox.ac.uk/100faces

Marie Tidball Mo Ghanbari Niel Bowerman

Simon Williamson Sophie Duker Timmy Pleydell-Bouverie Kudrat Virk Ignacio Silva

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 29 Student scene

Oxford student journalism is still living up to its colourful traditions – and is a springboard for those who aspire to media careers, says Chris Baraniuk ews xtra N

E Hack to the future? e

t’s two o’clock on a Wednesday morning. g u Most Oxford students are either tucked up J o in bed or adding the finishing touches to R d s b I an overdue essay, but at the Cherwell offices

Oxonian Oxonian on St Aldate’s, the night is still young for the University University senior editorial team, who are slaving over page designs and unedited copy to meet the student newspaper’s press deadline the next day. Student journalism at Oxford has always demanded die-hard enthusiasm and unrelenting commitment. Yet the potential rewards are great – for many have found success, fame (or notoriety, or both) in the national or international media. While many student publications have come and gone since the late nineteenth century, two have shown greater resilience. Cherwell celebrates its ninetieth anniversary next year, while Isis magazine has been around for well over a century. And since 1993, The Oxford Student, published by the Oxford University Student Union, has been Today’s headlines – tomorrow’s headline makers? The three leading student publications: Cherwell’s rival, so there’s no lack of tradition Isis, the Oxford Student and Cherwell or competition. The list of former contributors to these after Cherwell won the Daily Mirror’s student arm of the Student Union, while Cherwell’s publications alone reads like a Who’s Who newspaper of the year award, the Deputy business (managed in the past by one Rupert of British media. Peter Preston (St John’s Editor of the Mail offered me a job as we Murdoch [Worcester 1953], among others) 1957) went on to edit the Guardian; Sir Peter stood in the gents’’, he laughs. is run by Oxford Student Publications Ltd Stothard (Trinity 1969) to edit The Times. Liz Jensen (Somerville 1978), author of (OSPL). OSPL was incorporated in 1961 and Paul Foot (Univ 1958) became perhaps the seven novels including The Raptureand Ark now owns both Cherwell and Isis, as well as most celebrated crusading journalist of his Baby, wrote for Cherwell in the late 1970s and Etcetera, a literary and creative supplement day; Peter Sissons (Univ 1961) a leading remembers a male-dominated newsroom, to Cherwell founded in 2007. television newscaster. but also a student rag that offered career Being a Cherwell editor is not Tony Bottrill (Christ Church 1961) opportunities like those found by Bottrill. necessarily a career move, though. One of edited Cherwell in 1964 before working for ‘Apart from me and two others, there were no this term’s [Michaelmas 09] editors, Harry the Scottish Daily Mail and later the Treasury women at Cherwell in 1979, and I remember Thompson (Wadham 2007), who is studying and World Bank. He remembers how the atmosphere being very laddish’, she says. engineering, is not yet sure whether he wants student journalism brought him into contact ‘But we all wanted to work in journalism, and to be a professional journalist. However, with many notable figures, including two Cherwell was the obvious stepping stone.’ his appreciation of the paper’s tradition actor–comedians who would find fame with For the termly editors of Oxford’s student was enough to spur him on towards the television’s Monty Python. press, the undertaking has only got more editorship, he says. ‘Terry Jones and Michael Palin provided daunting. Podcasts, video reports and blogs ‘Our offices are teeming with old issues the cabaret at a Cherwell party which I gave now complement traditional reporting, and of Cherwell and it’s interesting to see how the as Editor in Christ Church cellars. Another each term both Cherwell and The Oxford paper has evolved over the years in terms of highlight was the chance to interview Student take on an average ‘staff’ of around style and presentation, and also in terms of the Beatles, one day in 1963 when they 50 students. Current editors estimate that the shifting editorial bias.’ When Cherwell were already on the road to fame. The they spend at least 35 hours a week working was founded in 1920, it championed a very photographer from the Witney Gazette and on their respective papers, which means they vocal liberal-labour and, progressively, pro- I ambushed them in the car-park of the are effectively taking, unpaid, a full-time job feminist slant. While aspects of the paper’s Windrush pub in Witney, where they’d been while also studying. liberal heritage have been evident through having lunch, and they posed for pictures and Both newspapers stay afloat financially the years, there have been (relatively rare) a chat.’ thanks to the efforts of business teams who periods when more right-wing sympathies For Bottrill, Cherwell was the stepping sell advertising for the publications and their have surfaced. stone to a professional career. ‘When I went websites. The Oxford Student is managed by For one former award-winning editor of to the Daily Mail offices in London for a party Oxford Student Services Ltd, the commercial The Oxford Student, a career in journalism is

30 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 ‘Hunger, commitment and originality count A (Queen’s was summer 2006),who this on a Cherwell or Oxford Student stories news of 7 St Aldates,St Oxford,7 1BS. OX1 certainly oncertainly horizon. the Matthew Holehouse checking, fact-checking and on so can go out come in.In to rush paper, the beat rival the Oxford’s doorstep. Some of biggest the Press that Office is leftusually to pick up Holehouse, ‘although climate inthis and in of journalism courses at other universities, of Professor anew of Poetry. of controversy the surrounding election the offer anyjournalism courses, or media is of window. the andexperienced have nowhere near same the exaggeration. of ‘breaking into’ industry. the editing astudent newspaper an excellent way London’s City University autumn, this found you’ve edited astudent newspaper.’ editors and writers. Contact [email protected] or [email protected] writers.Contact and editors national including media, news early reports andnews-sense methodology, and generated nonetheless probably most the energetic in for alot.’ media careers.media Ginny (Somerville 2006) is currently writing a currentlywriting is 2006) (Somerville Baraniuk Chris student the via so press and, despite rise the size of staffthe as nationals, distortions do judges at year’s this Guardian Student Media authorities or University] the aren’t going to away with murder sometimes they because as they’re not able to time, do it are full less a demanding course’, agrees. ‘However, Collier journalism is often prone to mistakes and and Information Office, thatsays student admitting she had emailed journalists about are camping at your door simply because of pool qualitya small contacts and issues the studentthe press at Oxford, not which does action.’ legal take produce doing week while newspapers every pieces.the nationalthe headlines, it’s University the recordthe of her main rival. topped subsequently poll, the resigned after pastthe year have caught attention the of industry,this it’s hardly that case the nationals that as aprofessional you build on,’ says placement at Sunday the Times, and due to propelling ambitious student writers into and country the is extremely successful at in the UK who impress UK who in the employers often do in that it gave an elementary grounding in know that people [such certain as college write to Chris Baraniuk, Archives and Alumni, Cherwell, Cherwell, Alumni,Archives and Baraniuk, Chris towrite begin an investigativebegin journalism course at basic journalistic principles of balance, quote- Cherwell of history wa ‘It’s amazing that students manage to ‘OxStu definitely doorsopened for me, These concerns These believesCollier aside, When student press-inspired stories hit But national the press camp does on rds, commented that young journalists R u th Collier,th Head of Press and is interested in hearing from formerfrom interested hearing is in and A l so, [student] the papers get D o ugary, one of the R u th Padel,th who … and news A A without briefs… The Mayor of Oxford,Clarkson, has Mary WS W N Women’s Institute branch, by posing Mayor’s fund for 2007/8 financial year, and projectedfall a charity, Travel Educational Studies at St Edmund Hall, who £28,000. Lewis Iwu,£28,000. Lewis outgoing the president OUSU’s income (£91,857)is from taken the Oxford University Student Union (OUSU) Church JC was attacked and severely injured by two with Oriel’s 1st boat, which had drifted Merton students College have also finishedthird. Pembroke. University ended up on sixth Hospital before beingairlifted to Japan. His disaffiliate wereBalliol Christ rejectedby and emergency operations at John the of OUSU, insisted that ‘forecasts, the by years earlier year. this Kentaro’s mother has Student Union posts loss route pioneered by a naked for acharity calendar. The f from venture the would go towards student reading for amaster’s degree in upset for afund Kentaro Ikeda, agraduate support family the through time.’ difficult this Summer VIIIs caused one of races the to be subscription fees college JC Students are pictured preserving assaulted student Crash halts Eights race attackers, 18,were both for jailed atotal of 16 his rooms last year. Kentaro underwent four him. MsClarkson said: ‘I hope will fund the had to give up her teaching jobto after look halted. University College’s 1st VIIIcollided has announced losses of £41,447for the teenagers inMarston cycling back while to their very nature, very their change’. to raise funds for charities supported produced asimilar calendar, designed modestywith,their variously, mortar projects developing inthe world. river,the rowing day, over every Oriel while pay inorder affiliated, to be and motions to into racing the line afterbeing bumped by in income for 2009/10financial the year of was compiled by compiled wasnews scene Student by JC their boards, gowns and Some books. ollowed down now the well-travelled group of Oxford students have collision Men’s inthe 1st e R R s last term. . A i d, said money raised Y o rkshire

A D R large of part s and MC i i vision in (Jesus) and (Jesus) Griffiths Elen n R a dcliffe R s T ravelaid b ce Heath,ce JC A he of time going to press, an Oxford A The choir was approached composerby Harry Potter film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. conducted by Owen coal-fuelled power stations.coal-fuelled Eastern StudiesEastern at St College, and three other students, were Queen’s Choir College has recorded asong Jalaeipour, agraduate student of Middle Music at Queen’s. It limelight inthe has been Mohammadreza’s detention. Mirhossein Mousavi. R disputed presidential country election inthe escorted outescorted of Houses the of Parliament by earlier summer. this Mohammadreza Noctem’, rehearsed which they inOxford Nicholas Hooper to song perform the ‘In Student held in Iran government’s decision to up fund to four said they weresaid they protesting against the student beingdetained inIran was still after said they weresaid they ‘deeply concerned’ about Commons protest College choir sings in a statue inSt Stephen’s Hall. at Tehran inJune airport after going times. part ofpart an environmental group, Climate police inMaypolice glued afterthemselves they to in London. The choir,with 25 singers, is to feature latest inthe Harry Potter film, before recording inthe before, having sung for several BBC the being arrested unrest inthe following the back to support opposition the politician F E I R t li u (Merton) Sherwin Timothy sh. MsHeath, afirst-year PPE student, d T d f x O o r o R d President at University yay R . A MichaelmasIssue 2009 A e n es, the college spokesperson A tony’s, was arrested b bey bey A l D R l four were ir o ad studios ector of 31

University News Oxonians at large

Politically, Denis Healey and Nigel Lawson were poles apart. But both had to grapple with economic vicissitude. Alicia Clegg meets two Oxford men who left their mark as Chancellors of the Exchequer xtra E Budgeting in

Oxonian Oxonian good times and bad

‘ You haven’t looked at it’, says Lord Healey of We talk at his idyllic family home Riddlesden (Balliol 1936), with a hint of perched high above the Sussex Downs. The reproach. I glance at the flyleaf of his mem- day is blisteringly hot. But Healey, approach- oirs, The Time of My Life. From under a ing 92, appears not to notice. A former freshly applied signature, a cartoon face defence secretary, he became Chancellor of below give-away bushy eyebrows grins back the Exchequer in 1974, under Harold Wilson, at me. and continued under Callaghan until It is 30 years since, as a pugilistic Chan- Labour’s defeat in 1979. Apart from two cellor of the Exchequer, Denis Healey waged years understudying the post in opposition war on raging inflation, fought political – he became shadow Chancellor with ‘no Far from cross benchers: Denis Healey and assailants – often from within his own party more knowledge of economics than the aver- Nigel Lawson in the House of Lords – and in the screeching tabloid headlines of age newspaper reader’ – Healey assumed the the day applied ‘cap-in-hand’ to the Interna- chancellorship with little economic experi- I ask Lawson, who presided over several tional Monetary Fund for a credit bail-out. ence. He does not consider this a handicap. landmark acts of financial liberalisation, Then, just as things were beginning to look Economics, he says, is a branch of ‘social psy- whether, in the light of the recent banking up for Jim Callaghan’s Labour government, chology’. So, the challenge for any chancellor crisis, he wishes that he had imposed stricter along came nemesis in the shape of a cata- is to understand how people behave, for controls on financial institutions. He replies strophic clash with the trade unions and the which the requirements are ‘intellect and that, in fact, the 1987 Banking Act provided final unravelling in the electorally fatal ‘win- intelligence’, not economic theory. for tougher prudential supervision than had ter of discontent’. Lawson’s preparation for what he has existed previously or which, for that matter, A decade later, during the late 1980s termed ‘the one job in government which I exists today. ‘Unfortunately, the first thing credit boom, it was the turn of another high- had always coveted’ was considerably more that Gordon Brown did when he came in as flying Chancellor of the Exchequer, Nigel rigorous. He served his economic apprentice- Chancellor in 1997 was to destroy all that Lawson (Christ Church 1951), to suffer on ship as a financial journalist, and asF inancial and set up a new system which has proved the rack of public service. A mutually damag- Secretary to the Treasury became a leading to be completely dysfunctional.’ ing public row over exchange rate policy with architect of Thatcherite economic policy. ‘I’d He does, however, admit to one regret. ‘If Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher led him to been writing about economic policy and I had been able to foresee all the conse- resign his post, just at the point when he was studying how chancellors conducted them- quences, I think I would have tried – struggling to get a grip on resurgent inflation. selves for years. I had views that I had although it would have been difficult because Now, as the global economy haltingly expressed [and wanted to put to the test].’ it was not in those days a Treasury responsi- claws its way back from the financial abyss, it I meet Lord Lawson of Blaby over coffee bility, the Department of Trade and Industry seems a good time for Oxford Today to inter- in the House of Lords. He attends parlia- was, absurdly, the lead department – to per- view two former chancellors about the tra- ment most days, commuting weekly from suade my colleagues that we needed to vails and occasional pleasures of what is often his home in France. At 77, he looks much enforce a separation between commercial described as the loneliest job in government. like the famously self-confident chancellor banking and investment banking.’ ‘When it was going well, it was enjoyable’, who cut a swathe through post-war financial What characteristics must a chancellor says Healey. ‘But most of the time it was just conventions – just more weather-beaten by possess? ‘The ability to sleep well’, and ‘the bloody hard work. Usually, I ended my diary the effects of the French sun and several capacity to take decisions’ on partial infor- “went to bed, dog tired’’.’ stones lighter. mation, retorts Lawson crisply. ‘You won’t

32 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Oxonians at large e

g earlier at Balliol, sounds surprisingly modern. u J ‘The great thing about Balliol, in those days, o R d s b was that it was only interested in people’s brains’, he says proudly of his college, which, even in the 1930s, boasted a mix of social classes and ethnicities. ‘It was very much an intellectual, not a public school, college.’ Always politically active, Healey joined

the Communist Party in a stand against fas- xtra

cism, then became chairman of the Labour E Club. When war broke out, shortly before the beginning of his final year, he volun- teered immediately. After weeks of delay, waiting for his call-up papers to arrive, he was instructed to return to Oxford and fin- ish his degree. Despite having missed virtu- Oxonian Oxonian ally a whole term, he graduated with a double first. The next few years would be spent as a soldier specialising in assault landings behind enemy lines. Healey’s other great pursuit, which he has cultivated with passionate intensity throughout his life, leavening official trips abroad with visits to galleries, opera and theatre was – and still is – the arts. As a student, he expanded his cultural horizons voraciously, sampled musical genres of all kinds, wrote poetry and started the New Oxford Art Society. He is still an enthusias- tic photographer. Through the arts he also developed a life-long talent for making friends across always make the right decisions; [between the role of a good political divides. Cross-party friendships at but what is absolutely disas- parent] and the role of the Oxford included the Balliol organ scholar, trous is if you can’t make up ‘When it was going chancellor in dealing with his and later Conservative prime minister, your mind.’ spending colleagues in cabinet.’ Edward Heath. For Healey, ‘judgement’ well, it was How much did Oxford – What have they enjoyed most since leav- matters most. For support on enjoyable, but Healey read Mods and Greats; ing office? ‘Being able at my relatively this matter, he cites a medieval most of the time Lawson PPE – contribute to advanced age to open new chapters in my predecessor, ‘Richard son of their political formation? For life’, says Lawson. He mentions having Nigel’: ‘The highest skill of the it was just bloody Lawson, ‘The House’ was a moved his home to France, and his work in Exchequer does not lie in calcu- hard work’ ‘marvellous place to be’. In his the House of Lords. Recently, he has lations but in judgement of all memoirs, The View from No. 11, become heavily involved in the politics of kinds.’ The vagaries of official he recalls fencing, acting, ski- climate change and published a book on the figures sometimes taxed Heal- ing and ‘a large number of par- subject, An Appeal to Reason: A Cool Look ey’s own judgement to the limits. When in ties’. He never spoke at the Oxford Union or at Global Warming. Still a contrarian, he 1976, he applied to the IMF, it was for a bothered to join the University Conservative takes issue with the consensus view that politi­cally controversial loan. But the Trea- Association, but he says he relished the cut global warming poses an imminent threat sury’s public sector borrowing requirement and thrust of tutorial debate, often taking a to humanity, and questions the assumption forecast, which provoked the application, contrarian position. Oxford philosophy, he that the benefits of rapidly cutting global turned out to be massively too high. Had recalls, ‘trained its practitioners to think carbon emissions would outweigh the over- accurate statistics been available, he says, he clearly and identify nonsense, however all costs to the world of constraining eco- would have judged the loan unnecessary. dressed up, which was not a bad training for nomic growth. A third requirement for a successful politics’. His most serious political involve- At 92, Healey still ‘keeps in touch with chancellorship – on this both men are in per- ment was as president of the Strasbourg Club, politics’. He visits the House of Lords fect agreement – is not minding being in a a group devoted ‘to the then unfashionable roughly 12 times a year. But his greatest minority of one. ‘If you want to join a group, cause of European union’. pleasures are his lifelong love of the arts; his it limits your freedom of manoeuvre’, says If Lawson’s Oxford, which included mem- wife, the biographer Edna Healey (St Hugh’s Healey. ‘Bad parents cave in to their children bership of the Chatham, ‘a somewhat deca- 1936), whom he met at Oxford, and his fam- all the time, because they want to be popular. dent high Tory dining club’, has echoes of ily. I ask whether he ever hankers to be back But, it is not the right way to bring up a child’, Brideshead Revisited, that of Bradford Gram- in Number 11. His reply is blunt. ‘No, not says Lawson. ‘There is a certain similarity mar School-educated Healey, over a decade really. It’s much nicer here.’

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 33 Oxonians at large L

Snap decision that KEITH epor refocused a life Being hit over the heart by a sniper’s bullet is all in a day’s work for a photojournalist – if his specialism is guerrilla warfare and counter-insurgency. ‘Fortunately, I had very good sniper plates (body armour) which took the impact – xtra even though the left panel blew out’, says E Keith Lepor (St Antony’s 1988). ‘That was, probably, my closest call.’ For over a year, Lepor has been on assignments with the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, where he embedded with NATO troops and led a team of Afghan print and radio Oxonian Oxonian journalists. He came to photojournalism late and chose combat to differentiate himself from younger rivals. ‘When you are trying to build a career you do things you might not want to do’, says Lepor, who previously embedded with UN troops and guerrilla groups in Central Africa. ‘You have to prove yourself.’ A young boy watches French coalition troops: one of Keith Lepor’s images from Afghanistan Originally a specialist in international relations, who took a detour into would increasingly challenge global and women, on remote battlefields, who consultancy and private equity, Lepor security, in general, and western security sacrifice their lives’. As a photojournalist, also saw combat work as an opportunity and economic interests in particular. For he says, your aim is to become invisible. to re-enter issues that had gripped him at me, it was the natural focus.’ ‘You’re there to cover the action. But you Oxford. ‘It was clear [to me] that guerrilla His experiences have given him a never want to become part of the story.’ groups and state-sponsored terrorists profound admiration for ‘the young men www.keithlepor.com

Mirakle in Mumbai

‘Get an idea and just do it, man’, shouts to offices. Their employer is Mirakle business was up and running. A former Dhruv Lakra (Saїd Business School 2007) Couriers, a social business that Lakra set investment banker, he had quit finance over a mobile from a noisy Mumbai taxi. up, last November, to create jobs for deaf after witnessing the human devastation of ‘Life is too short!’ young adults – while operating profitably. the tsunami of Boxing Day 2004. Then his In the background, horns honk and Lakra planned the business father lost the use of his legs in a car crash, toot; brakes screech alarmingly. Oblivious while completing an MBA in social which awoke Lakra’s interest in disability. to the noise, a team of messengers thread entrepreneurship as a Skoll Scholar at Today, Mirakle Couriers employs across the city, delivering packages Oxford. Weeks after he graduated, the over 30 profoundly deaf young adults from poor backgrounds. But for Mirakle, few would have jobs. The women do the sorting. The men deliver. To communicate, everyone uses sign language and SMS text messaging. The biggest problem the business faces, in a culture in which disability is seen as ‘a curse’, is prejudice. ‘Because of the discrimination they have encountered since childhood, deaf workers think of themselves as pretty much worthless’, says Lakra. ‘People are embarrassed by disability.’ Mirakle is challenging that mindset. Already, its clients include Indian corporate giants such as Aditya Birla Group. For now, Lakra is concentrating on Mumbai. But he has big ambitions. Asked how large he wants Mirakle to grow, he replies: ‘As big as FedEx or DHL.’ www.miraklecouriers.com Getting their messages across: some of Dhruv Lakra’s Mirakle Couriers in Mumbai

34 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Oxonians at large

Translating a Building bridges across AWTON L student idea into religious divides commercial gain ‘A priest in a dog collar and a Muslim woman JASON in a hijab’ sounds an odd pairing. But, While his peers were starting City careers together Chris Chivers (Magdalen 1985) and in finance and law, Christian Arno (St Anjum Anwar are challenging stereotypes. John’s 1997) was building Lingo24, a Chivers is Canon Chancellor at Blackburn web-based translation business, in his Cathedral, in a town dubbed the most parents’ spare bedroom in Aberdeen. He segregated in Britain. He arrived in 2005, with xtra had tested the idea, as an undergraduate, a commitment to interfaith dialogue fired by a E during an exchange year in Italy where, period working with Desmond Tutu on truth he says, he persuaded other exchange and reconciliation in South Africa. Once in Challenging stereotypes: Anjum Anwar and students to sell translations over the post, he forged a partnership with Anwar, an Chris Chivers internet for ‘beer money’. education officer at the Lancashire Council Arno launched Lingo24 commercially of Mosques. When the London bombings initiative of which he is particularly proud is a in 2002, supported by fellow entrepreneur on 7 July 2005 blew apart cross-cultural project in which children from predominantly James Owain Shepherd (St John’s 1997), understanding, they took to the streets to talk white and predominantly Asian schools were Oxonian who was building a web development to local people. ‘It was a strange sight, but asked to photograph the most important people company. Start-up funds came courtesy somehow it got people talking.’ and things in their communities. Then both of a nest-egg amassed by gambling £500 Two years ago, their double act was came together to build an imaginary town. from his student loan on the stock market. formalised when Anwar became dialogue Chivers’ next priority is youth leadership, ‘If I had sold at the right time, which development officer at the Cathedral, the first a topic of particular concern in a town where of course I didn’t, I would have made Muslim anywhere to be appointed as cathedral the academically ablest leave for university £100,000’, he says ruefully. As it was, he staff. No fan of ‘hotel-style multiculturalism’, and rarely return. ‘We have to give all our made £15,000, which was enough to get in which different communities ‘stay in young people [irrespective of their academic Lingo24 started. their own rooms’, Chivers has run youth attainment] a feeling they are in a community Today, Arno works with Jack Waley- initiatives with Anwar (who was awarded an to which they can make a difference’, he says Cohen (St John’s 1998), who came in as MBE in 2005 for services to the community), simply. a business partner in 2003. Instead of exploring terrorism and social cohesion. One www.blackburncathedral.com hard-up students, they now employ a global network of professional translators who provide a 24-hour service from Big Fish, Little Pond – how a film-maker is their homes around the world. The most common requests are for translations developing an industry’s future from English into the major European languages. More obscure requirements When the South African authorities declared own ventures under the aegis of Little Pond, that Lingo24 has satisfied include such her persona non grata, under apartheid, a production trust that supports former African tongues as Shona and Ndebele. Melanie Chait (Wolfson 1991) turned to students early in their career. So far, the business, which has a making award-winning documentaries in Big Fish has also won accolades. For the turnover of more than £3m, is thriving, Britain and studied for a doctorate at Oxford. past two years, its students have taken first despite the recession. Some clients have Now, she is back in Johannesburg running and second places in the national Bafundi postponed projects. But against this, says the Big Fish Digital School of Filmmaking, a Film and Television Festival. A remarkable Arno, the company has benefited from social enterprise that trains talented young achievement, she says, ‘when you consider businesses pursuing export opportunities black adults, who otherwise would not have that our students are competing against the in emerging markets. ‘In times of jobs, for media careers. elite film schools, which charge a fortune’. uncertainty people need to communicate Chait hit on the idea of starting a film www.bigfish.org.za more’, he insists. school to tackle unemployment – 40 per cent ISH F www.lingo24.com of black under-25-year-olds with secondary G education are jobless – while serving on the BI board of the South African Broadcasting Corporation. Surveying the post-apartheid ARMION M - workforce, she realised that her industry was

P headed for a crisis. ‘Under apartheid everyone X

ALE rice in [the film industry] was pretty much white and the workforce was ageing. There was no planning for when people retired and no training in new technologies.’ Her solution was to start a free digital film school that would select the most able black candidates, from deprived backgrounds, and use award-winning film and television professionals to teach them. Since its launch in 2003, Big Fish has trained almost 700 students. Most now have jobs as producers, editors and cameramen in large film and television companies. Many others are building their Focus on the future: Big Fish film students Oxonians at large is written by Alicia Clegg

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 35 seum u M s

Preview A hmolean

Ashmolean Museum 7v No 10.00–22.00 & studios, and Oxford’s first rooftop 8 November 10.00–20.00 restaurant. Inside, discover how The Ashmolean reopening civilisations developed as part of

deas Join the museum to celebrate its an interrelated world culture in I reopening in a special weekend- the redisplay of the Ashmolean’s long launch. For the first time, world-renowned collections. visitors will be able to explore Each object’s story will be told the new building designed by tracing the journey of ideas by Rick Mather Architects. and influences through time and Located to the north of the across continents, over four new rts and original museum, it comprises floors of dedicated galleries. A more than 30 new galleries, a In the Cockerell Building, suite of temporary exhibition the newly refurbished galleries of galleries, a new education centre, Western Art will open for the first state-of-the-art conservation time since their closure in 2008. brary

i New Ashmolean, new Titian L The Ashmolean Museum has acquired The Triumph of Love, a dleian o B little-seen circular painting by the great Venetian artist Titian. It is likely to become one of the Ashmolean’s major attractions when it reopens in November after its £61-million redevelopment. The painting, which dates from the mid- 1540s, was executed for Titian’s patron Gabriel Vendramin, and was originally a cover for another painting by the artist, of an unidentified noblewoman dressed in black. The painting depicts Cupid armed with a bow, quiver and arrows, standing on the back of a lion that growls impotently as love rides triumphant. It was acquired by the Ashmolean under the Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) scheme, under which items of historic or artistic importance may be given to the Hebrew translation of Maimonides’ Guide for the Perplexed, c.1300 nation in place of inheritance tax. The donation to the Ashmolean was made possible with an additional grant of Bodleian Library Christ Church Picture £180,000 from the independent charity, the Art Fund. 8ecembe D r–3 May 2010 Gallery Dr Christopher Brown, Director of the Ashmolean, said Crossing Borders: Hebrew Util ebn 7 F ruary 2010 the painting would have ‘tremendous appeal’. Manuscripts as a The Poetry of Draped Figures Meeting-place of Cultures How drapery and clothes enrobe The Bodleian’s winter exhibition the human figure, and how to tells the story of how Jews, depict the varied qualities of Museum of the Christians and Muslims have material, was and remains one of History of Science

together contributed to the tom banwell the challenges in art. With more Util ebn 21 F ruary development of the book. It than 30 Old Master drawings, Steampunk illustrates the cultural exchange, this exhibition explores this Polished brass, plush velvet, the social interaction and the seemingly mundane topic rivets, cogs and leather – imagine religious toleration between Jews and illustrates its richness and the technology of today with the and non-Jews in the Muslim and creative power. Works on display aesthetic of Victorian science. the Christian worlds during the include an early sheet (c.1400) From redesigned practical items late Middle Ages. The exhibition with column-like, cloaked figures, to fantastical contraptions, this draws on the Bodleian Hebrew Leonardo da Vinci’s study of exhibition showcases the work holdings, one of the largest and a sleeve and drapery studies of 12 Steampunk artists. Expect most important collections by Figino, one of Leonardo’s steam-powered computer mice, of Hebrew manuscripts in the followers. clockwork hearts, brass goggles world. and the latest state-of-the-art eye-Pod … Steampunk art: Underground Explorer by Tom Banwell Oxford Alumni Card holders can obtain 10% discounts at the Ashmolean, Bodleian and Museum of Natural History shops, and for becoming a Friend of the Pitt Rivers Museum as well as a £2.50 admission fee to The Botanic Garden.

36 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Opening times/contacts

Ashmolean Museum s

ĺa Beaumont Street Tel: 01865 278000 M

Modern Art Oxford www.ashmolean.org COVA ac T ues to Sat 10.00–17.00 Util n 29 November Sun 12.00–17.00 Karla Black The most comprehensive exhibition to date of the The Bate Collection of Musical Instruments Glasgow-based artist Karla Black, comprising an F aculty of Music ambitious series of sculptures made specifically for the St Aldate’s upper galleries of Modern Art Oxford. Tel: 01865 276139

www.bate.ox.ac.uk deas

Util n 29 November I M on to Fri 14.00–17.00 Encounters: Cova Macías Sat 10.00–12.00 (full term only) Cova Macías’s practice examines how young people Bodleian Library construct their identity. This exhibition, the Spanish Broad Street artist’s first in the UK, contains compelling video work, Tel: 01865 277213/277216 in which the young protagonists present themselves www.ouls.ox.ac.uk/bodley/about/exhibitions

and their stories to camera, blurring the line between M on to Fri 9.00–17.00 rts and Sat 9.00–16.30

documentary and fiction. A Botanic Garden right: Love Song, 2004, by Cova Macías Rose Lane Tel: 01865 286690 www.botanic-garden.ox.ac.uk Daily 9.00–17.00 Oxford Bach Choir Pitt Rivers Museum The University Museum Harcourt Arboretum of Natural History M on to Fri 10.00–17.00 5ecembe D r Util n 15 November (May to Oct, daily 10.00–16.30) Sheldonian Theatre, 19.30 Carolyn Drake: 3–27vembe No r Christ Church Picture Gallery Mendelssohn’s Elijah Photographs of Central Asia Darwin’s Leftovers Christ Church Soloists: David Wilson-Johnson Photographs from Tajikistan and As part of the Charles Darwin Tel: 01865 276172 (Elijah), Katherine Broderick Uzbekistan by Istanbul-based bicentenary celebrations, the Mon to Sat 10.30–13.00, 14.00–16.30 (soprano), Claire Bradshaw photographer Carolyn Drake. museum is hosting an exhibition Sun 14.00–17.00 (mezzo-soprano) and Thomas Museum of the History of Science Util n 11 January 2010 of knitted Victorian taxidermy. Walker (tenor) join the OBC, its Broad Street Gérard Mermoz: Objects in Inspired by the preserved Principal Conductor Nicholas Tel: 01865 277280 Performance animals, birds and reptiles Cleobury and the Royal www.mhs.ox.ac.uk This installation responds collected by Darwin, members of T ues to Fri 10.00–17.00 Philharmonic Orchestra for a to the way the ethnographic the Stroud Knitting Group and Sat and Sun 12.00–17.00 performance of Mendelssohn’s collections are organised within children from Gloucestershire Modern Art Oxford celebrated oratorio. the museum. It reinterprets schools have created a whole P embroke Street natural history world. Tel: 01865 722733 19ecembe D r the ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ in a www.modernartoxford.org.uk Sheldonian Theatre, 19.30 contemporary vein, exchanging T ues to Sat 10.00–17.00, Sun 12.00–17.00 Carol Concert the scientific taxonomy of Royal Society Lecture Museum of Oxford Come and celebrate Christmas museum displays for a theatrical 17h Marc 2010 T own Hall, St Aldates with the Oxford Bach Choir and staging of the objects, offering Sheldonian Theatre, 18.30 Tel: 01865 252761 its Associate Conductor Timothy visitors an alternative basis for Royal Society Wilkins- www.museumoxford.org.uk Byram-Wigfield. Since they their appreciation. Medawar-Bernal Lecture T ues to Fri 10.00–17.00 began in 2003, the OBC carol Sat & Sun 12.00–17.00, Util n 31 January 2010 Given by Melvyn Bragg concerts have become a popular Oxford Bach Choir Archive highlight: To mark the relationship feature in Oxford’s concert www.oxfordbachchoir.org John Bradford, Pioneer of between Wadham College calendar and this year will be no T ickets: Oxford Playhouse, Landscape Archaeology and the Royal Society as they Beaumont Street, OX1 2LW exception. The programme will This archive case display celebrate their 400th and 350th Tel: 01865 305305 be a mix of old and new, with spotlights the groundbreaking anniversaries respectively, www.ticketsoxford.com or www.oxfordbachchoir.org the chance to join in some well- use of aerial photography in Melvyn Bragg (Wadham 1958) Oxford University Orchestra known favourites. landscape archaeology by will give the Wilkins-Bernal- www.ouo.org.uk former Pitt Rivers Museum Medawar lecture. This is a free T ickets: Oxford Playhouse, Oxford University Beaumont Street, OX1 2LW archaeologist, John Bradford public lecture on the history Orchestra Tel: 01865 305305 (1918–75). Bradford’s images of science and is part of the www.ticketsoxford.com 6vembe No r Oxfordshire Science Festival of Etruscan cemeteries, Italian Oxford University Philharmonia Sheldonian Theatre, 20.00 2010. Tickets available from neolithic sites and Roman www.ouphil.oums.org William Walton – centuriation, as well as sites in 1 December, from Tickets Oxford, www.ticketsoxford.com, Pitt Rivers Museum Symphony No.1 the UK, formed the basis of P arks Road Richard Strauss – his celebrated book, Ancient tel: 01865 305305, or in person Tel: 01865 270927 Tod und Verklärung Landscapes (1957). The display from The Oxford Playhouse, www.prm.ox.ac.uk Conductor: Peter Stark also highlights how Bradford’s Beaumont Street, Oxford M onday 12.00–16.30, Tues–Sun 10.00–16.30 wartime work with the RAF led OX1 2LW. The University Museum to innovations in this area of of Natural History archaeological discovery. P arks Road Tel: 01865 272950 www.oum.ox.ac.uk Oxford Alumni Card holders can obtain 10% discounts at the Ashmolean, Bodleian and Museum of Natural History shops, and for becoming a Friend of the Pitt Rivers Museum as well as a £2.50 admission fee to The Botanic Garden. Daily: 10.00–17.00

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 37 FeatureFeature s e g d u J

The major theme of this year’s Alumni Weekend, b o which drew participants from around the world, R kin and a

celebrated the achievements of women from the M ck i University. Jenny Lunnon reports D h P otos by xtra

E The female firsts among equals

In a faded group photo from 1896, each many eminent female politicians who have

Oxonian Oxonian young woman scientist proudly cradles received their education at Oxford. a microscope, stethoscope or other The three days also showcased emblem of her discipline. Among them is contemporary achievements by alumnae animal morphologist Jane Willis Kirkaldy and academics. Sarah Outen (St Hugh’s (Somerville 1887), who would have a long 2004) shared vivid memories of her record- and distinguished academic career and teach breaking single-handed 124-day row across future Nobel Prize-winning chemist Dorothy the Indian Ocean, and Hilary Lister (Jesus Hodgkin (Somerville 1928). 1991) described her gruelling 1,500-mile The third annual Oxford University journey around the British Isles in a yacht Alumni Weekend, held between 25 and 27 adapted so that she can sail it alone, despite September, provided a steady stream of the fact that she is quadriplegic. Other such reminders of the courage and sheer sessions highlighted important new research doggedness of the pioneering women who by female academics. decided that they must fulfil their intellectual Some events reflected the multiple potential and make a useful contribution to responsibilities that characterise many society, through studying and working at an women’s lives. In a panel discussion entitled institution that had excluded them for more ‘A Woman’s Place is in the Boardroom’, than seven centuries. In fact it was not until investment fund manager Nicola Horlick 1959 that the five women’s colleges were (Balliol 1979) described how she coped awarded the same status as the men’s, even with the serious illness of her daughter, though Lady Margaret Hall and Somerville Georgina, while continuing to work at the had been established back in 1879 and top of her profession. In another session, women had been able to take University IT entrepreneur and benefactor of the degrees since 1920. Oxford Internet Institute, Dame Stephanie The principal theme of the Weekend, Shirley, spoke about her autistic son, Giles, ‘Meeting Minds – An Equal Citizenship’, and her commitment to promoting better offered around 1,000 participants the understanding of this disorder. chance to learn about and celebrate the Other lectures and discussions looked achievements of Oxford’s women within at different aspects of citizenship and academia and the wider world. Guided tours equality, or considered how the University of former women’s colleges revealed tributes can increase the representation of women in to famous and unsung female academics, professorships and other senior academic and benefactors and alumnae. St Hugh’s, for administrative roles, and improve diversity in example, displays a striking portrait of its broadest sense, through such initiatives as imprisoned Burmese politician Aung San Suu the Career Development Fellowships. Kyi, who studied PPE there in the late 1960s Between sessions, some delegates shared and is an Honorary Fellow, while a plaque personal memories of the era before women’s commemorates neuropsychologist Freda colleges were properly part of the University. Newcombe, who spent almost 40 years in Jean Thompson, who came up in 1942 to Oxford assessing and caring for people with read French at St Anne’s, said: ‘I think we just head injuries. took it for granted that the men had all those One walking tour focused on sites colleges and we didn’t.’ associated with women who went on to At a reception at the University Museum, become noted writers, including Vera Baroness Ruth Deech, former Principal of Brittain, author of the influential memoir St Anne’s, said: ‘I have found this to be a Testament of Youth, and detective novelist very moving weekend. What a long way we Dorothy L Sayers, whose Gaudy Night is have come, from acceptance to integration, set in Oxford; another looked at the role of and from integration to leadership.’ Then, to such anthropologists as Beatrice Blackwood laughter, she concluded: ‘The woman who and Makereti in the development of the Pitt wants to be equal to men … is lacking in Rivers Museum; and a third recalled the ambition!’

38 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Third Alumni Weekend

Up to the roof, and there are diamonds in the sky Having clambered up to the roof of the Denys Lintott, brought his audience up-to-date Wilkinson Building in Keble Road after with Galaxy Zoo, the largest ‘citizen science’ dark, some intrepid alumni were rewarded project ever undertaken. It has enlisted the with an unusual and dramatic view of the help of 250,000 people in order to identify glowing rose window of St Aloysius’ Church. different types of galaxy, providing much new xtra But looking up was still more exciting. It and valuable information and showing that E was a cloudless night and they used the amateur enthusiasts can still make a genuine Department of Astrophysics’ Philip Wetton contribution to scientific endeavour – and do Telescope to obtain clear views of Jupiter, things that even powerful computers cannot do with its huge, swirling storms and four easily or accurately. So successful has been the moons. approach of Galaxy Zoo that similar projects Because 2009 is the International are planned. These will involve members of the Year of Astronomy, the Alumni Weekend public in such diverse research as monitoring Oxonian included a strand of astronomy-themed the behaviour of crows and helping to events and activities. Among these were a transcribe a vast archive of fragments of papyri tour of the Radcliffe Observatory at Green excavated in Egypt a century ago. Templeton College, once an important place for astronomical observations, and a touring photographic exhibition in the University Parks. One image showed the Hercules Globular Cluster of stars, 25,100 light years away, ‘hanging in the sky like a bag of diamonds’. It was first noted by Oxford astronomer Edmond Halley in 1714. Somerville Junior Research Fellow and co-presenter of The Sky at Night, Dr Chris

‘I just want to come back and be a student again’

As in previous years, the 2009 Alumni back and be a student again. I’d appreciate it Weekend offered a mixture of intellectually more this time!’ stimulating lectures and debates and more Dr Helen Caldwell (Somerville 2001), relaxing activities, including a Messiah Sing- who studied chemistry but is currently In. There were also receptions and dinners, writing a novel, found the Creative Writing some college-based. Organisers responded Masterclass helpful and inspiring. And to feedback from the previous two Weekends for other alumni wishing to develop their by making the breaks between sessions interests or career, or take a new direction, slightly longer, to enable participants to travel there was plenty of practical advice and between venues or to socialise more easily. information on offer, covering distance Many people remarked on how much learning courses offered by the Department they had enjoyed the chance to step out of for Continuing Education; the University’s their everyday working lives – or retirement podcasts on iTunes U; the wealth of web- – and be exposed to so much exciting based resources based on the digitisation of information, enquiry and debate, both in printed books; the alumni services provided their own fields of interest and in areas that by the Careers Service; and the professional were completely new to them. networking opportunities offered by the Sharon Maidment (Jesus 1978), who Alumni Office. read Literae Humaniores, had never before A selection of Alumni Weekend been inside an Oxford science building but events can be watched or heard at: decided to attend some of the astronomy- www.alumniweekend.ox.ac.uk or related events. She reflected: ‘It opens your www.ox.ac.uk/itunes_u eyes to the incredible work that people are doing here and makes you think of For more information, and to register interest in next new things you might do in your own life.’ year’s Weekend, which will be held between 24 and Former metallurgy student Joanne Clark (St 26 September 2010, see the website address above or Catherine’s 1982), said: ‘I just want to come telephone 01865 611621.

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 39 Oxford University Society Alumni Office News www.alumni.ox.ac.uk

Oxford for life Alison Edwards, Head of Alumni Communications, reports on

xtra a range of new schemes linking students past and present E Over the last two years, the University Alumni Office has been busy laying the foundations of a new programme aimed at current students. Increasingly, the majority of

Oxonian Oxonian university applicants are thinking about their future career, even

before they arrive at college, with

more candidates making their e g

UCAS choices based on graduate u J

employment statistics, than on o

R d s b which is the ‘best student union bar’. First-years are already worrying about which career path was one of the main aims The well-established Oxford to choose, second-years are trying behind the setting up of the University Society Student to firm up internships and work Oxford Student Alumni Society Awards scheme provides funding experience placements for the ‘long (OxSAS) in 2008. Supported for student travel (and has LEFT: The Oxford10 2008 vac’, and finalists are wondering by the Alumni Office, but run recently been expanded to offer Christmas Party why the old milk-round companies by students, for students, the support for sport and hardship CENTRE: Some of last year’s don’t seem quite as thick on the group aims to introduce its as well). The aim of the scheme OxSAS committee members ground as they used to … members to the concept of life is to support and foster personal Above: Tom Venables (Ch Ch) after Oxford, drawing on the growth and development, won an OUS travel award Building a community expertise of a range of engaged initiative and enterprise. The It is now more important than ever alumni who, through speaking travel funds come from F or alumni who are looking that the University prepares its at events, can help students donations by Oxford alumni, for a more active way to engage students for life after Oxford, and prepare for the wider world. as well as commission earned with current students, there are the University Alumni Office is via the Oxford Alumni Travel a number of practical initiatives keen to play its part in this process. More than an education Programme, and the monies have to help prepare tomorrow’s Alumni, after all, are uniquely In addition to speaking at been used by students to help graduates for the workplace. The placed to offer advice and support OxSAS events, alumni have with everything from cultural Careers Service runs the Oxford to current students, based on their the opportunity to engage with tours of China to expeditions to Careers Network, a database of own skills and experience. This students in a variety of ways. Greenland. alumni willing to offer career

P i g e o n h o l e s

Forthcoming events Oxford10 New chairman for OUS Board elections Oxford10 Christmas Party at Oxford10 is a network for T he retirement of Dr Richard T he Oxford University Society Shakespeare’s Globe, London: graduates of the last 10 years, Repp, member of the Oxford Board is seeking the views of 5 December 2009 and organises a wide range University Society’s Board since members on a proposal to Varsity Rugby: 10 December 2009 of events, including wine 1987 and Chairman since 2005, alter the method of election Meet the new Vice-Chancellor: tastings, gallery viewings and was announced at the Open for some of the Society-elected 18 February 2010 high-profile speaker events. Meeting during the 2009 Alumni members of the Board. The The Boat Race: 4 April 2010 Other initiatives include a new Weekend. The Rt Hon The intention is to help ensure a North American Reunion: mentoring scheme, in which Baroness Shephard of Northwold, balanced representation of the 16–17 April 2010 recent graduates help current Gillian Shephard (St Hilda’s 1958), membership as a whole and students or those just leaving has been appointed as Dr Repp’s continuing representation by The full events programme can be seen at university. If you’d like to get successor by the Chancellor, who branch officers.F urther details are www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/events involved, please sign up at is President of the Society. available at www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/ www.oxford10.com. governance or by contacting the address at the top of this page.

Comments and suggestions should be received by Monday 14 December 2009.

40 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Contact the Alumni Office: If you have any questions about the information included on this page, or would like to find out more about the alumni relations programme at Oxford, please contact us at: [email protected]; +44 (0) 1865 611610. Alumni Office, University of Oxford, University Offices, Wellington Square, Oxford OX1 2JD, UK. mentoring to students unsure How you can get involved Oxford Alumni Travel Programme of what direction to take or how Speaker events: do you have some to get into a specific industry valuable experience that students The closing date for the 2009 Travel Photography competition has or occupation. Similarly, the could learn from? Would you now passed and our panel of judges has selected the winners. To see Oxford University International be able to spare an evening, in these entries, visit www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel_competition. xtra Internships Programme (OUIIP) Oxford or London, to talk to a The new 2010 brochure for the Oxford Alumni Travel E was set up in 2008 to provide group of students? Contact us at Programme is now available. Tours are accompanied by trip work placements in a range of [email protected] or scholars, who offer an expert insight into the destinations visited. sectors, to give applicants the +44 (0)1865 611617. F orTHCOMING highlights chance to gain essential skills and Oxford Careers Network: experience, preferably outside the more alumni who register their country of origin. All of the a profile with the database, the placements in 2009 were offered more students benefit. You can Oxonian through alumni. simply post a career history, ace studytours It’s not ‘goodbye’, or volunteer to act as a career it’s ‘au revoir’ mentor. See www.careers.ox.ac.uk/ alumni for more details. r

The longest part of an individual’s g If you went down in the relationship with Oxford takes last decade and are interested in hurti uten:yvonne reinholdsten place after they have left the being involved in our Oxford10 quads and halls of academia. The programme, we’d love to hear Oxford10 programme, for alumni from you. The committee is up to 10 years out, aims to help always looking for volunteers Polar Nights and Mystical The Somme with the transition from student to help organise events, or to Northern Lights to alumnus. Its volunteer-run 24–27pl A ri 2010 suggest new activities. Simply committee organises a wide range 14–18eb F ruary 2010 Join this exclusive tour to the visit www.oxford10.com to find out of events and activities aimed Explore the Norwegian coast on Somme battlefields to learn more. specifically at recent leavers, from this joint Oxford–Cambridge, about the poetry and music of Internships: the OUIIP ‘New2London’ talks to the annual astronomy-themed voyage the war years, accompanied is already looking for new Oxford10 Christmas party. with trip scholars Professor by Malcolm Oxley. Visits will sponsors for the 2010 internship Roger Davies (Oxford) and Dr include the northern and programme. See www.alumni. Our student programme can only continue Peter Clarkson (Cambridge). southern sectors of the Somme ox.ac.uk/internships for more to develop and expand with the active This tour will include a series battlefield, the Memorial to the information about the scheme involvement of our alumni, but the of lectures throughout the Missing at Thiepval and the benefits to both parties look set to go on To find out how to support student cruise and at least one session Historial de la Grande Guerre growing. For more information on any of initiatives at Oxford financially, you can visit will be spent on deck, at night, Museum. these initiatives and any other activities the campaign website at exploring the heavens. undertaken by the Alumni Office, see www.campaign.ox.ac.uk www.alumni.ox.ac.uk. For further information, visit www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel

New Oxford External member sought New Alumni gift range Oxford around the world Alumni Card for Council The University of Oxford Shop Enclosed with this issue of Oxford A new, plastic The University is beginning the is introducing an exclusive Today is the 2009–10 edition of version of the Oxford Alumni process to find a new external new range of products for our annual publication, Oxford Card will be issued with the Hilary member of the University Council, alumni, including clothing, pens, Alumni Networks at Home issue of Oxford Today. It will look with an advertisement in this glassware, a special watch and and Abroad. This publication very similar to your current card, issue of Oxford Today. The vacancy other items. highlights the valuable work although you will have a new will arise in Michaelmas term The new range is available that alumni volunteers do, from Alumni Card number. Please note: 2011. The role is a voluntary one, online at www.oushop.com. All helping Oxonians connect with the new card will be attached to but external members will be Oxford Alumni Card-holders are each other, to acting as University the Oxford Today address sheet – expected to spend a minimum of entitled to a 10 per cent discount ambassadors in their locality. do not throw this away! For more two days per month in Oxford. on all products in the University Work is currently under way details visit: www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/ Shop. on redeveloping the networks alumni_card. Please ensure we Contact the Registrar’s office for further section of our website. Check have your current contact details details. [email protected] or back in November to find out all by completing the update form 01865 280415. See Directory, page 53 about alumni groups at at www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/update. www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/networks.

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 41 OXFORDTODAY_ROSL_160909:Historic House 270x180 Advt 16/9/09 12:00 Page 1

Enjoy Clubhouses in London & Edinburgh & around the world

Special joining fee discounts for Oxford University alumni start November 2009

The Royal Over-Seas League is a non profit making mutual society which offers members a wide variety of benefits including access to centrally situated clubhouses in London and Edinburgh. The present Chairman of the League and his two immediate predecessors are Oxford graduates.

The London clubhouse, comprising two period houses, is in a prime location bordering Green Park and near the Ritz Hotel. Over-Seas House has a private garden, al fresco dining, restaurant, butt ery for light meals, bar, drawing room, 80 air-conditioned bedrooms and seven conference and private dining rooms. The Edinburgh clubhouse is centrally situated at 100 Princes Street.

In addition to economical central London pricing*, the League offers a varied events programme, inter-club younger members group, quarterly journal, discounts on certain cruises and tours, in-house art exhibitions and concerts, and short term access to over 90 other clubs around the world in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Hong Kong, Malaysia, India, Pakistan, South Africa, Kenya, Gibraltar, Ireland, Spain, USA and elsewhere.

Specially discounted joining fees for Oxford Today readers range from £57.50 to £135 depending on place of residence. 2010 annual subscriptions range from £109 to £270 (effective from 1 November 2009 if wished). The joining fee is waived for those aged 17-25.

For further information please contact the Membership Department, remembering to quote OXFORD TODAY.

Over-Seas House, Park Place, St James’s Street, London SW1A 1LR Tel: 020 7408 0214 Fax: 020 7499 6738 (Enquiries: 9.00am-5.00pm Monday-Friday - exts. 214 and 216) Website: www.rosl.org.uk E-mail: [email protected]

*London clubhouse: gin & tonic £4.50; pint of beer from £3.95; house wine from £3.65; bar food £4.85–£6.00; three course lunch/dinner in the restaurant from £24.95; in the garden £22.75; scones, Devon cream and preserves with tea or coffee in the garden, buttery or drawing room £6.70; evening events from £4.00; air-conditioned bedrooms £95 - £180; e-mail and computer facilities in Central Lounge, broadband internet connection in bedrooms. Prices correct at time of design, September 2009. Sport g ppin o T Graham ews N

S crumdown University with the kids

Oxford’s rugby chief is taking the sport ‘away from the ing. My club coaches are very old-fashioned: ivory tower’, to schoolchildren. Steven Casey reports if you’re tackled you go to ground immedi- ately. But Steve has taught us the new rugby, teve Hill is a rugby missionary. Ashton [the former England coach] is coach- where you offload and keep the ball alive.’ The University’s Director of Rugby ing our backs, for heaven’s sake! – and we Under Hill, OURFC has a budget to help has run summer schools for local should be passing on their knowledge.’ players get coaching or refereeing badges, S children for the last five years, and Hill himself is one of only 10 RFU level and Hill takes the education of his coaching now he’s enthusing about his Rugby Acad- 5 coaches, the highest qualified in the game, network very seriously. The academy, too, emy, in which Blues players work with 9 and for years he has been passing his knowl- educates coaches. ‘The dads who bring their to 14-year-olds for 10 cold, dark Thursday edge on beyond his University sides, through children along are often the “mini-rugby” evenings from January to March. But, I ask his college coaching scheme. But the acad- coaches at the clubs, so surreptitiously, we’re him, what’s the benefit for OURFC? After emy, established with 45 young players in also teaching them. It’s not just what to all, Hill can’t award university places to his 2009, spreads his expertise far wider. coach, it’s how. Coaching generally is becom- charges. Isn’t it all rather tangential to his ‘Rugby coaches at school or junior club ing more “player-centred”, and kids certainly ‘core business’? level don’t do much for individual skills. We learn better if they’re encouraged to think up Hill suggests that he’s ‘growing support’, give them far more individual attention – their own answers.’ but he knows his match-day turnstiles will one coach per 10 youngsters – and they Brendan McKercher, the Blues’ scrum- hardly clog up with a few extra families. work on basics like catching, passing, the half and a former professional with Borders Eventually the evangelist in him breaks out. “clear-out”, one-to-one tackling.’ in Scotland, loves the communication chal- ‘Look, when I came here 13 years ago this Will Sharp, a 13-year-old front-row for- lenge. ‘I had the under-10s this year, and was the rugby equivalent of an ivory tower. ward from Abingdon, thinks that’s exactly you’ve got to make every minute enjoyable But everyone in the game has a responsibil- right for him. ‘My club does some skills or they soon lose interest. So we use a lot of ity to attract people into rugby. The number work – mostly team organisation – but then rugby-related games, like a form of tag in of 18-year-olds coming to universities in we all play match rugby where we might not which you can’t run with the ball, so you’re general, wanting to play our sport, is declin- get a chance to use the skill – or we get away forced to pass. For me, the satisfaction of ing every year, and we can help reverse that. with doing it badly. At the academy we prac- seeing them achieve something new is enor- ‘I also firmly believe that the best coaches tise the skill, then they create a “match situ- mous.’ need to work with the youngest players, not ation” demanding that skill, and it’s ‘Everybody wins,’ observes Hill, ‘our stu- just with mature stars. They do it in Aus­ monitored. Everyone tells you to keep your dents, the kids, their dads and their own tralia, and their drop-out rate is far lower body low when you tackle, but at the acad- clubs or schools.’ I remark that it’s far more than ours. OURFC has great coaches – Brian emy it’s enforced!’ than the other headline sports clubs in Will points out another advantage. ‘For Oxford do (though smaller University sports above: Bright prospect: Freddie Priors, aged instance, the rules on mauling have changed are often good at outreach). ‘Hey, we have a 10, an aspiring scrum-half, in a practice recently and “bridging” was made illegal. one-line mission statement in this club, and session with Brendan McKercher, his coach But we’re learning with current Blues players, it’s “Beat Cambridge”,’ grins Hill. ‘But being at the academy and they’ve worked out effective new maul- good citizens doesn’t detract from that at all.’

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 43

Books and CDs reviewed in Oxford Today all have an Oxford connection: their subject-matter is the University or city, and/ or the author is a current or former student or academic. We welcome suggestions from authors and publishers. Please send R eviews brief details to the Editor, at [email protected]. We cannot mention every book or CD, and choose those likely to be of general interest, rather than specialised academic texts. Making the world less wrong Mark Davies discovers the life story of a pioneering humanitarian arrested in 1919. Later that year, she and her younger The Woman Who Saved the deas Margaret Hall (1895–98) ‘she sister, Dorothy, launched the I Children: A Biography of went “slumming” around the Save the Children Fund at a Eglantyne Jebb, the Founder less affluent parts of Oxford packed meeting at the Royal of Save the Children like the alleys by the canal’ Albert Hall. and undertook voluntary Eglantyne Jebb continued Clare Mulley work in London’s deprived to steer SCF until her final Oneworld East End, an experience the years, despite ill-health. rts and

9781851686575, £18.99 girl from a comfortable rural Readers should be aware that A upbringing in Shropshire it is her life, and the many ‘The world is wrong.’ This was the found sufficiently inspiring and varied influences on it, precocious assessment of Eglantyne to consider leaving Oxford with which the book is most Jebb (1876–1928) when aged only eight. before completing her degree. concerned, rather than the organisation Clare Mulley’s meticulously researched However, it was the desperate she founded. Consequently, it is not until biography details the subsequent condition of civilians in Europe after Chapter 12 (of 16) that we reach the all- influences on the woman who went on the First World War that inspired Jebb’s important year of 1919. It is a testimony to try to alter this early assessment, by greatest achievement. It was then that she to Jebb’s remarkable humanitarianism, founding the world’s largest independent realised a truism of civil conflict: that ‘the that the one rule she announced from the organisation for children, the Save the soldiers are the “Heroes of Europe”, but Albert Hall stage that year, to ‘help them Children Fund (SCF). it is the thousands of sick and starving whatever their country, whatever their Ironically for someone who was to and helpless and deserted folk ... who religion’, still holds true in an organisation inspire such permanent benefit for the pay the price for war’s arbitrament’. It that, 90 years later, now works to make world’s children, Jebb never had children was this realisation that spurred Jebb’s the world less ‘wrong’ in over 120 herself, nor did she ever marry. ‘I don’t efforts to raise awareness and money for countries. care for children’, she is quoted as saying the children who were victims of the in 1900 – though she did, obviously, care war, including those of Germany; for Mark Davies is an Oxford historian, writer and guide about them. During her years at Lady this supposed lack of patriotism she was with a background in international development

Digging deep into the past Nina Morgan on a tale of strange fossils, lost life forms and exotic locations

Darwin’s Lost World: Precambrian – the period famous for containing fossils The Hidden History of that pre-dates the Cambrian of early multicellular life. Animal Life and is now known to have Brasier’s search for spanned more than 80 per Precambrian fossils has taken Martin Brasier cent of Earth’s history – as him to remote areas around Oxford University Press ‘a Lost World’. And so, in the world. His descriptions 9780199548972 £16.99 many ways, it remains. The of the logistical, political and cause of the Cambrian cultural challenges he has had It is 150 years since Darwin’s On the explosion – and indeed, to overcome make for amusing Origin of Species appeared, and Darwin- whether it really happened – reading. For example, a taste themed exhibitions and events abound. is a topic that has dominated for arak, a fermented mare’s Darwin’s book shocked Victorian society the career of Martin milk ‘tasting faintly of yoghurt with its suggestion that life forms evolved Brasier, a palaeontologist/ and lightly scented with eau-de-cheval- over millions of years: by implying that palaeobiologist who now leads a thriving derrière’, he reveals, is de rigueur in the Earth was very much older than many research group at the Department of Earth steppes of Outer Mongolia. believed, it challenged the literal truth of Sciences in Oxford. If you are expecting a book about biblical creation. In spite of the repeated references to Darwin’s work, this one may disappoint. Darwin himself recognised that his Darwin and other early geologists, this But if you are searching for a read that book raised many unanswered questions. book deals less with historical research combines musings on the origins of life, One of the great conundrums centred than with Brasier’s own career. And a the universe and everything, with cracking on the ‘Cambrian explosion’, when a vast fascinating one it is. After studying modern yarns about a geologist’s adventures in the range of life forms seemed to suddenly Caribbean marine ecosystems, in the early field, this is for you. appear in the fossil record in rocks at the 1970s he became hooked on Precambrian base of the Cambrian period (542–488 life, having been presented with a rock Nina Morgan has a DPhil in Geology (Wolfson 1976) million years ago). Darwin referred to the from the Ediacara Hills in Australia, and is a science writer based near Oxford

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 45 Reviews

Book briefings xtra deas E I The physicist Niels Bohr defined an expert as ‘a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field’. In The Decisive Moment: How the Brain Makes Up Its

rts and Mind (Canongate, 9781847673138, £16.99), Jonah Lehrer (Wolfson 2003) Oxonian Oxonian A explains how the methods of modern neuroscience – notably brain-imaging – are helping us to understand the complexities of human decision-making and considers the implications for education and learning in general. He a demoralising experience. One useful Geek Atlas: 128 Places Where Science concludes: ‘The problem with praising life skill she did acquire while at Oxford, and Technology Come Alive (O’Reillly, kids for their innate intelligence … is however, was how to cook, learning 9780596523206, £22.99). In this original that it misrepresents the neural reality recipes and methods over the phone and entertaining guidebook, his starting of education. It encourages kids to avoid from her mother. Dishes appropriate for point is places associated with eminent the most useful kind of learning activities, a student budget included spicy potatoes scientists and their breakthroughs. These which is learning from mistakes. Unless cooked in 12 different ways. The Settler’s range from the huge and impressive, you experience the unpleasant symptoms Cookbook: A Memoir of Love, Migration such as CERN in Geneva and the Very of being wrong, your brain will never and Food (Portobello, 9781846270833, Large Array of radio telescopes in New revise its models. Before your neurons £20) is an unusual autobiography Mexico, to modest museums such as can succeed, they must repeatedly punctuated by the recipes that are the Institut Pasteur in Paris and the fail. There are no shortcuts for this entwined with Alibhai-Brown’s memories. Mendel Museum of Genetics at Brno in painstaking process.’ His analysis – just Having grown up as an East Asian in the Czech Republic. They also include one aspect of an eloquent book bursting Uganda, she found herself exiled in the Iron Bridge in Shropshire, and other with ideas – may be of particular interest Britain when her entire community was pioneering bridges, and the Cambridge to those who have experienced the expelled by Idi Amin. The blending and pub where Crick and Watson announced Oxford tutorial system and reflected on adapting of different culinary traditions that they had discovered the secret of life. the pros and cons of this pedagogical becomes a metaphor for the gradual Descriptions of places are complemented approach. acceptance of life in a new land by a by accessible explanations of the relevant How people made choices in the person with a complicated history and scientific ideas. Oxford is represented by early modern era, from around the an exceptional sensitivity to the nuanced the Museum of the History of Science, Reformation to the American War of meanings to be found in food. the Penicillin Memorial, the house of Independence, is a subject that has It can be hard to obtain information astronomer Edmond Halley, and the absorbed Sir Keith Thomas,F ellow of about sights of current or historical site of Robert Boyle’s laboratory, which St John's and All Souls, and former scientific interest from tourist offices. To prefaces a short exposition on Boyle and President of Corpus Christi, for much of address this problem, John Graham- the gas laws. his academic life. His immersion in that Cumming (LMH 1986) has written The Oxford Professor of English Laurie historical period has enabled him to Maguire brings an exceptional range construct what he calls ‘a retrospective of scholarship to her literary biography ethnography … approaching the past Helen of Troy: From Homer to in the way an anthropologist might Hollywood (Wiley-Blackwell, approach some exotic society.’ In 9781405126359, £17.99), in The Ends of Life: Roads to Fulfilment which she examines the many in Early Modern England (OUP, contradictory ways in which 9780199247233, £20) he investigates the myth of Helen has been the decisions people made about such retold over 28 centuries. Her crucial matters as work and personal concluding chapter, ‘Parodying relationships as they strove to achieve Helen’, celebrates the vein of ‘a life well lived’. irreverence this solemn story The Oxford approach to teaching, has inspired. as it was in the early 1970s at least, did not suit Yasmin Alibhai-Brown Book reviews are edited by (Linacre 1972), who found her Jenny Lunnon graduate studies in English literature

46 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Reviews

Literature on the move David Sergeant welcomes some new perspectives on a controversial grouping of post-war poets

The Movement Reconsidered: Essays on Larkin, What these essays share, Amis, Gunn, Davie and their Contemporaries beyond their subject matter, is the ability to write jargon-free Edited by Zachary Leader the subject’s boundaries, which prose that makes room for the Oxford University Press results in readings that never human character of both of become crude or programmatic. the writers under discussion deas 9780199558254, £18.99 I Much of the book’s richness and the essayists themselves. It is only appropriate that some of the lies in this range and variety. For In the first place, this gives qualities that characterised the Movement instance, Craig Raine’s tracing readings that are as lucid as – the name coined in 1954, by the literary of the undercover romantic they are perceptive. However, editor of the Spectator, for a clutch of strain in Larkin’s poetry gives even without observations

emerging writers – should also imbue way to Terry Castle’s compelling as sharp as that of James rts and this collection of 17 essays dedicated to a account of Larkin’s strangely Fenton on the ‘little ugliness A reconsideration of its work. A conversational dedicated impersonation, in tax’ we have to pay to get to clarity and down-to-earth intelligence the Willow Gables fictions, of the beautiful bits in Larkin’s poetry, ensure that the volume will reward the ‘a leering, half-mad, sapphistically inclined it would be hard to resist the charms of a attention of the casual reader, even as it author of books for girls’. We get Colin volume that can make room, in passing, for becomes essential reading for students of the McGinn pondering Amis’s great comic an anecdote featuring Harold Pinter and Movement and its times. novel Lucky Jim in relation to the rise of the a pair of sunglasses, or Nicholas Jenkins’s As Zachary Leader notes in his ‘ordinary bloke’ in 1950s philosophy, followed recollection of how W G Moore, responsible introduction, the splenetic opinions by Deborah Cameron on the Movement for policing Larkin’s boozy residence at expressed by some Movement writers – writers’ ideas about language. And one of the St John’s College, was also responsible for Larkin’s dismissal of the ‘mystification and chief pleasures of the volume is the inclusion ‘gently’ introducing him to alcohol ‘in the outrage’ of modernism being one of the more of pieces by Anthony Thwaite and Robert form of Woodpecker cider’. polite – have too frequently been met with Conquest, who were actually there when the an equally undiscriminating critical response. Movement was on the move, and by Blake David Sergeant completed his DPhil on Rudyard In these essays, however, the contributors are Morrison, who produced one of the first major Kipling’s prose in 2008 and is now a lecturer and JRF at given licence to go their separate ways within studies of its work. Somerville College

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 47 Distractions Exercise Clues are divided equally into three types: (i) an extraneous word must be removed before solving, noting its first letter; (ii) the wordplay yields the answer plus an extra letter; xtra deas (iii) a letter in the definition is a misprint and solvers must identify the E I correct letter to replace it. The 48 letters thus found indicate an event whose consequences can be seen in the grid, connecting Oxford with five unclued entries. Please send your solution by 4 January 2010 to Distractions, c/o Janet Avison, Public Affairs Directorate, University Offices, Wellington rts and Square, Oxford OX1 2JD. This issue's prize is a copy of The Geek Atlas: Oxonian Oxonian A 128 Places Where Science and Technology Come Alive (O’Reilly, £22.99). John Higgs, Queen's 1979 Tri nit y crossword solution, page 53 Crossword Editor: Mark Thakkar (Balliol 1999)

ACROSS 37 Cry from Scots, receiving English 6 Showy plait in hair I styled (4) 27 Source of creed? Oceania, 1 Female composer of opera using yeomen’s arrows launched from 7 Still dancing, enjoying cheerful surprisingly (6) traditional tale (4) here? (4) tunes (5) 28 Native American cutting top 14 Blur distinction at first, showing 38 One turned cap around, shielding 8 Philosophies in text that I turned from hide (4) regret about it (4) face (4) up (4) 29 Shoddy lid erected at ends and 16 Evil form with ghastly head shocking 40 Grub cooked in a commercial 9 Hear old sheep catch up (3) tacked over (5) establishment (5) member of cinema audience (8) 10 Takes on sorting post after a day 31 Proverb initially ignored, containing 17 Bach’s top-grade composition (6) 41 Scots not part of church (3) off (6) nothing amazing – it’s self- evident (5) 19 Secretary has right form (3) 44 Phantoms seen wandering within 11 Newspaper raising concern about 20 Grain store almost holding nothing confines of empty Bodleian (6) a ‘medicinal’ herb (6) 32 Before appointments, nurse calms patients down? (7) (5) 45 Seeded Frenchman also in action (8) 13 Butter ordered again finally by 21 Dreadfully sharp file (4) 47 Send our schedule back (4) diner (6) 34 Half seen, rising behind those dunes (6) 24 Therapist also makes this essential 49 Narks one by beginning to laugh in 15 40 songs composed for oil (4) odd snorts (8) goddess (5) 36 Depression reported – issue note for tranquilliser (6) 25 Henry made a surprisingly fine new 50 Brats sounding like innocent little 16 Had wild time in Florida (5) 39 Partly trained ring-tailed lemur (5) leader (7) creatures (4) 18 Sharpen garden tool - new, 26 Judges make law stick? About time! DOWN almost (4) 42 Growl at some strangers turning up (4) (5) 2 Sort of holly one notices about after 22 Holy places where Virgin Mary, 30 Machinery injecting drug into sugar start of Yuletide (6) perhaps, receives thanks (5) 43 Heartless philosopher is a bit of a fool (4) mixture (5) 3 Tore enormous tiger’s heart out (3) 23 Turns from religion and summons 35 Engineers speak about limited time 4 Worked fabric and glanced away, demons, embracing a terrible sin (9) 46 To read a newspaper (3) off duty (4–3) unravelling top part (9) 47 Length of material for fashion magazine (3)

Bridge D ealer East N/S vul. Twenty years ago, a team of four students and a spade, and arrange to cash his trumps NORTH two dons made it to the last eight of the two and run diamonds. East scores one more ♠ 10 5 2 major national knock-out events. The team’s trump trick, but no spades. Haydon as ♥ Q most recognised player was Richard Haydon, East found a superior defence, though. On ♦ A K J 7 3 then Dean of Brasenose and now one of its the club queen he discarded a diamond ♣ Q 7 6 2 senior faculty. Here is a deal defended by him. loser (correct whether South has a club WEST E east North-South got to their second-best left or not). Declarer took the heart queen ♠ K Q 7 ♠ 9 8 6 3 game contract after aggressive tactics from and came to the diamond queen to test ♥ 3 ♥ J 10 8 6 5 2 West. Let’s look at the projected fate of Four trumps. Then he started to run diamonds, ♦ 9 7 4 ♦ 10 6 2 Hearts on a top spade lead. Declarer wins but Haydon could ruff the third diamond, and unblocks the heart queen, comes to the and the defenders were assured three ♣ A 10 8 5 4 3 ♣ J diamond queen and cashes a second top more tricks, whether South over-ruffed or SOUTH trump, then runs diamonds. East ruffs in as discarded, for down one. ♠ A J 4 soon as he can, but South can discard both Could declarer have done better after ♥ A K 9 8 7 4 his spades and has ten tricks. trick two? Yes; he must play on diamonds ♦ Q 5 In fact West chose to lead the club ace before taking the heart queen from dummy. ♣ K 9 at trick one, which looks no better for the When East ruffs high, declarer pitches a defence, but South ‘deceptively’ dropped his spade. He can then win the spade switch, West north east south club king. West stolidly continued with the cross to the heart queen, and lead a fourth Pass 1♥ club ten, squashing South’s nine and forcing diamond. This neutralises one of the 3♣ dbl. pass 4♥ declarer to put up the queen from dummy. defenders’ major-suit winners. All pass If East ruffs in, then South can pitch Barry Rigal (Queen’s 1976)

48 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Chess CD reviews Here is surely the most audacious devices, alto and tenor in close harmony, recording for many years. The ill-advisedly raising the unforgettable NMC Songbook (NMCD150) is a ghosts of Abraham and Isaac. James four-CD panorama of the act of Macmillan’s duet for trebles subsumes composing in Britain now – well, Britten altogether more successfully. at least composing by those who Few of these composers use a formal call themselves composers. There design, like a repeated verse melody (or deas

are 90-odd here, commissioned for even line-melody), though exceptions I a bottle of bubbly each to write a include three of my favourites, Lefanu’s three-minute song in English. Two- lovely lyric Rossetti setting, Crosse’s thirds of the tracks involve Oxonians. They ‘Dirge’ from Cymbeline and Anthony Powers’s include eight composers: Nicola Lefanu, Gordon ‘Shining Plain’ (the only Housman here). Crosse, Robert Keeley, Richard Baker, Robert There’s the odd dull effort, and inevitably you’ll

Saxton, Bayan Northcott, Tarik O’Regan, and react badly to some. But in the age of downloads rts and www.nmcrec.co.uk the Renaissance Thomas Morley, whose ‘Galliard’ you can compile your own set ( ; A punctuates the discs. Performers include tenors Ben test-drive its one-minute samples). Mine would McShane – I. Sokolov Hulett and Dan Norman, soprano Claire Booth, and include Nicholas Sackman’s jazzy medieval marimba, legend James Bowman, whose rendition of Joseph Alison Bauld’s vivid Titania and especially two songs White to play Phibbs’s Moon’s Funeral is one highlight. The lion’s that musicalise the essential spirit of their texts – A challenge for readers – without share of the pianism is by Andrew Ball (Queen’s Stephen Montague channelling the ruthlessness of deep analysis try to guess the 1968) and Ian Burnside (Merton 1974), one of the Blake’s ‘Poison Tree’, and Sadie Harrison’s brilliant next move made in this position project’s begetters. ‘Easter Zunday’, with William Barnes’s Dorzet dialect by the recent University College The discs both fascinate and challenge. Does poem peppered with pianistic exclamation marks, maths and philosophy graduate a good song need to be instantly memorable or blustery, playful, and joyously alive. Grandmaster Luke McShane, striking, or can it work more insidiously? What William Whitehead (Univ 1990) is making at the Staunton Memorial approaches are popular among composers? How a fine reputation as an organist-scholar, and tournament, London 2009. does this work stand against the historical ‘canon’? Mendelssohn’s six organ sonatas (CHAN10532) are Well, the melodic ‘hook’ of popular music here played with verve on Answer is seldom found here. Instead it’s often a sound- the contemporary organ of After the moves impression, like a startling face, that sticks first. Buckingham Palace. Don’t 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.d3 David Sawer’s setting of Edward Thomas is an expect the greatness of Bc5 5.c3 Bb6 6.Bb3 d6 7.h3 Ne7 example: properly elemental with wild and windy The Hebrides: the English 8.Nbd2 c6 9.Nc4 Bc7 10.Qc2 Ng6 sopranos yodelling across tubular bells. Surprisingly, bourgeois flavour of some 11.g3 d5 12.Ne3 h6 13.Bd2 Be6 only Jonathan Lloyd’s blues-y strum, and David movements is not my 14.c4 Ne7 15.g4 d4 16.Nf5 Bxf5 Bedford’s four-square phrasing and rhythm, seem to cup of espresso, but the 17.exf5 e4 18.dxe4 d3 19.Qc3 0–0 refer to the ubiquitous popular-musical landscape. Bachian movements are We reach the diagram position Britten still looms in the rear-view mirrors. splendid. where McShane, probably a O’Regan recycles one of Britten’s most magical Graham Topping bit worse, came up with the astonishing move: 20.Bc2!? I wonder how many readers would even consider Poetry this surprising sacrifice, which demonstrates the enterprising and Elisabeth Rowe Madam Butterfly imaginative style that characterises Huddling past the cemetery McShane’s play. The move Elisabeth Rowe (née Chenevix- head bent as usual to the wet pavement generates a somewhat unclear Trench) read English at I might have missed the winter cherry, position with two pawns and Somerville, after which some play for the piece. Sadly, it she taught the subject at forfeited its fragile promise of was probably not good enough, Cheltenham Ladies’ College. earth’s unfolding since Sokolov, a very strong After a period of full-time and the knowledge that it hurts to hope. grandmaster himself, went on to family life, she joined the win the game after: Citizens Advice Bureau service Pale blossoms pierce their prison bark, in Devon and Cornwall, where drift on the grey sky. 20.Bc2 dxc2 21.Qxc2 c5 22.e5 she became an area tutor in Welfare Benefits and Bureau Nd7 23.0–0–0 Nxe5 24.Bxh6 Qb8 Manager. She then trained as a social worker and worked I have wept for less: 25.Bxg7 Kxg7 26.Ng5 Ng8 27.Qc3 for 10 years with children and families in Devonport and a woman in a white kimono Nf6 28.Kb1 Nc6 29.Rd7 Nd4 West Devon. Married with three adult offspring, she now singing to welcome death; 30.Ne6+ Nxe6 31.g5 Nxg5 32.Rg1 lives on the edge of Dartmoor. She began writing fiction Bf4 33.h4 Qe5 34.Rxg5+ Kh8 0–1 and poetry in 1997. The poem that follows is from her strewn paper petals; first volume, Surface Tension, published in 2003, and is a small child Jonathan Levitt printed by permission of the publisher Peterloo Poets. treading the blood red blossoms of his grief. (Magdalen 1982) Oxford poetry is edited by Peter Dale

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 49 0122 Oxford half page ad:Layout 1 15/9/09 14:41 Page 1

VOYAGES TO ANTIQUITY cruises to classical civilisations an introduction by john julius norwich

The Mediterranean nurtured three travellers are on holiday and they deserve of the most dazzling civilisations of comfortable cabins and the best food that antiquity. In consequence, the lands we can provide. surrounding it are richer in painting, So there's our formula: interest and excitement sculpture and historic monuments ashore, comfort and relaxation on board. than any comparable area on Earth. Voyages to Antiquity cruise itineraries are planned to reveal as much as possible VOYAGES TO of the literally inexhaustible wealth that ANTIQUITY

Cruises to the Mediterranean lands have to offer. Classical Civilisations We are not interested in mere cruises in 2010 the sun; our only ship, the Aegean Odyssey, has no casinos, no discos, no black tie.

We recognise, however, that our fellow- DISCOVER THE ART, HISTORY AND CULTURES OF THE ANCIENT WORLD

CALL NOW FOR A FREE BROCHURE ON 01865 302 557

10093

Voyages to Antiquity (UK) Limited, 8 South Parade, Oxford OX2 7JL. Reservations: 0845 437 9737 Email: [email protected] www.voyagestoantiquity.com

www.oxforduniversityprints.co.uk Print sizes available are A4 £13.50 incl. p&p and A3 £18.50 incl. p&p

50 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Obituaries David Pears Ralf Dahrendorf for a decade, and in 1987 he succeeded Sir Raymond The philosopher David Pears, FBA, Student Lord Dahrendorf, KBE, Carr as Warden of St of Christ Church 1960–88 (and previously FBA, who died on 17 June Antony’s. Fellow of Corpus Christi College, 1950–60), 2009, aged 80, was for ten The Oxford college died on 1 July 2009, aged 87. He was Reader years from 1987 Warden of was different in scale in Philosophy, 1972–85, and was then xtra St Antony’s. He brought to from some of his previous awarded a personal professorship. E the post an international responsibilities, but no less His undergraduate work at Balliol was reputation as a sociologist demanding. There were interrupted by war service, but on returning and equally appropriate acute financial problems to Oxford to complete his Greats course, he experience as an academic and building needs to be soon turned fully to philosophy and became administrator, not least as a seen to, as well as general part of the robust discussion groups that former director of the London leadership at a time of then placed the University at the centre of School of Economics. international tension in the philosophical universe. He was soon Oxonian His dazzling career, moving from one eastern Europe and the Middle East. He asked (with Brian McGuinness) to retranslate prominence to another, in high academic managed to maintain a neutral academic the Tractatus Logico-Philosophicus, and and political roles, had started even as a ambience throughout the international wrote many articles and several books on teenager in wartime opposition in Germany. graduate student community, amid his own Wittgenstein. Though teaching widely – and Later, in peacetime, it took in doctoral work many international commitments. being held in great regard by his pupils in at Hamburg and then at the LSE. Book Dahrendorf took British citizenship in Oxford and America – he published much. after book appeared on sociological and 1988 (having already become an honorary He also found time to organise the Christ democratic political themes, and a practical KBE), and in 1993 was appointed a life Church art collections into their fine new political career as a Social Democrat and peer, sitting as a cross-bencher. He was gallery, and was a director of the Oxford later Free Democrat Party representative also appointed to the Order of Merit of the Museum of Modern Art. developed rapidly in Bonn, and soon as a Federal Republic of Germany. In May 2009 Commissioner in Brussels. St Antony’s marked his 80th birthday with a Max Hartwell In 1974 he became the first foreign special international colloquium celebrating director of the LSE, a difficult post he held his various academic interests. R M Hartwell, Fellow of Nuffield 1956–81 and Reader in Recent Social and Economic History 1956–77, died on 14 March 2009, Margaret Gelling Michael Cox aged 88. A specialist in early 19th-century British economic history, with views on the Margaret Gelling, FBA, an honorary Fellow The novelist Michael Cox, who died of beneficial results of the IndustrialR evolution of St Hilda’s College, died on 24 April 2009, cancer on 31 March 2009, aged 60, was a that set him at odds with a Marxian aged 84. She had long been a leading expert former member of the staff of the Oxford consensus, he came to Oxford after holding on the study of English place-names. Her University Press, where he was prominent in a chair in economics in New South Wales. work was of special importance in the history the reference books division. A Cambridge Vigorously provocative in argument, and of Anglo-Saxon settlement, and she compiled graduate, he became a rock musician and a fine supervisor of graduate students, he detailed surveys for Berkshire, Oxfordshire then worked for a popular-health publisher latterly taught courses at the universities of and Shropshire. Her other writings included before coming to Oxford in 1989. At OUP he Virginia and Chicago. Signposts to the Past (1978) and (with compiled some excellent English literature Ann Cole) The Landscape of Place-Names reference books and commissioned many (2000). Her researches were firmly based others. Retiring early when a rare cancer was M F Scott on keen-eyed local observation as well as diagnosed, he took to writing fiction, and his Maurice FitzGerald Scott, FBA, Emeritus documentary scholarship, and she stressed Victorian novel, The Meaning of Night (2006), Fellow of Nuffield College, died on 2 March the importance of landscape as a source for which received an unprecedented advance 2009, aged 84. Originally a science scholar, the naming of places. (of £500,000), was a great success. he served in the army from 1943 to 1946 and changed to PPE on arriving at Wadham, a

N sa where his career as an economist began; Venetia Burney Phair his BA was followed by study for a BLitt at Mrs Venetia Burney Phair, who died in May 2009, was Nuffield. an Oxford schoolgirl who at the age of 11 gained the Early postings to international extraordinary distinction of naming a planet. The grand- organisations (including the OECD) gave daughter of the former Librarian of the Bodleian, Falconer him a broad perspective on economic policy Madan, she read in The Times of 14 March 1930 of the and development issues. He returned to discovery of an as yet unnamed planet. Alert to classical academic life and was tutor in economics at legend, she suggested to him that it should be called ‘Pluto’, after the Christ Church, 1957–68, before becoming Roman god of the underworld. Madan was able to pass on the suggestion an official Fellow of Nuffield College, where to a friend who was president of the Royal Astronomical Society; he in he spent the rest of his career. He retired in turn approached the Lowell Observatory in Arizona, and the name was 1992, having become a Fellow of the British confirmed on May Day 1930. Venetia and her school each received a £5 Academy in 1990. Of his many writings in reward. Her role was not forgotten: in her old age (she died aged 90) the mid-career, his much-cited study of Industry naming of the (now declassified) planet was commemorated in a film. and Trade in Some Developing Countries (OUP 1970) has been particularly influential.

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 51 DIRECTORY Michaelmas 09:OXFORD 29/9/09 09:34 Page 1

DIRECTORY

PORTUGAL To advertise contact Sharon Davies BULGARIA at LANDMARK tel: 020 7520 9474 AEGEAN THRACE. The Fig House ALGARVE. Stunning villa with email: [email protected] is our romantic stone-built villa beautiful private pool. with swimming pool right on the www.casa-idalina.com Greek border. A perfect base to Tel: 00 34 914292115 BOOKFINDING SERVICE explore the fascinating history and Out-of-Print and Antiquarian titles. All subjects. wildlife of this undiscovered SOUTH AFRICA Books are willingly mailed overseas. region. Sleeps up to six. Call 07791 Visa, Mastercard, and American Express welcome. 986 177 or www.fighouse.com AN AFRICAN SAFARI. The holiday experience of a lifetime: game Barlow Moor Books 29 Churchwood Road, Manchester M20 6TZ FRANCE drives, walking safaris, local culture, Victoria Falls. Zambian Tel: (0161) 434 5073 Fax: (0161) 448 2491 email: [email protected] MEDITERRANEAN PYRENEES. safari specialists. Call Juliet Spacious stone barn. Tranquil Gutierrez (Jesus) 0121 472 1541 village setting. Sleeps 2-6. or visit www.AfricaAway.co.uk [email protected] CAPE WINELANDS. Escape www.roussillon-direct.com Northern winter. Spend a month NICE. Overlooking rooftops of the or more in historic farm setting. Old Town. Quiet sunny 2-room Variety of newly renovated self- balcony flat. Lift. Sleeps 2/5. catering accommodation. Close £410pw. Tel: 020 7622 4036 proximity airport, golf, sea and or 01736 762013 fine restaurants. Email PROVENCE. Our idyllic hillside [email protected] hideaway, private pool, stunning views, alfresco terrace dining, SPECIALITY HOLIDAYS close beaches. 020 8995 6637 BURMA. Twenty years of providing www.provenceholidayrental.co.uk tours, collaborating with Burmese WRITE YOUR universities (wildlife studies), Intelligent dating BOOK/THESIS/ARTICLE in helping with social projects peaceful French countryside. (orphanages, Nargis). for graduates of all years. Where minds matter. British academic couple offer bed Unforgettable trips tailored to your and board in self-contained en interests (culture, adventure, social, www.ivorytowers.net suite room in their Dordogne nature, beaches). English (Keble), home. Basic rate 210€ per week German and Burmese team invites with shopping, laundry, meals and you to this exceptionally beautiful, copy-editing to be negotiated. friendly, cultural gem of a country. Email [email protected] Contact Beatrix or Paul, Get into Medical School or phone 0033 5 53 28 88 78 01892 540400, 07985 412681, or 0033 6 87 17 05 54 [email protected], Oxford-based courses covering www.bo-treetravel.com/index.html ITALY GALAPAGOS ISLANDS. Legal and applications, interviews & BMAT FLORENCE. Quiet and sunny spectacular big-game fishing is now www.getintomedicalschool.org apartment in central Florence, available to an exclusive few in the within walking distance of all Galapagos Islands Marine Reserve. major monuments. Sleeps 4. GALEODAN is one of a handful of Visit www.casaparenti.com operators licensed by the Galapagos A house for all seasons in the or ring 0039 0 55 730 9126 National Park to offer “Artisanal Vivencial Fishing”, for marlin, tuna, Pyrenées Foothills: SOUTHERN TUSCANY. Large, wahoo, grouper and even lobster luxurious, beautifully restored (in season). Make your holiday Fully modernised 17th-century house in charming village, Pau & farmhouse near San Casciano dei complete with scuba, snorkelling, Bagni. Sleeps 12 with private pool Pyreneean walks/skiing 20 mins. MAIN HOUSE - 6 beds, 4 surfing and Island Tours. baths; COTTAGE - 2 beds, 2 baths. and unspoilt views over Monte www.Galeodan.com Cetona. See www.villavetrichina.it [email protected] Michael Jago (Univ 1965-69 and 2004-05) or call 0039 338 855 8494 +593 5 252 1945 [email protected] : 0033 623.64.22.73 UMBRIA/TUSCANY. Beautiful OFF THE BEATEN TRACK in or 001 310 663 9905www.caroljago.com/France.htm farmhouse with tennis court and unspoilt Europe. Independent, pool, in magnificent hillside self-guided walking holidays to location near Monterchi. Sleeps suit all abilities. Inspirational! 12 (6 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms) www.onfootholidays.co.uk Our House in Tuscany Call 01732 762013 or visit Tel: 01722 322652 www.belvederediprato.com Perched on a vine and olive clad hillside near Lucca. Less than WAUNIFOR CRAFTYBREAKS. an hour from Pisa and Florence. Peace, walks, breathtaking VAL D’ORCIA. Large, luxurious, Pottery and craft holidays in West views and food/wine. Enjoy being in a real Italian hamlet. recently restored farmhouse near Wales. www.craftybreaks.com To let when we’re not there. Sleeps 4/5. £590 a week. San Casciano dei Bagni. Sleeps email: [email protected] Or ask us about local friends’ houses which may be available. 12 with private pool and unspoilt Tel: 01559 362922 Similar to ours, or larger or smaller. Some with pool. views over Monte Amiata. See To advertise contact Sharon Davies Tel 020 7602 3143 or 0039 0583 835820 Mike Wilson www.villafelceto.it or call at LANDMARK tel: 020 7520 9474 (Christ Church, Oxford) and Jessica Corsi (St John's, Cambridge) 020 8878 9350 email: [email protected] Email: [email protected] Web: www.tuscanycastello.com

52 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Subscribe to Oxford Today Oxford Today is available on subscription to those who are not Oxford graduates, and makes a great gift. It is published three times a year, in late February, June and October, and each issue provides an eclectic mix of news, features, reviews, previews and commentary on the Oxford scene. £11 per year including postage (UK), €17 (Euro zone), $23 (the Americas), £16 (rest of world) For further information and to subscribe online, please visit: www.blackwellpublishing.com/oxto and click on ‘Subscribe/Renew’ Alternatively, please contact the Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Customer Services team: Tel: +44 (0)1865 778315 Fax: +44 (0)1865 471775 [email protected]

Solution to Trinity 2009 crossword ‘Eights Week’ Across answers were ATABAL, ASAHI, TEMP, AWOL, OORIAL, LAHAR, ANTRES, OMASA, EMERY, BETAKE, BOXEN, MANANA, GOAL, XEMA, TEMPE and MAYHAP. The grid revealed the following bumps: Wolfson b Templeton, Somerville b Harris Manchester, Mansfield b Keble, and Pembroke b Exeter; overbumps were achieved by Oriel over Balliol and by Magdalen over Merton. Andrew Fisher Trinity 1984

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 53 Oxford Today welcomes letters for publication, which can be sent either by post or by email (see p. 1 for addresses). We reserve the right to edit them to meet space constraints; Letters the best way to avoid this fate is to keep letters to 200 or fewer words. Unless you request otherwise, letters may also appear on our website www.oxfordtoday.ox.ac.uk.

Access all areas A s the product of a pre-war state grammar Peter Weygang (OT 21.3) makes a most e J xtra school, I was shocked to read Peter eloquent plea for a grammar school

E Weygang’s letter (OT 21.3) calling for their renaissance. There is, however, an t re-establishment. Though at my school alternative. A year ago the Independent S ephen ffrey there were a few pupils from poor families, published a letter of mine which went as the vast majority were middle class. So follows: ‘Having taught Oxbridge aspirants it has remained, and so it will remain in for 13 years in an independent school any divided school system. This is hardly and another 13 in a somewhat atypical surprising; middle class families provide the comprehensive, I reached the conclusion

Oxonian Oxonian cultural background and social incentives that the ideologically driven imposition of that enable boys and girls to leap the “mixed-ability” teaching in state schools had examination hurdles that are inevitable when been profoundly detrimental. If “setting by modern school was instituted alongside a good education is regarded as a privilege subject ability”, whereby pupils are taught grammar schools to educate that vast majority for the few. in the set appropriate to their ability in of students who failed, aged 11, to be selected The post-war, so-called tripartite each subject, had been the norm over the by a discredited examination for grammar system (it was never that) was the most past 40 years, the level of achievement by schools. Who knows what talent was written off, divisive educational regime ever imposed state schools would have been considerably and still is in some areas, by this system? by legislation. When it was clearly seen greater.’ Pauline Neville-Jones, a Conservative to be failing the country, the grammar After this Professor John Stein Shadow Minister, had a professional, educated schools (some of them) were replaced not by of Magdalen wrote to me saying that mother, a stepfather who had been to secondary moderns, as Weygang states, but originally he had been very well disposed Cambridge, was a student at LMH and she by comprehensive schools. I prefer Professor to comprehensive schools but had worries about ‘social engineering’ impairing the Brian Simon’s term: common secondary eventually concluded that ‘mixed-ability’ academic record and standing of Oxford and schools. teaching had been the ruin of them. Cambridge (‘My Oxford’, OT.21.3). She should The best comprehensive schools were as Lastly, both David Cameron and now be aware of the all-party report which good as any grammar school. They educated Gordon Brown have come out in favour describes how the ‘leading 13 universities a socially broader group of students to the of ‘setting by subject ability’. If this policy are still failing to give enough preferential highest levels. It has been the failure of were pursued, there would be no need for a treatment to bright pupils from lower-income successive governments to provide sufficient grammar school renaissance. homes … it is for universities to determine their financial resources and political support for Julian Dare own admissions procedure, but we would like comprehensive schools that has led to the Trinity 1955 to see all universities taking into account the present problems of the state system. context of people’s achievement.’ It was encouraging to learn from the Perhaps we might take more notice of Peter Finally, why do the colleges not publish interview with Professor Marcus du Sautoy Weygang’s views on education if he did not degree classes achieved by students educated in in the same issue that he was educated at a display such woeful ignorance of the state the private sector alongside those achieved by comprehensive school. education system. He writes: ‘the secondary state-educated students? It might be revealing! David Grove modern school, which largely replaced John Heywood Balliol 1941 the grammar schools …’. The secondary Lincoln 1957

College histories I very much appreciated your article on recent memoirs. Space was limited, but we have Your readers might be interested in college histories (‘History in the Making’ OT, made some of the extra material available another history, of the first interdisciplinary 21.3). But I was sorry that while Keble Past on the Keble website (www.keble.ox.ac.uk/ postgraduate Oxbridge college: Linacre. and Present was featured in an illustration it AboutKeble). We believe that the book tells a Bamborough’s Linacre is a collection of did not receive any discussion in the article compelling story about the transformation memories by members of the first ten years or itself. of the college from its austere Oxford so, as a tribute to its first remarkable principal, This book, edited by my colleague Ian Movement beginnings to the lively place it John Bamborough, with many photographs. Archer and myself and obtainable is today, and I would not want It can be ordered, for from the college, was published by your readers to think that a contribution to a Third Millennium in November because it is illustrated it is any memorial fund, from 2008, and does indeed have a the less novel and authoritative. Dr Eva Wagner, highly illustrated format. However, Indeed, much of the story is 17 Templar Road, it is also the first history of Keble, told in the illustrations, many Oxford OX2 8LR; and based closely on a large of them rare, which have been email: markus.wagner@ amount of archival information beautifully reproduced and tiscali.co.uk and material sent in recently by presented by the publishers. Eva Wagner old members and others, as well Averil Cameron Linacre 1962 as interviews and unpublished Warden, Keble College

54 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 Letters

Wilde brought to book In praise of Bowra In his generous and perceptive review of my Sir Anthony Kenny’s review of Leslie PPE and Science, and to graduate studies; in book Oscar’s Books (OT 21.2), David Vaisey, Mitchell’s Maurice Bowra (OT 21.3) misses short, an imitation Balliol. On a University Bodley’s Librarian Emeritus, claims that I the inherent paradox in his subject. His level he supported the earnest Oliver Franks mistakenly state that Oscar Wilde ‘borrowed’ conversation, letters to old friends and so on against the cavalier Harold Macmillan for and ‘took out’ books from the Bodleian. Yet, are socially snobbish, against ‘seriousness, Chancellor, argued for the proposed zoology tower in the Parks, and so on. As a young effrey democracy and science’, as Sir Anthony J

as Wilde himself once remarked, the truth is xtra reports, in short ‘anti-prig, anti-Eliot, don he gave readings of The Waste

rarely pure and never simple. E

tephen Land in his rooms, and gave up S My claim that Wilde borrowed Bodley anti-solemn, anti-Balliol’. books was based upon the work of the His actions, as Warden attempts to be a serious poet scholar Philip E. Smith II. In his article of Wadham and as Vice- when he realised he could not ‘Wilde in the Bodleian, 1878–1881’ (English Chancellor, belie all this. He compete. Sir Anthony, as a closer Literature in Transition, Vol. 46, 2003), Smith gave every support to an reading of Mitchell might indicate, examines the ‘Bodleian Library Papers enthusiastic body of young is taken in by Bowra’s mask. fellows in transforming Any resemblance to the Entry Book 9/4 Camera Radcliviana 1877– Oxonian [October 1883]’, which lists the ‘request’ and Wadham after 1945; aiming odious Mr Samgrass in Brideshead ‘return’ of materials at the library over that at academic excellence, Revisited is far from the mark. period. recruiting from northern Might Sligger Urquhart be a better Smith discovered a number of entries grammar schools, earnest and fit? relating to Wilde, a few of which are hard-working, perhaps to a Cliff Davies reproduced here: fault, strongly committed to Wadham 1956 1880: Mar 13 Gladstone, The State in itsR el. 1880: Apr 14 Terence, The Andrian, [+ 2 plays] That word again variability in the climate system and to 1880: May 22 Wilde returns Gladstone/ Mike Wood (OT 21.3) can be reassured that evaluate its causes (see, for example, reports Terence ‘ALUMNI’, like ‘former member’ and ‘old in Nature, April 30 2009). But I am afraid The Gladstone title was The State in its member’, is without any meaning at Oxford. that the balance of evidence from this work, Relations with the Church (1841); the Terence On matriculation you become a ‘member of in common with the majority of research was a volume of three plays in English the University’ and remain so with validation elsewhere, provides stronger support for the translation. The first two entries are Wilde’s when you receive your MA. ‘global warmers’ than to the climate sceptics. ‘requests’, but we can assume (and Smith does Dennis Brooke If Mr Dixon and others who share his so) that he was issued the books either on, Keble 1951 opinion require further evidence to convince or soon after, the date of those requests. The them to take global warming seriously, final entry is the most interesting because it Hot air? then they need look no further than to his reveals that Wilde ‘returned’ the Gladstone It was with sadness and disappointment alma mater for information (e.g. see http:// and the Terence long after his request for that I read Jack Dixon’s attack (‘Hot air?’ climateprediction.net/content/climate-science- them – over a month in the case of the OT 21.3) on Chris Patten’s support for ‘the explained and associated links). The only Terence, over two for the Gladstone. global warmers’ (as he puts it), doggedly additional prerequisite is an open mind. Of course this does not prove that Wilde claiming that there is no scientific evidence Peter L Read ‘borrowed’ or ‘took out’ these books. Smith for human-induced climate change. Professor of Physics, University of Oxford speculates that the library had a system of In light of the evidence pouring in from Head of Atmospheric, Oceanic & Planetary reserve shelving for requested volumes in studies such as in the latest reports from Physics use by readers. There is, however, no direct the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate evidence to support this theory, and I think Change (IPCC), including important work Academic refugees it equally likely that the Bodleian had, at the being carried out in my sub-department May I add a word to your admirable piece time, some borrowable book stock which here in Oxford, such a dogmatic rejection about academic refugees (‘A refuge for the fellows, scholars and graduates such as Wilde, of the notion that human activities are persecuted, release for the fettered mind’, OT were permitted to take to their rooms. The leading to changes in the climate is becoming 21.3)? The Faculty of Literae Humaniores was notion of reserve shelving surely contradicts almost impossible to defend. This is especially enormously improved – indeed, one might common sense – would a library really allow the case in light of the most recent changes almost say transformed – by the arrival from a reader to keep a book on reserve for more observed during the past 20 years; evidence Germany in the 1930s of such great scholars than two months? that was conveniently ignored, for example, as Eduard Fraenkel, Paul Maas, Felix Jacoby, Thomas Wright by the programme-makers of the notorious Rudolf Pfeiffer and Paul Jacobsthal. I was Magdalen 1991 Channel 4 Great Global Warming Swindle, privileged to know Professor Fraenkel, whose broadcast in 2007. famous seminars set standards that were Lost cities To condemn current claims of human- demanding indeed; attendance at them was I was disappointed by Stephanie Dalley’s induced climate change as a ‘propaganda not for the faint-hearted, but the benefits reference to ‘misinformation’ in the Bible scam’ is to perpetuate a serious slur on the were great and long-lasting. When Fraenkel (‘Life yet for the lost cities of the gods’, OT integrity of the majority of active climate became Corpus Professor of Latin in 1936, 21.3). A more qualified stance would have scientists which is, in my experience, wholly some dissenting voices were heard – but been appropriate. Her disregard for the views unjustified. I can assure Mr Dixon that were at once decisively silenced by a few of Christians was all the more conspicuous in Oxford scientists are playing a full and authoritative words from A E Housman, a piece which was respectful of Islam. important international role in applying Professor of Latin at Cambridge. S Hanson rigorously objective and honest approaches Professor Colin Leach BNC 1986 in their efforts to observe, model and predict Brasenose 1951

O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 55 My Oxford: Ian Hislop (Magdalen 1978)

e

g

lle

o

C

alen

d

g

a H ome from Gnome M The satirist, journalist and broadcaster recalls undergraduate delights

h

T e president and fellows of

Why did you decide to apply honest. If I look at the essays I

a wrote, I seem to have done a huge to Oxford? M

My school [Ardingly College o amount of Congreve, Restoration T by dden in Sussex] encouraged us to try comedy, Swift,D ryden, Pope – the for Oxbridge. A number of my people I read might have given friends in the years above me had some indication of what I was gone to Oxford, particularly Nick going to do later in life. Newman, now a cartoonist, and Any regrets? Simon Parke, who became a vicar. I’d like to have read history. I would They both appeared to be having definitely do it now. But you can’t a marvellous time, so I thought: I do everything. want to do that. Would you like to be a student Why did you apply to again? Magdalen? Oh yes. And I’ve a major fantasy I liked the look of it; no other that, somewhere, there would be a reason. I’m sure that I was also college so desperate that they will told that it was a terrific college. ask me to be Master. I applied to read PPE originally, because I’d done a lot of maths [at What do you think of school]. But I got halfway through Oxford today? the reading list and thought: I I’m obviously a supporter. don’t want to do this, and changed Environments where excellence to English. can flourish, I’m all for. Chris What were your first Patten, the Chancellor, made a impressions of Oxford? rather good speech on that old chestnut of accessibility, I thought, when I remember thinking how beautiful Magdalen end of my time at Oxford, I’d done quite well, he said that focusing on tertiary education was. I had a very modern room, which I and told him I was thinking of doing research. is missing the point: it’s absolutely obvious was very disappointed by, in the Waynflete He said, ‘Oh, I wouldn’t do that …’. He told where the problem is in this country, and it’s Building – baths, and hot running water. I me I should become a journalist and I’d have in secondary education. To blame the top remember thinking how clever everybody much more fun, which was very good advice. universities for failing to increase the social else in my year reading English was, but mobility lower down the scale seems to me that became a real bonus, too, as I became Had you done any journalism before to be completely stupid. friendly with them. Oxford? I’d done the school magazine, and when I got Is there anything Oxford should Who were your tutors? to Oxford I took over a defunct magazine change? My tutors were John Fuller, who was called Passing Wind, which Nick and Simon I was asked to support the Oxford Thinking marvellous and very laid-back, and David had started. I borrowed some money from Norbrook, who’s now very eminent indeed, campaign, and I think it’s very good that the Old Etonian in my tutorial group, a man it’s fund-raising and becoming more and Bernard O’Donoghue, who I liked very, called Fergus Fleming – now a fine travel very much, and who made Anglo-Saxon professional, but I do hope the University writer – bought the rather dismal assets of the doesn’t become PR-obsessed. One doesn’t interesting. I still think it’s interesting, and it’s magazine, and ran it for three years, which entirely his fault. want to be bland, and uncontroversial and was enormous fun. I paid him back, I’m glad New Labour. Hopefully, Chris Patten will What kind of a student were you? to say. stop that happening. There’s nothing like The first and third years, I worked very hard. What was student journalism like then? a terrific row: I mean, the Oxford Poetry In my second year, I did a lot of student I did a bit for Cherwell. Isis seemed to me even Professorship row was marvellous! Dons journalism and put on a lot of reviews and then far too fashionable for me. Clovis Meath- fighting, that’s what we want. The idea that acted in them, so then I don’t think I was Baker ran Cherwell and loved it deeply. Then everything is Ivy League perfection, happy, hugely diligent. But I enjoyed the work a lot. the late, great Harry Thompson became Editor. smiling, sailing peacefully on – we definitely It gave me a chance to read everyone I’d ever Cherwell then was incredibly mischievous and don’t want that at Oxford! wanted to who was any good, which if you spiky and looking for trouble, and very good are going to become a writer is fairly useful. fun. Ian Hislop joined Private Eye magazine on leaving I got a first in my Mods. JohnF uller sent Oxford, and was appointed Editor in 1986. He presents me a note saying ‘you could have knocked me Did that shape you as a journalist? documentary programmes for BBC television and radio, down with a feather’, which made me think I think I already had the satirist’s outlook: and is a regular member of the satirical quiz programme, – thanks for your vote of confidence!A t the I was probably looking for a vehicle, to be Have I Got News For You.

56 O x f o r d T o day . Michaelmas Issue 2009 CHOOSE YOUR OWN COMPANY THE OXFORD EXPERIENCE: LASTS YOU A LIFETIME

CHEF DE CABINET? PERSONAL DIREKTOR?

CIVIL SERVANT? BIG CHEESE?

SAID BUSINESS SCHOOL

The Saïd Business School is an LEADERSHIP & GENERAL STRATEGY & CHANGE FINANCE integral part of one of the world’s MANAGEMENT THE OXFORD THE OXFORD DIPLOMA IN finest universities. The School THE OXFORD ADVANCED PROGRAMME ON FINANCIAL STRATEGY combines the resources of Oxford MANAGEMENT NEGOTIATION THE OXFORD FINANCE & LEADERSHIP University with the highest THE OXFORD SCENARIOS FOR EXECUTIVES PROGRAMME PROGRAMME PROGRAMME standards of academic rigour THE OXFORD DIPLOMA NEW! THE OXFORD THE OXFORD PRIVATE and a practical understanding of IN ORGANISATIONAL DIPLOMA IN STRATEGY & EQUITY PROGRAMME LEADERSHIP business. Our Executive Education INNOVATION NEW! THE OXFORD programmes are designed to THE OXFORD STRATEGIC THE OXFORD INTERNATIONAL help shape the 21st century LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME SUSTAINABILITY INVESTMENT leadership agenda by working THE OXFORD HIGH PROGRAMME: NEW PROGRAMME PERFORMANCE with individuals and organisations PATHWAYS TO PROFIT LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME to realise their true potential in a CONSULTING AND CUSTOM PROGRAMMES WHAT NEXT? FOR COACHING FOR CHANGE rapidly changing world. TO SUIT YOUR LEADERS WITH MORE THE CIO ACADEMY ORGANISATION’S TO OFFER NEW! MSC IN MAJOR STRATEGIC NEEDS THE OXFORD-HKU PROGRAMME SENIOR EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME IN CORPORATE LEADERSHIP

SOPHIE BROWN T +44 (0)1865 422888 [email protected] WWW.SBS.OXFORD.EDU THE UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD: EDUCATING LEADERS FOR 800 YEARS FROM HOME Since 1821 the Oxford and Cambridge Club has provided alumni of both universities with an exclusive home from home in the heart of the Capital. Today members can relax, dine and meet friends in supremely elegant surroundings that also feature well stocked libraries, sports facilities and first-class bedroom accommodation. Reciprocal clubs welcome members of the Oxford and Cambridge Club in 35 countries around the world. For more information, please contact: [email protected] or call +44 (0)20 7321 5110

Oxford and Cambridge Club, 71 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5HD www.oxfordandcambridgeclub.co.uk

O&C_AD_297x210mm.indd 1 26/6/09 14:36:31