Professor Sir David King's 2008 Ashby Lecture
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ch_review_sept08_amend.qxd 10/10/08 3:08 PM Page 10 Review edition seven autumn 08 p10 Review edition seven autumn 08 p11 Tanner Lectures 2008 Professor Sir David King’s 30 October 2008, 5pm Lecture 2 Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Site Is Anyone in Charge of Public Opinion? Raymond Williams anticipated broadening What’s Left of Culture and Society? access to culture and increasing 2008 Ashby Lecture Professor Lisa Jardine participation in the public processes by Centenary Professor of Renaissance at ordinary people. In fact, the mass media Queen Mary, University of London have developed in entirely different ways problems.The countries which would be from those he anticipated. Professor most affected are those least able to Lecture 1 Jardine will examine some of the cope, because of low-lying land masses The Dream of Democratic Culture consequences of this, and the inexorable peopled with huge populations - India, Raymond Williams’ Culture and Society rise of the internet, and ask we too can Bangladesh, parts of China, the (1958) became a cult book for liberal refuse to despair of modern civilisation. Philippines and Indonesia amongst them. practitioners and critics in the humanities in the 1960s and 70s. In this Tanner Respondents Sir David offered a number of different lecture Professor Jardine looks back to 31 October, 9.30am – 1pm ways of confronting the issues. Carbon the dreams and ambitions for mass LG18, Faculty of Law, 10 West Road dioxide needs to be pumped out of culture, and vital role of literature in the Alan Rusbridger, Joan Bakewell, oceans; carbon emissions round the democratic process, as Williams saw it. Morag Shiach, Frank Kelly world must be reduced to what is the She will ask whether his was a vain current level of the average Indian today hope, or whether there is something For further details contact Rossella (2.2 tons per person per year); radical to be learned from his cultural Wilson: [email protected] approaches to the built environment analysis today. or see the Clare Hall website. The Ashby Lectures, initiated at Clare technologies, politics, economics and twentieth century, and demands on need to be introduced; the world’s Hall in 1983, focus on the presentation human cultures, all at the same time.The resources have been exacerbated by the financial resources need to be and discussion of ideas that relate to, and 2008 Ashby Lecturer, Professor Sir David increase in life expectancy.The challenges redirected. He also argued that inspire, human values.The 2008 Lecture, King FRS, must be one of the best which have to be met include water and further nuclear power sources are an ‘The Business of Climate Change’, given qualified of today’s policy thinkers to take food supply, health, biodiversity, essential part of the formula to be on 28 May, dealt with one of the most it on, having been head of the Chemistry terrorism, energy -- and climate change. applied. Currently, insufficient debated and contentious issues in the Department at Cambridge, moving to This last is the greatest challenge, and to personnel and inadequate finance world today, one which concerns the become Chief Scientific Advisor to the meet it requires a major response from are available, (Sir David said that it very future of our civilisation.The Government, and chairing its Global all countries of the world, some of which would help if the CERN budget complexity and urgency of the issues Science and Innovation Forum, and now currently show little inclination to work were redirected to climate which have to be confronted, and the running the Smith School of Enterprise co-operatively.A huge problem is dealing change!) Mankind can survive, but problems which arise from the need for and the Environment in Oxford. with the build-up of carbon dioxide; the only if radical solutions are them to be accepted and dealt within a situation is worse than it seems because introduced.This was altogether a co-operative manner by every nation of In the course of one hour, Sir David ran the oceans have the effect of slowing the masterly survey, and the audience the world, in their very diverse stages of through the variety of topics which make response in the atmosphere. Predictions departed both exhilarated and development, make climate change an up the extremely complex problems can only offer statistical pictures, and subdued. entirely apposite Ashby subject. Its which we are now having to face.The these show that while the best case of extensive, frightening agenda clearly has world’s population grew from 1.5 to 6 temperature increase might be tolerable, Words: Robert Anderson to take on concerns of science, billion people through the course of the the worst case would cause very severe Photos: Philip Mynott Clare Hall Cambridge ch_review_sept08_amend.qxd 10/10/08 3:08 PM Page 12 Review edition seven autumn 08 p12 Review edition seven autumn 08 p13 In Memoriam Rowing News Robert Honeycombe Lectures. In 1979, he chaired the final stages of the negotiations that led to the purchase of the neighbouring house, now renamed Leslie Barnett House, which allowed the option of further development on the old tennis court, which later became the site for the Michael Stoker Building.Towards the end of his presidency, Robert chaired a committee to examine the potential merits of Clare Hall seeking independence from Clare College.There was general support for seeking independence, as was allowed by the Trust Deed on which Clare Hall was founded, but the committee decided to await the appointment of a new President so that the whole procedure could be carried through in one presidency. After retiring from the presidency of Clare Hall in 1980, Robert became a Professorial Fellow of the College, and after retiring from his university post he became an Emeritus Fellow and Honorary Fellow. In the year 2000, following the Robert Honeycombe 1921-2007, President of Clare Hall from development of Clare Hall’s West Court, the new graduate 1973 to 1980, died on 14 September 2007 at the age of 86. wing was named the Robert Honeycombe Building. During his presidency of Clare Hall, Robert and his wife June Robert Honeycombe was born in Australia in 1921, and hosted numerous receptions and maintained the informal and studied at Geelong College,Victoria and the University of friendly atmosphere in Clare Hall that had been established Melbourne. He came to Cambridge in 1948 as a Research by Brian and Charlotte Pippard, their predecessors in the Fellow in the Cavendish Laboratory. In 1951 he was President’s house. Robert’s presidency was a period of appointed Senior Lecturer in metallurgy in the University of consolidation in Clare Hall, partly dictated by the difficult Sheffield, subsequently becoming professor and head of financial situation that developed after the 1973 oil crisis, and department. He returned to Cambridge in 1966 as the the pace of change was moderated so that earlier innovations Goldsmith’s Professor of Metallurgy, and in subsequent years became customs or traditions. In 1974, Robert initiated a presided over major developments in the department, review of the long-term aims and needs of the College which including a move to the new Arup building. led to an improved structure for committees and decision- Following the success of the Blades-winning Men’s Boat in mornings, the crew trained hard and competed successfully In July the Boat Club joined with the GSB for a special making. In 1976, he hosted Clare Hall’s Foundation Dinner, Robert was knighted in 1990 for his services to metallurgy. the May Bumps last year, the Clare Hall Boat Club in a number of races throughout the year. For the May celebration on Elmside lawn.The Men’s Eight rowing boat when Lord Ashby, former Master of Clare College, gave a He was treasurer and vice-president of the Royal Society attracted many new recruits in 2007-08.The membership Bumps 2008, Clare Hall fielded its largest crew ever: two was named the Ekhard Salje and the single scull boat was memorable lecture about the origins of Clare Hall. from 1986 to 1992. His other prominent posts included was a multinational and diverse group, consisting of novice men’s boats and two women’s boats. Every boat achieved a named the Lisa Salje, in thanks for their tremendous periods as president of the Institution of Metallurgists, and and experienced rowers from among Clare Hall students, bump on lucky Friday, 13th June! Overall, the First Men’s support over the years. In 1978, Robert and June Honeycombe were the hosts in Prime Warden of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths. Fellows, staff members and spouses from many countries. Boat moved up three places, and the First Women’s Boat Clare Hall at the meeting of the Trustees of the Tanner Main: Clare Hall Men’s and Women’s Rowing squads Undeterred by a flooded River Cam on many frosty wintry won Blades (having bumped on all four days). Janny Leung Foundation which inaugurated the annual series of Tanner Richard Eden Clare Hall Cambridge ch_review_sept08_amend.qxd 10/10/08 3:08 PM Page 14 Review edition seven autumn 08 p14 Review edition seven autumn 08 p15 List of Donors News of Members Since the start of our 40th Anniversary Campaign in 2006, we have raised a total of £2,364,465 in donations and pledges. We are also particularly grateful to those Fellows and Life Members who have responded so generously to the start of our legacy campaign. D. C. R.A. Goonetilleke (Visiting Fellow With deep appreciation Clare Hall recognises the following individuals for their generosity during the period 1 July 2005 to 30 June 2008.