STAFF MAGAZINE | Michaelmas term 2017 Pages 16 and 17 Focus on Cu riosity Pages contributors index EDITORIAL TEAM
4 Day in the life of: Professor Louise Annette Cunningham Richardson Internal Communications Manager Public Affairs Directorate 6 So, you think you can’t dance? Dr Bronwyn Tarr discusses her Shaunna Latchman research Communications Officer (secondment) Public Affairs Directorate 8 News
11 My Oxford: Anne Laetitia Velia Trefethen Senior Graphic Designer Public Affairs Directorate 12 Team work: making Designer and Picture Researcher a great impression – Print Studio
OTHER CONTRIBUTORS 14 Behind the hoardings – Beecroft Building
16 Curiosity Carnival: Rebecca Baxter the feedback Capital Projects Communications Manager Estates Services 18 CuriOXities – favourites from the University’s collections Meghan Lawson HR Officer (Policy & Communications) 20 Intermisson – staff Personnel Services activities outside of work
22 What’s on Caroline Moughton Staff Disability Advisor 24 My Family Care / Equality & Diversity Unit Disability support
25 Introduction to: Kevin Coutinho Matt Pickles Media Relations Manager 30 Perfection on a plate Public Affairs Directorate – enhancing your Christmas dinner experience Dan Selinger Head of Communications 31 Deck the halls – Academic Administration Division college festivities
2 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 student Spotlight
Amy Kerr, a second-year opportunity you’ve been given – The Moritz– undergraduate student, studying discussing legal issues with the academics Heyman Scholarship Law with Law Studies in Europe who wrote your textbook or who was made possible at Lady Margaret Hall, tells Dan administer the contracts for the University thanks to a Selinger about her experience is, well, rather cool. generous donation at Oxford. by Sir Michael How do your experiences Moritz and Ms Amy applied to Oxford after compare to your expectations Harriet Heyman. attending one of the University’s before you came to Oxford? Find out more on access programmes, the UNIQ I remember being really anxious the University Summer School. She has benefitted about the social side of University, website. from a Moritz–Heyman Scholarship not fitting in or finding people I felt – a programme of enhanced comfortable with. My fears couldn’t support to a limited number of have been further from the truth – life new UK undergraduate students in college is so open and friendly, and from a low-income background. everyone is so interesting and interested. I love the breadth of conversations you can have here, with people from all over the world studying such a diverse range of subjects. What school did you go to and what made you apply to Oxford? How have Oxford’s staff helped you I was at Budehaven Community during your time here? Are there any School, a local comprehensive in north specific members of staff who have Cornwall without a strong history of helped you along the way? sending students to Oxbridge. I’d never Before coming to Oxford, I was concerned considered applying until I went on the about the approachability of tutors UNIQ Summer School in Year 12, which (I remember asking at all the colleges sparked the seed in my mind that I could I visited during open days whether the possibly fit in and thrive at Oxford. To students felt they could approach their have leading academics discuss with tutors for help). My first year has been us controversial legal topics, and to ask really difficult, and I honestly think for and value our opinions, was pretty I would have walked away from it all exciting and a completely different world had it not been for the support of one from my educational background. of my tutors who continues to believe How would you describe your time in me, even when I don’t. The welfare support provided by my college, and at Oxford? What have you enjoyed, Oxford, is truly outstanding. and what challenges have you encountered? What part has the Moritz– My first year at Oxford has certainly Heyman programme played been an experience. I’ve always in your time here in Oxford? struggled massively with self-doubt I feel incredibly lucky and privileged and self-imposed pressure, and have to be a Moritz–Heyman Scholar. definitely fallen into the trap of Imposter Not only has it removed a huge Syndrome. At times, Oxford has felt like pressure and burden, through an impossibility, and there have been its extremely generous financial moments when I’ve told myself I have to support, but it opens doors walk away. But then, you remind yourself to a myriad of exciting to look beyond the daunting reading list internship opportunities and fug of confusion, to the incredible across the globe. Judges Rob
Amy Kerr Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 3 John Cairns
Day in the life of the Vice-Chancellor Matt Pickles talks to the Vice-Chancellor about her role and her priorities for the future
Our staff have the best ideas about how to do things more effectively.
4 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 rofessor Louise Richardson starts the Vice-Chancellor is,’ she says. ‘Oxford seems day at 6am by brewing a coffee and to be a lightning rod for the press on so Staff can many societal issues, and everything I do Preading the newspapers. ‘I do not be our best and say is under the microscope. The role think a day has gone by since I have been ambassadors of Oxford Vice-Chancellor requires a lot of here when Oxford has not featured in the because they resilience.’ press,’ she says. Then she prepares for the are so intimately day’s meetings and works on an upcoming With such a busy daily schedule, it can linked to the speech. “I am very much a morning be hard to set aside time for longer-term community. person, my brain is sharpest then, so if I planning. But the Vice-Chancellor is have something important to write I’ll do clear that her main aim is to change the it e ar l y.’ University’s perception among the wider She arrives at her office in the Clarendon public. ‘I really want to change the public Building at 8.30am in time for back-to- image of Oxford so that it reflects the back meetings with senior members of meritocratic institution I know this place staff, donors, visiting dignitaries and policy to be,’ she says. ‘I want us to be celebrated makers. She might give a lecture, travel nationally as a place for the smartest to London or travel abroad on University people who are most passionate about business. She has to turn down nine their subjects.’ invitations for every one she accepts. In She says the University’s staff are key to the evening, she will usually host or attend achieving this goal. ‘Staff can be our best a dinner. Her day rarely finishes before ambassadors because they are so intimately 10.30pm. linked to the community,’ she says. ‘They But although Professor Richardson’s diary know our students are not all posh and they is planned to the last minute, it can be can tell stories about students who do not fit derailed at a moment’s notice by a crisis. that stereotype.’ She tells the stories of staff Already this year, two departments had members at St Andrews who persuaded to be relocated at short notice because of students from non-traditional backgrounds the discovery of asbestos in the Tinbergen to apply to the famous Scottish institution. Building, and MPs on both sides of the Another of the Vice-Chancellor’s aims is political spectrum criticised Oxford in to make the University run more efficiently the media. by giving people flexibility to make It is an all-consuming job, so how does decisions without needing exhaustive Professor Richardson keep from burning consultations and meetings. Staff have out? ‘People draw their energy in different an important role in identifying where ways and I get mine from interacting improvements can be made. ‘Our staff have with people,’ she says. ‘I meet the most the best ideas about how to do things more extraordinary students and staff doing effectively,’ she says. ‘I hope we can create such creative work. I enjoy being around a culture in which people feel they can students, I have kids of a similar age. I’m express ideas, and we have a mechanism a case of arrested development. I entered for receiving them, discussing them and, university at 17 and I never left.’ one hopes, implementing them.’ The job of Vice-Chancellor was not always Professor Richardson has other plans to this intense. ‘Oh, it has changed a lot since make life better for staff. She wants to I was an undergraduate,’ she says. ‘I get ‘dramatically improve’ the availability of the impression it used to be a much more affordable housing available to University Matt Pickles talks to the Vice-Chancellor about her role and her priorities for the future leisurely existence than the one I have now. workers. She wants to create more Vice-Chancellors had more time for their opportunities for career progression. academic work than I do, and universities And she is very keen for staff to share like ours have become much bigger and their experiences at her open office hours, more complex institutions.’ which she holds four times each term.
The Oxford job is particularly challenging. ‘Even if it just to complain about Visit the Vice- Despite holding similar roles at St Andrews something, it is very helpful to me to hear Chancellor’s and Harvard, Professor Richardson says she how people are experiencing their lives at webpages for details did not expect the degree of public scrutiny the University,’ she says. ‘Keeping in touch of her open office she has faced this year. ‘I am amazed by with students and staff really helps to keep sessions www. how much of a public figure the Oxford my finger on the pulse of the institution.’ ox.ac.uk/vc
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 5 Ian Wallman
Dr Bronwyn Tarr delivering a workshop at Curiosity Carnival so, you think you can’t dance?
Dr Bronwyn Tarr thinks that you can. True, you may not move like Jagger or pirouette like Bussell, but she believes that everyone Shutterstock possesses a basic ability to bang a tambourine and move to a beat. What’s more, Bronwyn says that this simple rhythmic ability is at the heart of what makes dancing a great social bonding activity, one which has played its part in making humans Bolivian folk such a successful species. dancing
In our past, and still today, we dance to connect with others.
Morris dancers Shutterstock
6 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 rought up in Namibia by a family The results? The groups completely of environmentalists, Bronwyn in sync experienced the highest pain binherited their fascination with threshold (which indicates elevated the natural world but was also attracted endorphins) and gave more positive to the arts, especially dance and music. feedback about their feelings towards At the age of 18, she attended an arts the others in their group. Synchrony academy in the USA as a dance major. significantly boosted both the ‘I loved it, but I remained torn between psychological and physiological effects dancing and science.’ of moving to music. ‘My curiosity about how things work This throws up numerous questions eventually won and I returned to South about how dancing might have helped Africa to study zoology, keeping up my humans develop and maintain the dance training and performing on the large, complex social networks we still side. To be honest, I think I always felt experience and rely on today. Could so, you think you can’t dance?
a little like a dancer in the lab and an moving together have actually played an academic in the studio.’ important role in our evolution? In 2009 Bronwyn came to Oxford as a As Bronwyn explains, some academics Shutterstock Rhodes Scholar, where she met Professor are not so sure. ‘Canadian psychologist Robin Dunbar, British anthropologist and Stephen Pinker believes that music evolutionary psychologist and a specialist is “auditory cheesecake”, that it exists in primate behaviour. ‘He was interested by virtue of the fact that it triggers in using my work and knowledge of dance our pleasure centers in the brain, no to help develop his study of the evolution direct evolutionary explanation beyond of human sociality and large-scale that. But moving in sync doesn’t just community bonding. Finally, I could bring trigger the release of happy chemicals, together my training in science and dance.’ it is also a social glue. It’s plausible that Bronwyn’s research focused on synchrony-based activities, like music investigating the physiological and and dance rituals, have developed due psychological effects of dancing in to the fact that they facilitate the release synchrony with others and to music – of these hormones in large-scale human does dancing with a group of people communities.’ help you to bond with them? If so, how? Maybe this social benefit can help ‘We ran numerous experiments,’ explains explain humans’ longstanding love affair Bronwyn. ‘One of them involved groups with music. Bronwyn is convinced. ‘In of four strangers dancing at a silent disco. our past, and still today, we dance to Wearing headphones, some of the groups connect with others. When I discuss moved together to the same beat doing the my research I always hope people will Visit www.psy. same pre-taught moves, others listened to walk away thinking about why they like ox.ac.uk/team/ the same music but were all told to do a music so much, have an impulse to tap bronwyn-tarr different move at any one time, a third set along to the beat of a good tune on the to find out more were all taught different moves and were radio or why they feel so great after a about Dr Tarr’s listening to different music.’ Zumba class.’ research.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 7 News
Scientists complete conservation ‘atlas of life’ New Pro-Vice-Chancellor appointments An international team of scientists has completed the ‘atlas Dr David Prout of life’ – the first global review and map of every vertebrate Pro-Vice-Chancellor on Earth. In research featured in Nature Ecology & Evolution, (Planning and Resources) scientists from the University of Oxford School of Geography and Environment worked with Tel Aviv University and 39 Responsible for institutional and strategic others to produce the new reptile atlas. planning, and resource allocation Start date: September 2017 The data completes the world map of 31,000 species, made up of around: Dr Prout has a distinguished career in central and local government, most n 10,000 species of snakes, lizards, turtles and tortoises recently (2013–17) as Director General for n 10,000 birds the £50 billion High Speed 2 programme. n 6,000 frogs and salamanders Prior to that, he was Director General for n 5,000 mammals. Local Government at the Department for Communities and Local Government. Linking these maps together enabled the team to find new There he was responsible for all aspects of areas where conservation action is vital, such as the Arabian local government policy and funding and Peninsula and the central Australian deserts. Dr Richard for the Fire Service. Grenyer, Associate Professor in Biodiversity and Biogeography at Oxford University, says: ‘Mapping the distributions of all reptiles had been considered too difficult to tackle. Hopefully our Dr Robert Easton Grismer Lee research will help to protect these, Pro-Vice-Chancellor often elusive, vertebrates that (Development and External Affairs) suffer from persecution and prejudice.’ Responsible for public affairs, development and alumni relations, and international strategy Start date: October 2017 Before coming to Oxford, Dr Easton worked at the Carlyle Group, the global alternative asset management company, latterly as a Partner and Senior Advisor. During his 17-year tenure, he performed numerous roles as an investment professional and served on portfolio company boards in many sectors. Previously, he held a number of positions in corporate development and investment banking. Dr Easton’s philanthropic activities include being a trustee of the British Heart Foundation.
An Aeluroscalabotes- felinus, one of the 31,000 species 8 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 which make up the reptile atlas News
New collaboration to Award for Sicilian exhibition tackle superbugs Oxford classicist Dr Jonathan Prag has worked with A new collaboration between Oxford’s Italian secondary school students to create an award- Big Data Institute and the Centre for winning new exhibition in the city of Catania in Sicily, Tropical Medicine and Global Health cataloguing stone inscriptions from the Roman period. will support understanding and action The exhibition, housed in the Norman castle that now around one of the world’s biggest health serves as Catania’s civic museum, features artefacts threats – drug-resistant infections. between 1,500 and 2,500 years old, including funerary The Global Burden of Disease AMR inscriptions, sculptures and fragments of buildings. (GBD AMR) project will gather and The students involved have won a prize for their work publish data on the impact of superbugs from the Italian Ministry of Education. Dr Prag is now globally. This will allow scientists to working on a larger project, titled I.Sicily, to create an map disease and death caused by drug- online archive of Sicilian inscriptions. resistant infections for the first time – critical for targeting global efforts. Over the next four years, the research will enable the collection and synthesis of one of the largest datasets published on The Full Picture: Oxford in Portraits the impact of superbugs worldwide. The University’s walls are home to hundreds of portraits of exceptional individuals. These pictures celebrate stories from our past, make visible our values and ambitions for the future and help to shape the environment for our staff, students and visitors. The Full Picture: Oxford in Portraits displays newly commissioned portraits selected from over Bonavero Institute for Human Rights a hundred nominations of living Oxonians. They feature a range of people drawn from different genders, ethnicities, The new Bonavero Institute for Human disabilities, socio-economic backgrounds and LGBTQ+ Rights opened its doors in October and communities. An exhibition, offering the chance to view welcomed its new staff and first research all the new portraits together, opens at Blackwell Hall at the visitors. On 12 October it co-hosted the Weston Library and runs from 24 November–7 January. Annual Global Justice Lecture in the new Sir Joseph Hotung auditorium. Part of The project, funded by the Vice-Chancellor’s Diversity the Faculty of Law, but housed in a new Fund, has already catalogued existing paintings of building at Mansfield College, the institute pioneering figures whose achievements over the centuries integrates existing human rights research have challenged the stereotypes of their time. and practice across the University.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 9 News
Blue plaque unveiled at Celebrating 25 years of Oxford Foundry Wytham Woods University childcare The Oxford Foundry is a brand new A blue plaque was unveiled at Wytham November 2017 marks the 25th entrepreneurial hub at the heart of Woods (near the main car park) on anniversary of the University the University of Oxford launched in Saturday 7 October. The plaque supporting families by providing October by Apple CEO Tim Cook. The commemorates the 75th anniversary of dedicated childcare facilities. There are Foundry aims to bring together students the ffennel family’s bequest of the land at now five nurseries across the city for from all academic disciplines and help Wytham to the University. Wytham Woods the exclusive use of staff and students. them develop entrepreneurial skills. is used extensively for University research, An additional nine community A key focus is to create an ecosystem education outreach programmes and for nurseries are supported, resulting to support the starting and scaling public enjoyment – hosting many events in the provision of 400 University of ventures that will have a valuable throughout the year which are open to all. nursery places in total – more places social impact on our world. Located on Visit www.wythamwoods.ox.ac.uk. per head than any other Russell Group Hythe Bridge Street, in a building that University. Visit www.admin.ox.ac. was once the Oxford Ice Factory, the uk/childcare for more information. building is a large and easily accessible space. It incorporates a café and lounge Trench foot discovery paves area and facilities for co-working, way for new treatment socialising, workshops and events. The physical cause of trench foot has Social Sciences at Oxford been uncovered more than 100 years named world’s best after the condition was first identified The Social Sciences Division at Oxford Commemorating the University’s in the First World War. Non-freezing University has been named the world’s first black student cold injury – better known as trench best in the 2018 Times Higher Education foot – can permanently damage hands World University Rankings – the first This October University College unveiled and feet, causing chronic pain and long- time that a UK institution has taken the a plaque in tribute to Oxford University’s lasting numbness and tingling sensations. top spot for Social Sciences in the poll’s first black student, Christian Cole. Born Researchers at Oxford, Imperial College eight-year history. The 2018 ranking sees in Sierra Leone in 1852, Cole matriculated London and Johns Hopkins University Oxford moving up three places to claim at Oxford in 1873 to read classics. studied serving armed forces personnel the top spot from Stanford University. Following his graduation in 1876, he become the first black African to practice and veterans with the condition. They The publication recognises Oxford Social law in the English courts. discovered that sufferers have a significant Sciences’ research excellence and its reduction in the number of nerve fibres improved teaching performance. within the upper layers of the skin in the affected areas. It is this damage to the sensory nerve fibres within the skin that causes the chronic pain.
10 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 My Oxford Professor Anne How did your career begin? Trefethen, As a lecturer at the Royal Military College, Pro-Vice- Shrivenham, teaching computational Chancellor mathematics and numerical analysis. In 1987 I moved to the US and since then for Gardens, I’ve had roles in industry, academia and Libraries and funding agencies. Museums (GLAM) What drew you to Oxford? I came in 2005 to take on the role of discusses her Director of the University’s new e-Research career journey Centre, taking forward interdisciplinary at Oxford, research enabled by innovative technology including and developing high-performance her recently computing initiatives. Ian Wallman extended role Is it true that you became Oxford’s improving the delivery of the operational to become very first Chief Information Officer? Pro-Vice- services that support our academic Yes, in 2012 I moved from the centre to activities. Chancellor take on the challenge of reorganising the of Academic way IT was delivered across the University. The University continues to go from Resources and This led to the creation of today’s IT strength to strength in research, innovation and attracting the world’s Information Services and the development of Oxford’s IT Strategic Plan. brightest students and we want to ensure Systems. that we can continue on that trajectory. In 2015, I took on the additional role of However, many of the processes that Pro-Vice-Chancellor of ASUC (Academic underpin the operational services have Services and University Collections), become unduly complex. By simplifying responsible for overseeing the University’s processes we aim to allow the University libraries, museums and collections and its to continue to grow in its research and language teaching services. ASUC has now teaching capacity without the same level morphed into GLAM (Gardens, Libraries of growth in the support services effort. and Museums) with language teaching moving over to Academic Administration. How will these changes happen? Many of our support processes and There’s not a very obvious link systems have been in place for many years, between IT and museums – what and are tweaked and adapted to cope with was the appeal? changing needs. I’ll always be in awe of the University’s vast collections which, staggeringly, comprise We need to step back and take a good over 22 million objects in total! For me hard look at the support we deliver so there was actually an obvious link – a need we can assess how to make processes to develop the digital infrastructure to smoother across the entire University. It allow us to share this precious resource. won’t happen overnight, but we’re aiming Our digital collections should allow better to remove frustrations and unnecessary access both for teaching and research and duplication, simplify where we can, share allow interdisciplinary use. We now have good practice and strengthen the career over 26 projects underway making this a paths for professional service staff. reality. Can everyone get involved? What does your new Absolutely! There has already been extended role involve? great engagement from departmental I’ll continue to be responsible for administrators and there will be If you have an idea GLAM and will maintain my strategic opportunities for other communities of for how to help responsibility for IT while recruiting a new the University to get engaged. It’s really improve delivery of Chief Information Officer. I’m now also only through working together that we our support services, leading a new initiative, working closely can make these improvements and embed please send your with the Registrar and others across the the changes in our collective ways of suggestion to focus@ University, to focus on simplifying and working. admin.ox.ac.uk.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 11 From left: Jack Whitney, Bob Malloy, Jason Day, Chris McVeigh, Jordan Morris and Andy Connor TEAM WORK Making a great impression
With the nature of the work of the Reprographics team expanding so significantly, the team has recently rebranded – now known as the University Print Studio – to help better communicate their wide range of services which include printing, bulk mailing, binding and a basic design service to make documents look sharp.
It’s always very rewarding to see how all our hard work, together with the investment in the team and the new machinery, result in really great end products that we can all be proud of.
12 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 Judges Rob
Visitors to the studio at Wellington The team recently leased three Square find themselves stepping into a new machines – a perfect binder, lively hub of activity. The team, and their a laminator and a creaser-folder – state-of-the-art machines are at work busily to help them to deliver more high- producing everything from council quality products. ‘We now produce papers to glossy posters. documents that look a lot more professional, including magazines and The six members of the team used to greetings cards,’ says Support Assistant spend the majority of their time producing Andy Connor, new to the University black-and-white printing of official and bringing extensive design expertise documents, including agendas and to the team. committee papers. However, aided by recent investment in equipment and Team fact: the team employs one people, the service has moved into of the University apprentices – Jordan Making a great impression Morris joined in 2016 exciting new areas and continually looks to improve. Chris McVeigh, Print Studio Team fact: the University Print Studio Assistant, explains how the new is a member of the British Print technology has improved poster Federation and is currently working production. ‘We’ve gone from towards accreditation outsourcing the occasional large poster request to producing numerous ‘Only around 10% of our time used to be posters in-house, in a choice of three spent producing work which required finishes and up to A0 in size. artistic creativity and professional finishing, but now the team has grown and with ‘It’s always very rewarding to see How can the team help you? our new equipment it’s probably the other how all our hard work, together Visit the Print Studio website www.admin. way round,’ explains Bob Malloy who with the investment in the team ox.ac.uk/estates/printstudio for full manages the team alongside his new and the new machinery, result in details of their services or drop them an deputy, Jason Day. really great end products that we email at [email protected]. can all be proud of.’ The investment in new equipment has given the team impressive new capabilities. ‘It’s How can you help the team? We’ve got a free set of 50 Please always complete the online booking vastly increased both the quality and the personalised greetings cards to give form for all work requirements and try quantity of the work we produce and we’re away. To enter the prize draw email to warn the team in advance of larger now marketing more widely,’ says Bob. your contact details to blueprint@ jobs. Remember to factor time into your Team fact: colour printing alone has admin.ox.ac.uk by Friday, 24 schedule for the team to process your risen from 400,000 sheets in 2010 November. Please type ‘greeting work – just ask if you need advice. to around 3 million copies each year cards’ into the email subject line.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 13 14 14 Blueprint
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Michaelmas term 2017
Hawkins\Brown Hawkins\Brown
If you are a regular visitor to Parks Road, you With a depth of 16 metres, it boasts can’t have failed to notice that a stunning new one of the deepest basements in the city. structure is under construction. Rebecca Baxter looks at the origins of physics in the city and The Beecroft comprises seven storeys in reveals what is happening behind the hoardings. total – five of which are above ground level. The two underground floors will house basement labs. Their position, shielded from traffic vibrations and electrical noise, he new Beecroft Building, the Physics will provide an ideal environment for Department’s first new building sensitive experiments. tfor over half a century, will house laboratories providing state-of-the- The light and airy atrium of the new art research facilities – enabling the building, designed to create an appealing department to advance its world-class exhibition space, will open to the public.
Hawkins\Brown work in experimental and theoretical Visitors will be invited to view kit from physics research. major experiments and browse materials Artistic impressions especially developed for events, including of the new Beecroft The study of physics in Oxford originated the department’s popular Stargazing event. Building with the Philosophical Society of Oxford. This 17th-century group of scholars, which The building, by architectural firm included Christopher Wren, Robert Boyle Hawkins\Brown, has been designed in and Robert Hooke, met in the lodgings of accordance with the University’s policy a Warden of Wadham College to discuss on sustainability, seeking to minimise the new fields of natural and experimental its environmental impact and carbon philosophy. Experimental philosophy footprint. A significant portion of the Behind the hoardings (as physics was then known) was first building’s heating and cooling needs will examined as a degree subject at Oxford in be met by ground-source heat pumps. 1850 and the subject’s first professor was LED lighting throughout the building appointed in 1860. will be sensitive to occupancy levels and In 1872, Oxford became home to the daylight. In addition, solar shading is country’s first ever purpose-built physics being provided courtesy of the bronze laboratory. The original Clarendon fins which feature on the external Laboratory’s workshop’s main equipment elevations and sustainable timber in the 1890s comprised just a treadle- and timber products are being used operated lathe and a blacksmith’s anvil throughout the building. and, until a major refurbishment in 1915, The project is making good progress, the laboratory’s lighting was provided by with the laboratories and offices nearing gas burners. completion, and work is expected to be A new Clarendon Laboratory was created completed in early 2018. on the site in 1939. This will now connect As part of the government’s Quantum to the new building – named after donor Technologies Programme, Oxford Physics Adrian Beecroft, British venture capitalist has been awarded £38m to develop a and alumnus of the University. technology demonstrator quantum Contractors Laing O’Rourke moved computer over the next five years – onto the site in summer 2015 tasked offering the Beecroft Building a fantastic with starting the deep excavation works opportunity to showcase the potential of required for the new Beecroft Building. its new cutting-edge facilities.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 15 curiosity carnival
So, how curious was Oxford about the work of our researchers? Headline results reveal that more than 9,000 people attended the event, engaging with 493 researchers, DPhil students and academics from more than 60 different departments and faculties across the University of Oxford and with contributors from MRC Harwell and Oxford Brookes. Here’s feedback from three people involved with the event:
Indroneel Chatterjee, Oxford Brookes University, sampling a scorpion at Curiosity Carnival
16 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 Ian Wallman THE feedback Lindsay Kate Ian Wallman Holly Reeve
The Oxford Brookes researcher The Oxford University researcher The visitor Professor Janine Dermody, Professor Holly Reeve, Research Project Manager, Darcey Jones, age 7, daughter of Kate in Marketing & Consumer Psychology and Department of Chemistry Lindsay, Head of Technology Enhanced Research Lead (Marketing), Oxford Brookes Learning in IT Services Business School The Curiosity Carnival was a great way for us, as a team of researchers, to think At the Curiosity Carnival I found out lots We shared our edible insect’s research more creatively and with a wider lens of things! For example, on Broad Street, at the Mad Hatter tea party in the about what we do and why the public there were mathemagicians – they showed Botanic Gardens and at the French- might be interested to know more about me that actually what looks like magic is style research café at the Museum of it. Every visitor we interacted with seemed really a maths rule! I breathed on a plant Natural History. From feeling extremely interested, excited and surprised by the and saw bugs drop off – that’s what they exuberant that we were joining the fantastic display of Oxford research. do when they feel an animal’s breath, carnival, I was beginning to feel nervous and know they are about to be eaten with We asked ‘What can chemists learn from as the summer slipped by. How was the plant. I did an experiment throwing nature?’ We developed an experiment this going to work? How well would squishy brains into a hole, I did really well exploring how chemists learn from nature Oxford Brookes and Oxford Universities but when I put on some special goggles it and intensify nature to make the everyday coordinate all the varied information was really hard. It turned out the goggles chemicals we rely on at the scale we and the practice runs? Not to mention, changed how I saw things and made me need them. We used potatoes, yeast and how many tarantulas and scorpions throw to a different place. a pure enzyme (catalase) to break down would I need to order? How many hydrogen peroxide and make oxygen gas At the Ashmolean Museum I drew a visitors again? Significant pause – wow. (in our experiments: foam!) to make foam virus and controlled a computer mouse There was no need for nerves; the explosions! with different remotes to learn all about collaboration was superb. The carnival mutation and genes. The dancers dancing It was so rewarding to talk a crowd was remarkable not only in showcasing to heart beats were amazing, it looked like through our experiment, people who Oxford’s research but also in the very hard work to dance to hearts which would probably not have heard much professionalism, passion and proficiency were beating faster! My mum asked me if I about enzymes before, and then hear them of the people who organised, reassured, would like to go University one day. I’d like excitedly picking ‘team yeast’ or ‘team reminded (paperwork usually) to to go so I can make discoveries too! enzyme’. Even better – after this, they enable Oxford’s researchers to shine. wanted to know more about how we Visitors eagerly devoured our insects, use them in the lab! accompanied by questions, questions, questions! I have never experienced anything quite like these people who made the Curiosity Carnival such an awe-inspiring event – thank you. Find out more: Oh and can we do it again please? www.oxfordsparks.ox.ac.uk/content/ what-can-chemists-learn-nature http://vincent.chem.ox.ac.uk/ outreach.htm
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 17 Ian Wallman curioxities Visitors from all over the world spend hours staring at unusual fragments of the past in museums and libraries managed by the University. Here, the colleagues who dedicate their days to understanding and caring for these artefacts tell us about their favourite things.
Dr Lauren Sumner-Rooney, Museum Research Fellow in the evolutionary
Judges Rob neurobiology of invertebrates My favourite thing: Aphrodita aculeata (Annelida: Polychaeta: Phyllodocida) at the Oxford University Museum of Natural History My research background is in some of the more unusual inhabitants of the world’s oceans, so I tend to be drawn to squishy things in jars. But I’ve chosen Aphrodita, or the sea mouse, because I think it’s a great example of a beautiful local animal our visitors will rarely, if ever, see alive, and it’s full of surprises. It certainly doesn’t look like your typical worm – the body is oval, fuzzy and lined on both sides by shocks of sleek iridescent bristles called setae, which have an incredibly effective photonic structure for reflecting light, even in the dark ocean depths. Although the sea mouse appears quite innocent, it is actually a voracious predator that has been seen to devour closely related carnivorous worms more than twice their size, head first. As an added bonus, its scientific name, derived from the Greek goddess of love, has unusual origins thanks to the imaginations of lonely sailors who came across them at sea(!). Aphrodita is located at the back of the main hall on the ground floor of the museum, in the Phylum Annelida cabin.e
Dr Sumner-Rooney with her favourite museum artefact
18 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 Judges Rob
Nick Millea stands in front of the Elizabethan map Nick Millea, Map Librarian at the Bodleian Libraries My favourite thing: the Elizabethan Sheldon tapestry map Imagine, a 700-square-foot map of offices in Norfolk it also made a trip to Worcestershire that is more than 400 Belgium for cleaning, and is now restored years old! One of four magnificent maps to the glorious piece we see today in the hall commissioned by Warwickshire gentleman of the Weston Library. There is nothing else Ralph Sheldon in 1590, the tapestry spent quite like it on the planet; to think that the two centuries in storage; it was left in a intensity of the colours where hidden under Is there an fragile state, dark from years of accumulated centuries of dust and dirt. artefact that dirt and with sections in disrepair or When I started as the Map Librarian fascinates you? missing. I never thought I would be working with Why not tell us about When the Weston Library was opened a Tudor tapestry map! it in the next issue? in March 2015 we finally had space to house The Elizabethan tapestry map is located Please send your it and immediately set about getting it in the main hall of the Weston Library; a submissions to repaired. After sending the map to map specialist is stationed by the map blueprint@admin. the National Trust conservation studio every day from 11.30am for half an hour. ox.ac.uk.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 19 intermission Many of our colleagues across the University are engaging in interesting and extraordinary activities outside work. Here are just a few of the fascinating stories we have heard so far...
Dwayne John – HR Office Manager children, families and children (maternity cover), Bodleian Libraries with disabilities. Trustee of Dovecote Centre The key focus is to work closely www.dovecoteproject.com with families and individuals who Growing up, I spent many Easter and experience multiple deprivations and summer holidays enjoying activities and social exclusion. We want to empower opportunities at the Dovecote Centre and support them by meeting their holiday play schemes. They provided needs in the community. We run an me with the chance to socialise and gave afterschool club, sensory play sessions, me a sense of belonging. It also helped parenting support groups and much build my confidence, self-esteem and more. social skills. I became a trustee because I wanted Dovecote Community Children & Families to give back to my local community; Vansingel Rudy project is a community-led, parent- my involvement has enabled me to managed charity. It delivers inclusive, understand the importance of working engaging and integrated services to support with others to help them achieve Amanda King – Education and the effective development and wellbeing of success or develop new skills. Facilities Project Administrator, Academic Centre, John Radcliffe Hospital Dwayne John Adventurer and photographer http://earthexpeditions.co.uk www.amanda-king-akimages.com I have always been intrigued by exploration. As a child I read countless books on the early explorers and dreamt about seeing some of these far off, remote places for myself. And travel I did! In 2008, following a series of events on an expedition I found myself cast adrift and alone in the middle of a desolate area in Costa Rica. With no money or food and little water, I had to get across the country trusting my wits. I used upturned pitcher plants to collect water and came to rely on the bananas a group of monkeys threw at me, for food. I had some very frightening encounters, in particular one where I escaped a group of machete men who wanted my head! The experience (which is being written as a book following talks on BBC Radio) taught me a great deal and has led me to continue travelling around the globe from the Amazon to Antarctica, photographing wildlife and documenting areas of interest. I enjoy looking back on these experiences with the knowledge that I have now had some worthy adventures of my own.
20 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 Judges Rob Charlene Rowley – Web & Digital Media Officer, Estates Services Hot air ballooning I’ve been ballooning with my husband record-breaking, my personal favourite Matt since we met nine years ago, and in event was the Longleat Sky Safari that time we’ve been part of two record- – 119 balloons flew over the safari breaking events. The first being the grounds, making it the official home Channel Crossing in April 2017 where we of the UK’s largest balloon event. were one of 82 balloons that flew past the There is something magical about White Cliffs of Dover, crossed the English seeing your everyday environment from Channel and landed in Escalles, a small a different perspective. However, the village off the coast of France, where the early mornings can be quite challenging. French farmers greeted us with coffee and pain au chocolat. And the second was the Sadly, we won’t be taking to the sky until Lord Mayor’s Balloon Regatta to mark March next year; the winter months are the 30th anniversary of the London City too dark and windy for us to fly. But at Airport in September 2017. Away from least I’ll get a lie in!
Dr Clara Barker – Technical Charlene and Matt Laboratory Manager for the soaring over the British countryside Centre for Superconductivity, at the Lord Mayor’s Department of Materials Balloon Regatta Vice-Chair of the LGBT+ earlier this year Advisory Group www.pointsoflight.gov.uk/ out-in-oxford www.glam.ox.ac.uk/out-oxford I knew during my school days that I was transgender, even if I didn’t have the words back then. Growing up at a time when talking about LGBT+ issues was strongly discouraged, I felt confused and without a role model. The same has been true for my scientific career in STEM subjects – a lack of visible role models (GLAM) cross collections ‘trail’ of objects made me believe I had to hide who I am that highlight varied sexualities, genders to stay in my field. and gender roles throughout history. Now I want to make sure that young Also, working with Oxfordshire County people and scientists know that they Council on an anti-bullying committee can be themselves and achieve the and Oxfordshire youth groups has allowed most they can. So I volunteer with the to me engage with young people and LGBT+ Advisory Group with the aim of schools in the community to improve improving student and staff life here at inclusivity. And recently, I started a If you’d like to share Oxford University. I also deliver awareness support group for parents of LGBT+ details of a pastime talks to help people who are not LGBT+ young people as they too need support to understand LGBT+ issues. or project you’re themselves understand terminology and involved with in your the issues we face. Through this work, The University has given me an amazing spare time please send I became involved in ‘Out in Oxford’, chance to be myself and contribute to the your submissions to a Gardens, Libraries and Museums LGBT+ community. blueprint@admin. ox.ac.uk.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 21 what’s n
Find out which events are recommended for your diary by colleagues from four of our popular visitor venues.
The Ashmolean Museum Museum of Natural History www.ashmolean.org/home www.oum.ox.ac.uk/visiting/ whatson.htm Our latest feature exhibition, running until 18 February 2018, is the first major display Super Science Saturday on 25 November exploring the visual cultures of Buddhism, is a biannual science fair hosted at the Christianity, Hinduism, Islam and Judaism Oxford University Museum of Natural as these five religions spread across Asia History. Bringing together Oxford and Europe in the first millennium. University researchers and family visitors, the fair offers a great opportunity to Imagining the Divine: Art and the Rise engage with some of the research that of World Religions not only showcases goes on within Oxford. many beautiful artefacts, including some of the earliest representations of Christ Around 100 researchers from the museum and Buddha, but also raises big questions and University departments typically take about how different cultures have sought part. The researchers design and lead to make their gods visible and how they activities based on their current projects have interacted and influenced each other. and will focus on this year’s Surprising Tickets cost £9 each for University staff Science theme. members. Come along to try out some of the hands- We’re marking the beginning of the festive on demos and meet the scientists and period with our free OneWorld Weekend. question them about their work. This free This festival of talks, performances and event is drop-in 12–4pm with all activities activities for all ages is open from 11am– designed with a family audience in mind – 4pm on 18 and 19 November and explores particularly recommended for those over the cultural traditions of different faiths eight years old. and communities. Booking is required If you can’t make the fair then come along for some of the activities. to one of our regular Science Saturday Visit our website to find out about our sessions run by volunteer scientists every tours. There’s a different themed tour Saturday 2–4pm throughout the academic every day between 1.15–2pm and we also term time. Science Saturday invites run regular afternoon and highlight tours. families to experiment, explore and investigate the natural world by Our usual programme of free talks, looking at a variety of objects including activities and workshops remains full of fossils, bees, minerals and skeletons. fascinating options for all. And make sure you call into our newly refurbished café Full lists of all of our special events for warmth and refreshment as the year coming up, together with our diverse draws to a close. range of regular events, are available on our website. Xa Sturgis Director Carly Smith-Huggins Education Officer: Secondary (Art), Families & Young People
Footprints of the Buddah – one of the fascinating exhibits from Imagining the Divine: Art and the Rise of World Religions 22 Blueprint Michaelmas term 2017 | of the British Museum © Trustees what’s n
We’ve got a fantastic staff prize on offer courtesy of the Ashmolean Museum. Enter our prize draw to The Wytham Studio of Science of the History Museum win tickets for four people to Imagining Museum of the History of Science Wytham Woods the Divine: Art and www.mhs.ox.ac.uk/events www.wythamwoods.ox.ac.uk the Rise of World www.facebook.com/WythamWoods Religions exhibition, We’re delighted to be working with the followed by lunch Wytham Woods has now been managed bioartist Anna Dumitriu in our latest at the museum’s by the University for 75 years, and we’re free exhibition Anna Dumitriu: BioArt Rooftop Restaurant celebrating with a year full of activities and Bacteria which runs until 18 March (up to the value of 2018. Bacteria are at the heart of and events. The celebrations kicked off £120). To enter, Dumitriu’s ground-breaking work, which at Curiosity Carnival, swiftly followed by please send your combines traditional artistic media with the unveiling of a Blue Plaque to mark the name and University contemporary science, to produce artwork anniversary in October. contact details to that is not only about bacteria but actually Over the coming months you can take in blueprint@admin. fused with them. a woodland film screening, watch badgers ox.ac.uk by Friday, 15 December. A feature piece in the exhibition, in their natural habitat or sit in a gigantic Microbe Mouth, was created using bird’s nest. From the world’s longest- ‘teeth’ grown in a lab using an running bird population study to canopy- extremophile bacterium from the genus scanning lasers, mechanical vole hotels Serratia. The work, which was created and Wi-Fi-enabled badgers – the strangest ideas become reality at Wytham. in collaboration with scientists Melissa Grant and Rachel Sammons, poses the If you’re not a lover of the great outdoors question ‘Are we ready for teeth made there’s plenty going on in town too. From from microbes?’ late November a new exhibition in the Museum of Natural History’s Wytham As part of the larger programme of Room is showcasing recent work by events for Anna Dumitriu: BioArt and Wytham’s artists-in-residence Robin Bacteria, we will be joined by Dr Timothy Wilson and Rosie Fairfax-Cholmeley. Want to find out more? Walker (Nuffield Department of Medicine) for a talk on TB on Thursday, 15 February, Early 2018 will see art and photo Visit www.ox.ac.uk/events-list at 6pm. TB still kills more people each exhibitions at St John’s College and the for details of a wide range of great year than any other germ. Dr Walker Mathematical Institute, inspired by the events open to everyone taking place across the University. will discuss where it has been, how is it science that’s been hosted in the woods spreading and how the DNA holds some over the decades – and the curious Visit www.museums.ox.ac.uk/ vital clues. characters who have carried it out. content/family-friendly-events for more information about family activities Keep an eye on what’s happening at Robyn Haggard taking place at eight University venues. Public Engagement Officer Wytham on our website or Facebook page. Most of the events are free, but Visit https://talks.ox.ac.uk for details Anna Dumitriu will host a tour of the some will require booking. of a diverse range of events, talks and exhibition on Wednesday, 22 November, workshops. Each event listing indicates at 1pm. Why not visit during your Tom Marshall whether it is open to all or only to lunch break? Communications Officer members of the University.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 23 My Family Care Meghan Lawson explains Many University staff combine work My Family Care is also a UK-wide how a new staff benefit is with demanding caring responsibilities. provider of emergency back-up helping people to balance their Whatever family means to you – children, childcare and adultcare services. This work and family life. elderly parents, family members with is a great resource that can help you complex care needs or all of these – My to find care for your elderly parents Family Care is a new University staff or arrange childcare anywhere in benefit that offers help and advice. the country. There is also access to a nanny-share service. By signing up to the Work+Family Space iStockphoto website you can download guides, view More than 400 University staff have webinars and access a phone line where already signed up to access this new you can Speak to an Expert on anything staff benefit family related, from practical eldercare Registering with My Family Care, challenges to questions about child the Work+Family Space web development. The website also includes resources and the Speak to an a Being a Dad section with resources Expert service are free for University aimed at fathers. employees. You only pay for any My Family Care has the capability to back-up care that you book or if help you find emergency care for your you want to arrange a personalised family all over the UK care search.
Visit www.admin.ox.ac.uk/personnel/staffinfo/benefits/family/mfc. To register you just need your University employee number (from your payslip) and your SSO username. Disability Support
Caroline Moughton discusses We employ people with disabilities experiences at work, explores how support the support available for in a diverse variety of roles and grades can make a difference. staff members living with a across the University – although many who Support is available for both staff and fall within the definition would not choose disability. students. Staff members can receive advice to use that language about themselves. from the Occupational Health Service The definition of disability is broad and (www.admin.ox.ac.uk/uohs) or the staff includes people with long-term health disability advisor (caroline.moughton@ conditions, mental health issues, dyslexia, admin.ox.ac.uk). Students can access the cancer and hearing or sight loss. Disability Advisory Service or contact People may be living with pain, disturbed their departmental disability coordinator. sleep and constant fatigue. Most people can UK Disability History Month work steadily all the time, but people with (22 November to 22 December) is an disabilities may need a different pattern of annual event which aims to create a work to cope with only being able to focus platform to focus on the history of for short time spans – or having periods of disabilities in our community – find out great creativity and other times when they more on the Equality and Diversity can do very little. Unit webpages (www1.admin.ox.ac.uk/ eop/disab). The University is increasingly aware and supportive of staff and students living More broadly, we’re working to anticipate with a disability. Disability Narratives the needs of disabled people in our (available at www.diversityprojects. workforce. This includes facilities in ox.ac.uk), a recent research project our buildings and online systems as well highlighting the lived experience of as our recruitment and working practices staff members with disabilities and their and career development opportunities. 24 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 introduction to Kevin Coutinho Kevin Coutinho, new Head of the Equality and Diversity Unit, has worked in the higher education sector since 2008, specialising in equality and diversity policy and practice. Kevin met Shaunna Latchman to discuss his new role.
Tell us a bit about yourself and the University is a bit like a Wispa how you came to be here? or an Aero bar – lots of free-forming I grew up in London and after bubbles all covered by a lovely silky graduating worked in the voluntary smooth veneer. The challenge is trying sector, at the Windsor Fellowship, a to co-ordinate the bubbles so we are race equality charity. I realised that more effective without losing the local to make a charity sustainable and autonomy and character that makes more effective, I would need a better Oxford special. understanding of business and so I How do you plan on sought out a scholarship and took the addressing this? MBA route. I next worked at Cambridge There is no quick fix – listening is for seven years and then Birkbeck a start and understanding the needs before the opportunity to apply for this of others is key. Co-ordination and role came up. Additionally, I’m Chair sharing workable solutions and good of the Trustees’ Board of the Windsor practice will help reduce the need to Fellowship and have elderly caring reinvent the wheel when local areas responsibilities– so life is busy. are looking to progress equality and What does a typical day look like? diversity. A very long day normally! It really A pertinent example is the Vice- varies, from dealing with problems Chancellor Diversity Awards. This and successes, supporting others – be high-profile event, which takes place it students or senior colleagues – or on 8 May 2018, is a celebration of work managing projects and training. A lot of taking place across the University to my day is about people, but I also have a promote equality and diversity. lot of reading to fit in as well. What do you particularly It will profile opportunities for like about your role? shared learning and replicating models that work. Hopefully it will The variety is great but more to the inspire people to think about equality point, I really like my work and I enjoy and diversity as part of our success engaging people with Oxford’s vision story. Another current initiative is the and aims – it motivates me to get up in relaunched Diversity Fund, a pot of the morning. This University is a world- £70,000 that enables the piloting of class national institution, so what we do ideas which provide an opportunity here at Oxford in Equality and Diversity to innovate beyond existing resources. Unit can help others and catalyse them to pursue a broader agenda in their own So the future’s positive? organisations. Of course. We have some very good What challenges do you work and practice on sexual orientation think Oxford will present? and gender identity in place in fact, in some respects I’d say we are ahead The University is embracing equality of the curve. However, we still have and diversity, which is evident through lots to do more broadly and I’m looking our participation in Athena SWAN, forward to making a difference and Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index Judges Rob inspiring others to become change and the Race Equality Charter. There’s agents. a lot of engagement, which is clearly positive. I like chocolate (probably To find out more about the work of the Equality too much for a diabetic) and, to me, and Diversity Unit visit www.admin.ox.ac.uk/eop.
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 25 advertisements
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Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 29 perfection on a plate
Professor lueprint investigated Professor Charles Spence, Spence’s findings and discovered that experimental Bsetting the ideal scene to help us all psychologist get the best from our Christmas Day meal and the involves appealing to all of the senses – not just our taste buds. head of the University’s ‘Research that we were involved in a Crossmodal few years ago demonstrated that the more senses you stimulate, the more Research Christmassy people felt, at least if you group, has got the right sensory triggers,’ explains attracted Charles. ‘When all the senses were in a wealth alignment people felt most Christmassy, of media and what is more, ended up eating more attention with mince pies!’ his fascinating We tend to eat more on Christmas signal. Great if you want to cut down on research Day than at other times. And the large the calories, but subconsciously suggesting into how our volumes may not just be caused by feeling your food is dangerous may not be ideal multisensory full of Christmas cheer. The research for Christmas Day. reviewed in his latest book, Gastrophysics: experiences You either love them or loathe them, so The New Science of Eating, also reveals can enhance if you’re trying to disguise the Brussel that we tend to consume 35% more food sprouts, green plates help make them less our eating when eating with one other person and prominent and you’re less likely to hear experience. 75% more when with three. This helps protests from the haters. explain why, at many festive gatherings in the UK, it’s estimated we each manage to Research orchestrated by Charles in a consume around 6,000 calories! Scottish hotel restaurant also reveals that using heavy cutlery results in people rating Here are just a few insights from food as tasting significantly better – so Professor Spence’s research on how to remember that weightier cutlery is likely create a great Christmas experience. to result in hefty compliments about your What you serve your food on can have festive fare. a huge impact on how people perceive it Serving wine? Classical music will help to taste. There’s currently a lot of online make it taste more expensive and red discussion concerning the more unusual lighting will help bring out the fruitiness choices of platter being chosen by some in red wine. Green lighting tends to make restaurants (including bricks, slates, dog your wine taste crisp and fresh. And a tip bowls and Wellington boots), resulting in if the wine bottle happens to be especially a twitter campaign @WeWantPlates for heavy is to let your guests pour for those bored of boards. themselves to feel the weight – it will help However, research shows that people can suggest that they are pouring a tipple more easily recollect a meal when they of quality. have eaten off of something unusual – Audiovisuals can also help your day worth considering if you want to dish up sparkle. Candles have been shown to To find out more something memorable. be more effective than the sight of a about creating If you’re sticking with plates, be aware Christmas tree at evoking that festive the perfect dining that the shape and colour can influence feeling and, interestingly, the smell of experience, check the dining experience. Round white plates cinnamon helps suggest Christmas more out Professor help your food taste sweeter, so a good successfully than the scent of pine needles Charles Spence’s contender for your Christmas pudding. or oranges. newest book, Gastrophysics: People tend to eat less from red plates as Here’s to a merry – and multisensory The New Science it seems to trigger some kind of avoidance – Christmas. of Eating.
30 Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 Blueprint Deck the Halls contacts Blueprint is published for The colleges and halls are a home away from the staff of the University home for students who are new to Oxford, and of Oxford by the Public Affairs at a time when we are all settling into our festive Directorate. For all general customs, they too are engaging in traditions of enquires or to suggest an item their own. A few of the colleges have shared for a future issue, please some of their oldest traditions with us. contact us using the details below.
Wadham College Blueprint 12 Days of Christmas: for the Wadham student Christmas Public Affairs Directorate dinner, the chapel choir goes up the narrow, stone spiral University Offices staircase into the Hall Gallery to sing the 12 Days of Christmas. Wellington Square OX1 2JD The custom, over more recent years, includes leaping up to [email protected] sing the line ‘Five gold rings’.
Subscriptions The Queen’s College To subscribe to Blueprint, either in print or Needle and Thread Gaudy: New Year is marked by the online, visit www.ox.ac.uk/staff/staff_ threading of more than one hundred needles. At the Needle communications/subscriptions and Thread Gaudy, the Bursar threads a needle onto each guest’s clothing and advises them to ‘be thrifty’ in the Advertising coming year. For details of how to advertise in Blueprint, visit www.ox.ac.uk/staff/ staff_communications/blueprint/ University College advertising Since 1674, every new member of University College has entered details of their name, their parents, their age and Distribution where they come from in an admissions register. The college If you have any queries about has examples of the handwriting of 340 years’ worth of distribution please contact members – including renowned author CS Lewis. [email protected]
Feedback We’d love your feedback about this Tours magazine – it will help us to shape future Two colleges are offering the opportunity to win a guided issues. Please send your comments to tour of their historic halls. Christ Church, home of Great [email protected] Tom, the clock tower you hear peeling across the city every hour, and The Queen’s College, founded in 1384, on the Please recycle this High Street. publication when The Queen’s College offers a choice of 10.30am on Thursday, you have finished 14 December, or Friday, 5 January, for a visit. All winners of reading it. the Christ Church tour will be asked to arrange their tour individually with the team at Christ Church. The opinions expressed in Blueprint are To enter the prize draw please email blueprint@admin. those of the contributors and are not ox.ac.uk by 5pm on Wednesday, 29 November. necessarily shared by the University of Please state the name of the college you would like Oxford. Advertisements are vetted, but to tour – and your preferred date if choosing Queen’s the University accepts no responsibility – in your email subject line. for them and their inclusion does not imply endorsement by the University of the goods or services advertised. What would you like to know about the colleges? Send your suggestions or questions to [email protected].
Blueprint | Michaelmas term 2017 31 last word Laetitia Velia, Senior Graphic Designer, Public Affairs Directorate, selects her favourite part of Oxford and explains why it is important to her: I used to cross Magdalen Bridge’s magnificent 11 arches most days and found it enjoyable whatever the season. I have a particularly wonderful memory of taking a leisurely stroll on a crisp autumnal Sunday morning and marvelling at the view of the beautiful Magdalen tower. During the summer, the sight of colourful punts bobbing gently on the shimmering water set me up for the day. From old photographs, it appears that the area around the bridge, completed in 1790, has stayed very similar over the decades. I like to imagine crossing it in 19th-century Oxford with the horses and carriages clattering by.
Main picture: Punts under Magdalen Bridge Left: A procession of Hall’s drays crossing Magdalen Bridge, 1912
University Images Oxford Tell us about your favourite place in Oxford – [email protected]