NEWS AND FEATURES FROM THE BALLIOL COMMUNITY | JUNE 2018

A NEW MASTER 1 Visit from the Met Commissioner 9 Social media: a threat to democracy? 20 FAREWELL TO SIR How Balliol won University Challenge 28 DRUMMOND BONE 4 Balliol entrepreneurs 39 34 16

JUNE 2018

FROM THE MASTER 1

COLLEGE NEWS 30 New Fellows 2 A class act 4 Portrait of Professor Sir Drummond Bone 6 Deans on display 6 Awards 7 New Domestic Bursar 8 Visit from the Met Commissioner 9 New Outreach Officer 10 Admissions video 10 9 Our Oxford trip 11 Chinese visitors 12 4 Groundbreaking ceremony at the Master’s Field 13

STUDENT NEWS Horses and art in Northern Plains tribes 14 Having a blast in Bangladesh 16 Balliol climbers at BUCS 16 Photo of single atom wins national competition 17 26 Orchestra tour 17 Judo medal 17 JCR introduces CAFG officers 18 First place in an international finance competition 18

BOOKS AND RESEARCH #VoteLeave or #StrongerIn 19 Target democracy 20 Dynamics, vibration and uncertainty 22 Bookshelf 24 14

BALLIOL PAST AND PRESENT Balliol College, Oxford OX1 3BJ Nicholas Crouch reconstructed 26 www.balliol.ox.ac.uk How Balliol won University Challenge 28 Copyright © Balliol College, Oxford, 2018 The Garden Quad in Wartime 30 Tutorials remembered 32 Editor: Anne Askwith (Publications and Web Officer) Walking in the footsteps of Belloc 32 Editorial Adviser: Nicola Trott (Senior Tutor) Design and printing: Ciconi Ltd ALUMNI STORIES Front cover: Balliol’s first female Master, Dame Helen Ghosh DCB Social enterprise in Rwanda 33 (photograph by Rob Judges), who took up her position in April 2018. A Listening Pilgrimage 34 Global Balliol: Canada 36 Notes from the next revolution in housing 38 Thank you to all who have kindly written articles, agreed to be interviewed, Balliol entrepreneurs 39 provided photographs or information, or otherwise assisted in the Raising standards in literacy 42 preparation of this magazine. We are always pleased to receive feedback, and suggestions for articles: please send these to the Editor by email to [email protected] or at the address above. DEVELOPMENT NEWS 43 From the Master Dame Helen Ghosh DCB

No sooner had I set foot in the Master’s study at the beginning of April than I was

off to the Oxford Alumni Weekend in San Slupska Julia Francisco, and a Balliol dinner with a terrific turn-out from alumni of all ages. I was well aware that the question in their heads would be ‘Who is she?’ And that’s probably a question many of you are asking too. I love Oxford. I arrived here as a student 45 years ago and will never forget the thrill of finding myself in All Souls in the study of Professor Peter Brown, who had just published his magisterial biography of St Augustine of Hippo, reading out an essay and wondering how on earth someone like him could appear to take seriously anything I might have to say on the subject. That was my introduction to the tutorial system at its very best. I have lived here ever since. It’s where I met my historian husband Peter, since 1981 a Fellow of St Anne’s, and where The Master speaking at the Holywell Manor Festival 2018. we brought up our two children. Having been a regular commuter to somewhere That was one reason why I chose to with current and former Fellows, students else, I’ve always felt a sense of relief and come back to the University. Whether and alumni show in what affection the delight when I get back to Oxford. That’s through teaching or research, universities College is held and how strongly people not just because of its physical beauty, too are institutions which shape the world feel about its distinctive character. The but also because at its best, it represents of the future. For many young people, their recent alumni survey is a rich source of the pursuit of truth for its own sake as time at Oxford changes their lives – as it advice (see page 43). Many people have well as for the sake of changing people’s changed mine. The opportunity to play my emphasised Balliol’s proud history of lives. I am grateful for all that Oxford has part in that enterprise felt an exciting one. welcoming the very best students from given me: not just a formal education, Of all the Oxford colleges, Balliol with this country and around the world, and but a doorway into a wider world. its tradition of academic excellence, public support the College’s focus on widening Three years of research for an MLitt service and intellectual independence access at undergraduate and graduate reminded me that though I loved the seemed like a place where I could feel level. Our Career Development Fellows academic world, I wanted to apply my at home. And what an honour it would have a vital part to play in maintaining mind to more concrete problems. The be to inherit the title of Master from so and developing our teaching and research Civil Service seemed to me a place where many distinguished predecessors. Three excellence. Continuing Drummond’s drive intellectual and practical challenges could months in, I feel that honour very strongly. to put the CDF programme on a firm combine with serving the public good. In Thanks to Drummond Bone and all he financial footing will be a priority for me; 33 years in Whitehall there were many achieved as Master, the College is thriving. the successful completion of the Master’s highlights, whether working with local The people we celebrate from our Field building project will be another. communities in East London or very closely history – Jowett, Lindsay, or Dervorguilla Most of all, I believe the role of the with ministers as a Permanent Secretary. herself – are those who have planned for Master is to ensure that the College is a The chance then to lead Europe’s largest the future while still valuing the past. I see happy and stimulating community in which conservation charity was an opportunity I my challenge as the new Master as being students, academics and non-academic staff couldn’t resist. The National Trust combined to maintain and celebrate what makes can thrive – and of which alumni still feel my interests in history, the environment us special, but with a clear eye on how they are an important part. I look forward and public service. As a historian, I was we can meet the world ahead of us. to meeting you and welcoming you back also conscious of the role of big non- For the time being, the most important to Balliol, as warmly as the College has governmental organisations in changing thing is for me to listen to what other welcomed me. society, alongside or ahead of governments. people think. The conversations I have had

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 1 New Fellows

Mark Baker literature, and in the study of minorities at Newcastle in the Golden Age. Her doctoral thesis University and then

Mark joins Balliol and subsequent monograph explore moved to History Rob Judges as Supernumerary the influence of Masuccio Salernitano’s Il and to Oxford (St Fellow and Career Novellino on early modern Spanish writers Hugh’s and The Development such as Lope de Vega and Calderón de la Queen’s Colleges) Fellow in Modern Barca, and she has published papers on for her MSt and Global History. the circulation of Sansovino’s anthology DPhil, and a JRF. He is currently of novellas in Golden Age Spain. Other Helen is an completing his PhD research has focused on the representation historian of the at Yale University, of women in Golden Age literature, in early Middle Ages, where he is a particular the concept of mujer ventanera with a particular focus on Anglo-Saxon Dissertation Prize (women-at-the-window), and on the image England. Her interests lie in social, cultural Fellow at the Council on East Asian Studies. of black slaves in Golden Age literature. and religious history, and she is a leading Prior to this, at Oxford, he completed his Her current work explores the slaves’ expert in the history of medieval liturgy. BA in Modern History at Oriel College, poetry written in Spanish. Her monograph Liturgy, Architecture and and his MPhil in Modern Chinese Studies Sacred Places in Anglo-Saxon England (2013) at St Antony’s College. He also spent Calliope Dendrou draws on archaeological and architectural a year as a Visiting Research Scholar at evidence to explore the importance of Zhengzhou University in China. Calliope is ritual to people’s religious lives in this Mark is a historian of modern China, Supernumerary period. Helen is currently writing a book, with interests in urban history, rural- Fellow and Rob Judges English in the Liturgy before the Reformation, urban relations, comparative imperial/ Research Fellow which explores the use of the vernacular in colonial history, and the history of in the Sciences medieval church services. war. His doctoral thesis, which will be (Medical Sciences) the basis of a book, explores spatial at Balliol, whilst Claire Jarvis change at the urban edge of the cities continuing to hold of Kaifeng and Zhengzhou between the position of Sir Claire, an Assistant 1900 and 1960, examining rural-urban Henry Dale Fellow Professor of connections (and disconnections) during and Group Leader English at Stanford this tumultuous period. His future projects at the Wellcome Trust Centre for Human University, include an exploration of the competing Genetics in the Nuffield Department of California, interpretations of the life and thought of Medicine. She read for a BSc in Biology at joined Balliol in Sun Yat-sen (1866–1925) in the worldwide Imperial College, London, and obtained Michaelmas Term commemorations in March 1945. a PhD in Infection and Immunity at 2017 as Oliver Cambridge University. Smithies Lecturer Diana Berruezo-Sánchez Calliope’s research focus is on and Visiting Fellow. autoimmune diseases. Her research aims She received her Now Balliol’s to increase understanding of how human BA at the University of North Carolina Supernumerary genetic variation predisposes to different at Chapel Hill, her first MA from Boston

Fellow and Career Rob Judges autoimmune disorders, by prioritising the University, and a second MA and her PhD Development investigation of variants shared across at Johns Hopkins University, Maryland. Fellow in Modern diseases, in order to interrogate pathways Claire’s research focuses on British Languages that are central to the development literature of the 19th and early 20th (Spanish), Diana of these conditions, and which may be centuries, with particular emphasis on previously held specifically modulated to provide the the novel and theories of sexuality. Her lectureships at greatest benefit across patients. first book, Exquisite Masochism: Sex, the Universities Marriage, and the Novel Form (Johns of Barcelona Helen Gittos Hopkins University Press, 2016) explores and Oxford. She completed her PhD at a densely descriptive suspension of sexual Barcelona University, and she won the Fifth Helen has come to Balliol as Collyer- gratification in the novels of Emily Brontë, International Academia del Hispanismo prize Ferguson Fellow and Tutor in History. Anthony Trollope, Thomas Hardy, and D.H. for the best PhD thesis in Spanish literature. Previously she was a Senior Lecturer Lawrence. Claire’s current project, A Little Diana’s research interests are in the in Medieval History at Kent University. Britain: Women, Genre, and Form, considers Italian influence on early modern Spanish She read for a BA in English Literature questions relating to genre in the works of

2 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Dorothy Sayers, Elizabeth Goudge, Barbara Adam’s research faculty in 2008. Pym, Tessa Hadley and Zadie Smith, as well is in theoretical Prior to that, he as the scholarly heritage which connects condensed Rob Judges completed a PhD Rob Judges these female authors. While in Oxford, matter physics at the University Claire conducted research in the Bodleian’s and concerns of North Carolina collection of Pym’s manuscripts, and in fundamental at Chapel Hill Balliol’s archives. questions about and spent a quantum dynamics postdoctoral year Ohad Kammar out of equilibrium, at the American quantum phase Academy Ohad joins Balliol transitions, of Arts and as Supernumerary topological phases of matter, and Sciences as a Visiting Scholar.

Fellow and Career Rob Judges disordered systems. David writes on American intellectual, Development political, and cultural life. He is the author Fellow in Katherine O’Brien O’Keeffe of The Jefferson Rule: How the Founding Computer Science, Fathers Became Infallible and Our Politics while continuing Katherine is Clyde Inflexible (Simon and Schuster, 2015), to hold a research and Evelyn Slusser and The Myth of American Religious associate position Professor of Freedom (OUP, 2011; updated edition, within Oxford’s English Literature 2015), which won the Frederick Jackson Department of Prior to the Turner Award from the Organization Computer Science. He was previously at Twentieth Century of American Historians. As a teacher, Cambridge as a research associate at the at the University of David offers undergraduate courses University and a Bye-Fellow at Fitzwilliam California, Berkeley, on American culture and ideas and College. He gained his PhD in Informatics and joins Balliol as on religion in American life. He also at Edinburgh University, having completed George Eastman teaches a graduate seminar on US undergraduate degrees in Computer Visiting Professor. intellectual and cultural history. Science and in Mathematics at the Open She holds her AB from Thomas More University of Israel. College, Fordham University, and her PhD William Zwicker Ohad’s research focuses on the from the University of Pennsylvania. Before relationships between four fundamental joining Berkeley, she was Timothy O’Meara An Oliver Smithies theories of programming languages: Professor of English at the University of Lecturer and computational effects; higher-order Notre Dame. Visiting Fellow Rob Judges functions; concurrency; and polymorphism. Katherine’s work focuses on the at Balliol, William Currently, no overarching theory exists for literary culture of Anglo-Saxon England, is the William D. combining all four theories (a ‘theory-of- primarily on cultural transmission, editing Williams Professor everything’). This gap points to a deficiency in manuscript cultures, and questions of Mathematics in our understanding of the nature of of agency. Her most recent projects at Union College, computation and abstraction, as well as investigate the work of surprise in Schenectady, NY. having practical implications on the way traditional poetry and strategies of bodily He received his programming languages are designed. At satisfaction in Anglo-Saxon law. She is the PhD from the Balliol, Ohad will focus on the interaction author of Stealing Obedience: Narratives Massachusetts Institute of Technology. between computational effects and of Agency and Identity in Late Anglo-Saxon He began his academic career in 1975 polymorphism. The aim of his research is England (University of Toronto Press, at Union College, where he has held his to resolve these tensions, and thus pave the 2017) and Visible Song (CUP, revised ed. current position since 2006. He has also way for the design of true general-purpose 2008), in which she investigates textual held visiting positions at universities in the programming languages which effectively variance in the manuscript culture of UK, Canada, Spain, and France. incorporate features of all four theories. Old English poetry. She is also editor of William’s research is focused on the C-text of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. applications of mathematics to the Adam Nahum She was elected Fellow of the Medieval social sciences, including co-operative Academy of America in 2015. game theory, fair division, and social Adam Nahum (2002) completed his choice theory (specifically, the MPhysPhil and DPhil at Balliol. Much of David Sehat mathematics of voting). As this research his academic career so far has been spent is fundamentally interdisciplinary, he in the USA, where he obtained an MS in David is spending a year at Balliol as has worked extensively with political Physics from Chicago and where, recently, John G. Winant Visiting Professor of scientists, economists, mathematicians, he was a postdoctoral associate and then American Government. A cultural and and computer scientists, although Fellow at the Massachusetts Institute intellectual historian of the United States, continuing to approach the findings of Technology. He returns to Balliol as he is an Associate Professor at Georgia from a mathematician’s point of view. Research Fellow in the Sciences (Physics). State University, where he joined the

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 3 A class act Sudhir Hazareesingh (1981 and Fellow and Tutor in Politics) pays tribute to the retiring Master

Events marking the retirement of Professor Sir Drummond Bone (1968, Master 2011–2018) at the end of March included the unveiling and hanging of a portrait in Hall (page 6); a 12-day international valete tour during which he attended receptions with Balliol alumni; a retirement tea in Hall, attended by Heads of House, University staff, Balliol Fellows, Lecturers, students and staff; and a retirement dinner for Fellows, alumni and friends at which Sudhir Hazareesingh gave a speech, an edited version of which is published here.

It is my great honour to propose the toast great economist Adam Smith (1740). But to the Master, to celebrate and pay tribute the Snell also spawned some scrappers – to Drummond’s distinguished service as ‘As you make your way such as one J. Carnegie, admitted in 1709 Master of Balliol. back to your beloved and expelled in 1710. There is also J.H. I think nothing more readily sums up Scotland, Drummond, Christie (1808), who became a barrister the affection and gratitude of the Balliol but whose only subsequent claim to fame community towards you, Master, than the we thank you for your was to be prosecuted after a duel in wonderful turnout of Fellows, Emeritus service and wish you the 1821. Vivian once perfectly summed up Fellows, Honorary Fellows, Foundation the Snell’s colourful diversity when she Fellows, Old Members, benefactors and greatest of successes in remarked to Drummond: ‘Those of you friends this evening. your endeavours in the who are not dead have done pretty well.’ I would like to take a moment, in her months and years ahead.’ This is a perfect transition to one of absence, to salute Vivian. I hope, Drummond, your many engaging qualities, Drummond: you will pass on our collective thanks your wry sense of humour, allied with for her numerous acts of kindness and an unvarying modesty and a total lack of generosity towards us, and for the crucial absolute lad’; a third volunteered this pomp: you take your inspiration here from role she has played in the achievements of wondrous encomium: ‘Drummond is a the great Byron, and I cannot resist quoting your Mastership. I would also like to salute massive pimp … but in a good way.’ from Don Juan: the presence in our midst of a glorious This capacity to generate such gaggle of Masters, past and future: Colin flights of poetic eloquence among the What is the end of Fame? ’tis but to fill Lucas and Andrew Graham are here, and undergraduates has been one of the A certain portion of uncertain paper: they are joined by our next Master, Helen hallmarks of your Mastership. Of course, Some liken it to climbing up a hill, Ghosh. It is fabulous to see these great this was their way of reminding us all that Whose summit, like all hills, is lost in vapour pillars of Balliol wisdom here – and having you first arrived in Balliol in 1968 – a year them with us as we honour Drummond which speaks for itself. The esprit soixante- You have combined all the magisterial conveys that continuity of inspiration which huitard had possessed Holywell Manor, virtues of your recent predecessors: a guides the College across modern times, and you too were swept away by it. Your commitment to intellectual excellence, and for which we are immensely grateful. anarcho-libertarian insouciance did not go an openness to the world, an ebullient These changes may of course appear unnoticed: I have it from an unimpeachable generosity of spirit, a passion for the seamless, but they require from our source that you were gently upbraided Humanities, a compelling sense of Masters an active spirit of engagement by Master Christopher Hill for not organisation, and a reassuring deftness with – and at times, a no less active spirit appearing in a College photograph. Now numbers. To me, the Master you evoke of transgression. It was evident to our that Drummond’s portrait hangs here most powerfully is Sandie Lindsay – not own students when you returned to the in Hall, a few metres from Christopher’s, just because he was one of our great College as Master in 2011, Drummond, we can all fully savour the delicate Balliol Scots, but also because you both that you were something of a subversive. intertextualities of that moment. shared a commitment to internationalism, The Oxford Student newspaper ran an I cannot resist a wee word or two progressive reform and a belief that article in which Balliol students gave about Balliol’s Glasgow connection, which power comes with social and political their impressions of their new Master; first brought Drummond to us. The Snell responsibility. In that famous October they read as a postmodern take on Exhibition is one of those very recent 1938 by-election in which he publicly the concept of effortless superiority. Balliol traditions (it dates back only to the defied the Munich appeasers, Lindsay One undergraduate described you as year 1699). It is, as we know, an immensely stood as an ‘independent progressive’ – ‘totally badass’, another called you ‘an distinguished association, which gave us the a label which sums you up perfectly.

4 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 The Master’s Retirement Tea Rob Judges Rob Judges Rob Judges Rob Judges

A Master above all needs to have the You even inspired a Balliol team to win capacity to embody the role (what our University Challenge. French friends call l’incarnation), and in this ‘Your ability to reach for With the help of many of the respect you have been absolutely superb. the stars is on the cosmic benefactors present this evening, our Countless friends and colleagues from scale of the greatest wonderful Development Office and our across the University have remarked to shrewd Investments Committee, you also me that you were so nice (always said with Inca ruler, Pachacuti, oversaw a near-doubling of our endowment a mildly off-putting expression of surprise, whose name means – a monumental achievement. At the as if that was not necessarily a quality to same time, you spearheaded the rolling be expected of a Balliol person). Under “he who overturns out of a new and exciting programme your Mastership, all the different parts of space and time”.’ of Career Development Fellowships, the College administration have worked which has invigorated the College’s in great harmony. Your dedication to tutorial capacities and reaffirmed Balliol’s student academic and personal welfare has community. This has sometimes involved, I leadership within Oxford as a centre for been exemplary, and much appreciated am reliably informed, the consumption of teaching innovation and excellence. by the JCR and MCR; I should mention certain quantities of liquor, and so, Master, So, as you make your way back to your here that students signed a farewell on behalf of the College, I hereby express beloved Scotland, Drummond, we thank card for you, and the inscriptions were our sincere apologies to your liver. you for your service and wish you the unanimous in stressing how inclusive, We have so much to celebrate greatest of successes in your endeavours kind, and gentle a Master you have been. concerning your Mastership, Drummond: in the years ahead. You are a class act. A Two comments stand out for me: one the introduction of significant reforms to true performer of miracles, you remind was from a student who wrote how the management and oversight of student me (this will be my only motoring allusion) disoriented he felt when he arrived in academic affairs; the spectacular renovation of the Haitian voodoo god Papa Legba, Oxford, and how much strength and of our kitchens; the brilliant success of the enchanted guardian of the crossroads; comfort he drew from your welcoming our 750th anniversary celebrations; the your ability to reach for the stars is on speech at Freshers’ Dinner. The other was adoption of the Master’s Field building the cosmic scale of the greatest Inca ruler, from a student who said: ‘Thank you for project, which will provide us with an Pachacuti, whose name means ‘he who not giving me a bollocking at handshaking additional 140 rooms and thus the capacity overturns space and time’. I am certain that when I did no work at all last year.’ to accommodate all our undergraduates if you were the manager of the Scottish Your charm and your diplomatic finesse during their time in Balliol if they so wish football team, you could somehow even have also helped maintain excellent – an aspiration I have heard discussed make Scotland qualify for the World Cup. relations between the College and the for the past 35 years, but which will now Thank you for sharing your magic powers wider Balliol alumni and benefactor become a reality thanks to your leadership. with us over the past six-and-a-half years.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 5 Rob Judges Portrait of Professor Sir Drummond Bone

To mark his retirement at the end of March, a portrait of Professor Sir Drummond Bone (1968, Master 2011–2018) has been hung in Hall. The portrait, in oil, is by the artist Valeriy Gridnev. The commissioning of the portrait was made possible by the generosity of an anonymous donor. In the portrait Sir Drummond sits in front of the 1892 design by T.G. Jackson for a Balliol annexe, conceived by Benjamin Jowett (Master 1870–1893). Only part of the scheme was executed: the King’s Mound in Mansfield Road (on the far right of the image below), where recent Masters have lived. Ian Taylor

Professor Sir Drummond Bone, by Valeriy Gridnev, oil, 2017

Deans on Rob Judges Rob Judges display

A portrait of John Jones (1961, Fellow 1966–2010, Dean 1972–2002, Fellow Archivist 1981–2009, Emeritus Fellow) has been presented to the College by an anonymous benefactor – a ‘most personal honour’, John says, by which he feels humbled. The portrait is by Bob Tulloch, in watercolour, coloured pencil and pastel, and it shows John in St Cross Church, Holywell: John headed the restoration of the church and its conversion into Balliol’s Historic Collections Centre, completed in 2011. John’s portrait has been hung on the SCR landing leading into Hall as part of a Douglas Dupree, by Kevin Arthur, 2016 John Jones, by Bob Tulloch, 2017 new display of portraits of the five Deans who are honoured at the Deans’ Dinner. It is next to one of Douglas Dupree (Fellow are F.F. Urquhart (Fellow 1896–34, Dean and Chaplain 1987–2014, Dean 2007– 1918–1933); A.B. Rodger (Fellow 1924– 2014, Emeritus Fellow) by Kevin Arthur, 1961, Dean 1933–1952); and F.L.M. Willis- 2016, in oil, which has been presented by Bund (Chaplain and Fellow 1945–1972, the Balliol Society. The other three Deans Dean 1952–1972).

6 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Awards

New Year Honours David Johnston (2000) was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire Timothy (David) Rossington (1976) was (OBE) for services to social mobility and Ian Taylor appointed Companion of the Order of the education. He is Chief Executive of the Bath (CB) for public service. Until 2017 he Social Mobility Foundation, a charity that was Finance Director at the Department runs programmes to help young people for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport from low-income backgrounds enter (DCMS) and has served in a number of universities and professions. He has also other roles in DCMS. He was previously been Director of Future, a charity which Finance Director of the Department for supports organisations working with young Communities and Local Government. people, before which he was Coordinator of the Oxford Access Scheme.

Academic awards Nanoengineering and Processing of Metal-Organic Framework Composites for Photonic Sensors’, which will make Ian Taylor possible the design and fabrication of fine-scale porous materials with bespoke physical and chemical properties, to afford disruptive photonics sensing technology.

Professor Ngaire Woods (1987), founding Dean of the Blavatnik School of Government and Professor of Global Economic Governance at Oxford, was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for services to Robert Field (Professor of Engineering higher education and public policy. As well Science, Lubbock Fellow and Tutor in as leading the creation of the Blavatnik Engineering Science) was awarded an School of Government, she founded the Academies Partnership in Supporting Global Economic Governance Programme Excellence in Cross-disciplinary research at Oxford, and co-founded (with Robert award (known as an APEX award) for a O. Keohane) the Oxford-Princeton Global project entitled ‘Exploring Water Re- Frances Kirwan (1981, Professor of Leaders Fellowship programme. use – the Nexus of Politics, Technology Mathematics and Emeritus Fellow) was and Economics’, in which, he says, he elected Oxford’s 20th Savilian Professor. David Buttery (1997) was appointed aims ‘to understand the limitations of The chair was founded in 1619 and she is Officer of the Order of the British planned water recycle and re-use for a the first woman to be elected to any of the Empire (OBE) for services to transport. wide range of regions around the world, historic chairs in mathematics. A specialist From 2012 to 2017 he was Deputy taking into account the constraints of in algebraic and symplectic geometry, Director for High Speed Rail Legislation government and of politics as much she was elected a Fellow of the Royal and Environment at the Department as the technological possibilities.’ Society in 2001 (only the third female for Transport, in which role he led the mathematician to attain this honour) Parliamentary process for the HS2 Phase Jin-Chong Tan (Associate Professor and she was President of the London One hybrid Bill: the planning application of Engineering Science and Tutor Mathematical Society from 2003-2005 for the high-speed railway from London in Engineering Science) has been (only the second woman ever elected). to the West Midlands and the largest awarded a five-year European Research piece of legislation ever submitted to Council (ERC) Consolidator Grant of Professor Martin McLaughlin (1973) Parliament. His previous roles in the €2.4 million. With this support Professor was awarded the Serena Medal for Italian same department include Head of EU Tan, who leads the Multifunctional Literature by the British Academy. The medal Regulation and Infrastructure in the Materials & Composites Lab in Oxford’s is awarded annually ‘for eminent services Office for Low Emission Vehicles, and Department of Engineering Science, will towards the furtherance of the study of Head of Highways Agency Sponsorship. establish a project called ‘PROMOFS: Italian history, philosophy or music, literature,

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 7 art, or economics’. Professor McLaughlin has recently retired from his Chair as Professor of Italian Studies at Oxford and is an Emeritus Fellow of Magdalen College. Fulbright/Leo Johnson

some of the world’s top supercomputers. of Agnes Scott College, Atlanta, she was An Engineering Science DPhil graduate, previously founding director of Duke Matthew is the youngest person ever to be University’s Kenan Institute for Ethics. offered the prestigious Fellowship. He says: Prior to that she taught at Randolph- ‘It will provide me with access to some of Macon and Deep Springs Colleges and Andrew Paverd (2011) won a the best neutron scattering and diffraction then at Princeton University, as well as postdoctoral Fulbright Scholar Award instruments and supercomputers in the holding research fellowships at Harvard 2017-18 in Cyber Security at the world. I intend to initially focus on the and at Melbourne University in Australia. University of California, Irvine. His research stability of next-generation framework focuses primarily on the use of secure materials upon external stimuli such as David Gibling hardware to build trust in computer the thermal and high-pressure response (1941) was systems. During his Fulbright exchange, he properties. However, with the world- posthumously will explore the use of hardware security leading facilities available and a team appointed to the techniques in new application domains. of brilliant scientists to work with the rank of Chevalier possibilities are limitless.’ in the Ordre Matthew Ryder (2013) was awarded national de la Légion the Clifford G. Shull Fellowship at Oak Other awards d’Honneur by the Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in President of the the United States. ORNL is the largest US Elizabeth Kiss (1983) is to be the next French Republic, in Department of Energy (DOE) laboratory, a Warden of Rhodes House, succeeding recognition of his ‘military engagement and world-leading neutron science and nuclear Charles Conn (1993). She will be the first steadfast involvement in the Liberation of energy research facility, and home to woman in the role. Currently President France during the Second World War’. New Domestic Bursar Following Jo Roadknight’s departure previous job was very odd, but within two ‘over the wall’ to Trinity, Balliol has a new to three days I felt as I had been here for

Domestic Bursar: Frances Wright. ages – it felt just right,’ Fran remembers. A Rob Judges Fran comes to Balliol from Oxford’s Sir few months on, she is still ‘getting a picture’ William Dunn School of Pathology, where of how Balliol works – the 12 committees she was head of Human Resources. When she sits on, for instance – but she is excited she decided that it was time to move on, by the challenges and interest of a job her sister, who works at Pembroke, urged which involves ‘doing a bit of everything’. her to try college life. From a choice of Her immediate priority will be the much- Domestic Bursar posts available at the needed modernisation of Balliol’s HR time, Fran chose Balliol ‘because of its systems. Otherwise she expects she will be ideals’, she says, especially that of social ‘pulling things together’ rather than making responsibility – she was impressed by the any major changes. Dunn School’s 75-year history – which refugee scholarship which was in the news Asked what she likes best about Balliol, includes the development of penicillin – then. The website ‘threw it at you that a lot Fran replies, ‘I love the buildings and seems as nothing compared with Balliol’s of good was going on’ here. the gardens, and the feeling that we are 750-plus years. ‘I want to help make sure ‘Starting afresh after ten years in my preserving something old and historic.’ The that Balliol’s here in another 750 years.’

8 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Visit from the Met Commissioner Jonathan Windsor (2015) reports from the Younger Society

On Saturday 2 December 2017, the Younger Society had the honour of receiving Cressida Dick, the current and first Aidan Balfe female Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, as the guest of honour at its 71st Annual Dinner. Cressida Dick is familiar with Oxford, particularly Balliol, having grown up in the city and come from a long line of people affiliated with the College, and being an Old Member (1979) herself. She has previously served as Area Commander for Oxford and as a Superintendent in the Thames Valley Police (she was interviewed Katie Lawrence-Smith (Secretary), Professor Timothy Endicott (Blanesburgh Fellow and by this publication back in 1997 on her Tutor in Law), the Commissioner, Grant Lamond (Frankfurter Fellow and Tutor in Law) appointment to that post). and Talia Keskin (President) The Younger Society comprises every current and past Balliol lawyer, and holds to meet the physical requirements for entry aiding police, she observed that currently its annual dinner at the end of Michaelmas only by convincing her doctor that she the vast majority of police cases are solved Term in Balliol’s Hall. Thus after a good was four inches taller than she actually was. through the use of technology, specifically half hour of socialising and drinking in the However, she made it clear that obstacles surveillance and forensics, rather than older Buttery, guests were invited up to the Hall such as insufficient height or minor methods such as the use of witnesses. for dinner, which consisted of a delicious infractions no longer prevent people from The Metropolitan Police Service is three-course meal served to Balliol’s joining the Metropolitan Police. experiencing a difficult time, Ms Dick typically high standards. After dessert, the The Commissioner said that in the noted. It is grappling with a large expansion Younger Society’s President, Talia Keskin, gave course of her career she had observed in its duties, while facing considerable a short speech introducing Cressida Dick to an immense change in law enforcement, budget cuts, at the same time as being the Society before giving her the floor. both in its culture and in its methodology. careful to maintain the public’s trust and Ms Dick began by thanking the Younger When she was starting out, there was a meet its high expectations. Brexit and the Society for allowing her to attend, as prevailing attitude amongst those who related political turmoil it has brought have the Society is reserved for Balliol people enforce the law that they enjoyed special also raised issues for the Met, particularly involved with law, though she observed rights and privileges above the rule of law, in relation to funding and security, and has that her invitation was merited through her and that the judicial system would not increased the pressure on it to serve as a career in enforcement of the law. How she pursue them for any alleged wrongdoing. force for, and symbol of, stability. She also came to her current position stemmed a The Metropolitan Police was also quite touched upon the Met’s relationship with great deal from the influence of her father, racist and sexist. Since then, however, it the current Prime Minister, Mrs May having M.W. Dick (1939 and Fellow), she said, even has made great strides in addressing these served for a considerable amount of time though, despite being a Balliol Dean, he issues, by including minorities and women as Home Secretary prior to her elevation. was not overly found of law enforcement in its ranks and making progress in ensuring The Commissioner’s speech received himself, especially traffic wardens. Recalling that law enforcement keeps within the much applause, as the audience found a number of anecdotes relating to legal and judicial system. In this respect she her discussion about her career and her escapades Balliol students committed welcomed the use of body cameras on broader discussion about law enforcement during her time as a student, most of police officers to ensure that they carry engaging and stimulating, and were pleased them directed at a specific college in close out their duties properly and transparently. to learn of the progress that the police proximity to Balliol, she wryly noted that the She emphasised that law enforcement have made in addressing criticisms of them. Metropolitan Police’s intake of Balliol alumni has become a highly trusted process and The Younger Society is most grateful to was not large and several had been rejected that it is important that police continue to Commissioner Cressida Dick and we look on the basis of College misdemeanours. have the support and trust of the public. forward to her continued involvement in She revealed that she herself had managed Returning to the theme of technology our Balliol College community.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 9 New Outreach Officer As a former deputy head teacher at an Floreat access programme for year 12 inner-city school with a high proportion students; another she’ll be giving talks to of disadvantaged students, Pravahi Osman schools in Hertfordshire, the College’s Rob Judges knows how hard it can be for teachers to link region. support a small number of able students What is the main challenge in her within a school to apply to Oxford. She work, does she think? ‘It’s about raising is also passionate about students being aspirations,’ Pravahi says. ‘Misconceptions able to achieve their full potential through about Oxford and a lack of understanding higher education. So she saw the post of of the admissions process among teachers David Freeman Outreach Officer at Balliol can be a toxic mix that permeates as an opportunity to help, using both her through to students.’ Working through teaching experience and also skills she teachers, she believes – communicating learned during a spell as an education what Oxford offers, directing teachers consultant. ‘I see my role at Balliol as to information and resources, helping bridging the gap between schools and the them to navigate their way through Oxford admissions process,’ she says. the admissions process – is the way to Since arriving at Balliol in Michaelmas improving students’ access to Oxford. 2017, she’s been enjoying the diversity of In particular, she wants to help teachers the job. One day she might be briefing build their own programmes for able moment they enter secondary school. the Student Ambassadors who help her students, so that they can nurture their ‘By helping teachers we can stop the with visiting school groups and open days; appetite for learning, ensure that they pipeline for able students narrowing.’ For another she’ll be working with graduate make the best curricular choices and more such initiatives that Pravahi will be students who are teaching on Balliol’s give them sustained support from the developing at Balliol, watch this space.

Admissions video Watch, like and share: Balliol has a new By a happy coincidence the producer undergraduate admissions video! Through and editor was Suzy Shepherd (2012), who interviews with students, the video aims graduated from Balliol in Classics in 2016. to show potential applicants what Balliol is ‘I really loved making this film,’ she says. ‘It like and to address some of the concerns was great to be back at Balliol (however they may have, such as the admissions briefly), and everyone went out of their way process and whether or not they will fit in. to make things easy for me – I could always We hope that the positive sentiments of find someone willing to be in a shot or to students from different backgrounds and wave at the camera, and all the interviewees cultures – who variously describe Balliol spoke about Balliol with genuine warmth as ‘a close-knit community’, ‘made up of and conviction. I saw some familiar faces people like me’, ‘a place to grow and learn’, and got to know a few new ones. Nice to ‘an institution which genuinely cares about know Balliol is as friendly as ever!’ its students’ – combined with scenes of We hope that everyone in the Balliol JCR life will encourage potential applicants community will enjoy it. We ask you to to apply. help disseminate it as widely possible by The video will be a tool for the liking it and sharing it on social media and Outreach Officer to use at school visits, bringing it to the attention of any school Open Days and outreach events, as well students, parents, teachers or schools who as improving what potential applicants you think may be interested. can learn about Balliol from the website; it is also available on YouTube. The first Watch Balliol’s new video at: Balliol admissions video since 1987, it was https://youtu.be/TxexGQ79SGA created by Angel Sharp.

10 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Ian Farrell Ian Farrell Ian Farrell

Our Oxford trip Year 11 students at Wilnecote High School describe their visit to Balliol with their teacher Ian Farrell (1984)

We woke on a Monday morning bright like and that students do have fun. She told printed in 1616. After a hesitant start, (well, brightish) and early, and set off slightly us about the range of independent roles we surprised ourselves and impressed bleary-eyed for Oxford. Thanks to the that exist for students, such as being a JCR the Librarian with how much we were usual M42 mayhem, the journey was a long officer responsible for organising themed able to discover as we delved deeper. one (slightly too long for the bladders of social events, and reassured us that the Sadly we had to get back to the some), but we eventually arrived at the view of life at Oxford we had arrived with Park and Ride to avoid the rush-hour Park and Ride. We were on our way to was far from the truth. In short, meeting traffic, so Mr Farrell prevented a quick Balliol with stereotypical expectations of a Daisy opened our eyes and made us realise trip to Greggs or Five Guys, but we had ‘posh’ college for ‘posh’ people – nothing how wrong some of our preconceptions thoroughly enjoyed the day and valued like us – and the grandiose approach on were. Daisy also told us about the College’s the experience of gaining an insight into Broad Street did nothing to allay our fears; extensive emotional and spiritual support what university life could be like for us in but what we found could not have been network, before showing us the magnificent the future; we particularly enjoyed seeing further from our expectations. Chapel, the majesty of which was the College from a student’s point of view. When we entered the grounds of the unmistakable whatever creed you were. Oxford University seems unattainable for College, the enormity of it took us aback Lunch was in the Hall, which was many people because of money worries as we stood surrounded on all sides by breathtaking; it felt like walking into or negative preconceptions. While the the magnificent stone buildings. However, Hogwarts, with Balliol’s ‘greats’ gazing academic expectations are certainly high, when we went inside the buildings we dramatically down from the walls as we we found that Oxford provides great were surprised by how intimate and cosy ate. It was then on to the Library, where support with financial issues and it is an the College felt. We were shown round we were able to see a 1632 portfolio of excellent option for anyone prepared to by Daisy Porter, a third-year student, who Shakespeare’s complete works and even work hard. On behalf of the Wilnecote gave us an insight into student life at Balliol had a go at translating some Latin. We students, we would, therefore, like to offer and at Oxford generally. She explained how then separated into groups to compare our sincere gratitude for the brilliant time Oxford isn’t at all what you might think it is and contrast two title pages from books we had when we visited Balliol College.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 11 Chinese visitors Balliol welcomed a group from Tsinghua University

On 25 January 2018 Balliol had the Xinyu Luo, a first-year Engineering commitments in the afternoon; otherwise pleasure of receiving a visit from 64 student, was another Balliol guide. I would have offered to show them students and four professors from Xinya ‘When I heard a cohort of students some really cool places around Oxford.’ College, Tsinghua University. Chinese Balliol from Tsinghua was going to visit Balliol, a Following the tour Dr Nicola Trott students took time out of their studies to stream of thoughts echoed with a part (Senior Tutor) showed the visitors a meet their compatriots and to give them a of me that had long ceased to exist. I video of Professor Adam Smyth (Fellow tour of the College. was once like them, being top of the and Tutor in English Literature) talking ‘I was delighted to welcome my peers year group, receiving a scholarship and to an Oxford student about her work from Tsinghua’s Xinya College, a newly preparing to prove my values and hard on Shakespeare, and conducted a group established residential liberal arts college work with an excellent score in the reading of W.B. Yeats’s poem ‘Sailing to within the most prestigious institution in Gaokao, the National Higher Education Byzantium’. She and Professor Gao Jin led a China,’ said Aohan Qu, a first-year Balliol Entrance Exam, in order to enter one discussion among the students, after which undergraduate reading Economics and of the top unis, Tsinghua and Peking, they had lunch in Balliol Hall. Management. ‘It was a pleasure showing in China. But cut off from the Chinese The Tsinghua group came to Balliol them around the places that I live, education system at the age of 16, I as part of a week-long trip to Oxford, work, and play in on a daily basis, and came to Balliol instead. The tour was during which they learned about an chatting with them about the daily life memorable. The looks on the students’ Oxford University education and student of a typical Oxford student. They asked faces when touring our Library reminded life through talks and tours at three very interesting questions about Oxford, me of the same excitement I had when other colleges, as well as visiting Oxford’s mostly about the collegiate system and our I was fresh off the boat. And it was both museums and libraries. Pravahi Osman traditions. One of the things that impressed interesting and thought-provoking to see (David Freeman Outreach Officer), who them the most was the change of colour how we can take a different path yet arranged the visit, said, ‘We hope that our of carnation that students wear to exams, eventually meet again at a point in space visitors enjoyed the occasion as much as which is both fun and reflects the academic and time, with totally different identities. we did and that it will be the beginning of rigour of Oxford’s exams.’ It was unfortunate that I had academic a lasting relationship with Xinya College.’

‘One of the things that

Professor Cao Li Professor impressed them the most was the change of colour of carnation that students wear to exams, which is both fun and reflects the academic rigour of Oxford’s exams.’ Professor Cao Li Professor

12 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Steve Smyth Steve Smyth Steve Steve Smyth Steve Steve Smyth Steve Smyth Steve

Groundbreaking ceremony at the Master’s Field

In one of his final acts as Master, on was attended by Balliol’s new Master, Dame new sports pavilion and other facilities 24 March 2018 Professor Sir Drummond Helen Ghosh, Anthony Nagle (Construction for College Members are also part of Bone broke the ground at the site of Director for BAM Construction-South the scheme. The first of the new student the Master’s Field Project in a ceremony East), as well as representatives from rooms are due to be completed at the that marked the start of work by the Bidwells (project managers) and Niall end of 2018/early 2019, so that students construction engineering company BAM. McLaughlin Architects Ltd, and others living in the Martin and Dellal buildings can The ceremony followed the completion of who have been involved in the project. move into them, following which Martin demolition and enabling works by Maylarch, The development will transform and Dellal will be demolished. The current including the demolition of Eastman House, Balliol’s accommodation offering to both schedule (which may be subject to change the old sports pavilion, and St Cross 3a, 3b undergraduates and postgraduates by as work progresses) is for phase one to be and 5 and their garages, and the removal creating over 200 study bedrooms for completed by April 2019 and the whole of asbestos and vegetation. The ceremony students; accommodation for Fellows, a project to be completed by June 2020.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 13 Kristi and Richard Old Coyote and horses dressed in full Crow regalia, ready for the Crow Fair parade. Horses and art in Northern Plains tribes Natalie Hill (2012) did fieldwork with North American Indians

My research for my DPhil traces the – and indeed the importance of, and various sites in Wyoming, some Blackfoot history of human-horse relations in North interaction with, the horse – change over Reserves and historical sites in Alberta American Indian communities and how time to reflect changing relations between (Canada), and important sites and project these relationships are represented in humans and animals, and if so, how these participants in North and South Dakota. art – specifically in the Northern Plains changes manifest themselves. I was lucky enough to be invited to join region, from c.1700 to the present day. I I spent almost 10 months in the United a Lakota youth group from the Cheyenne am interested in how historic relationships States, both visiting museums and doing River Reservation, who were one of were represented in art and craft items, fieldwork. I travelled around the Northern many groups retracing the steps of their at a time when horses were a major Plains, especially Montana, where I lived on ancestors on their way to the Battle of the catalyst for change within Plains tribes, the Northern Cheyenne Reservation and Little Bighorn. My research often consists as well as how horses and horse-related the Crow Reservation. The distances are of participant observation – getting activities are represented in Plains Indian vast, and nothing can prepare you for the involved where I can, finding out about art today. The representation of animals in incredible landscapes, from the Rocky and peoples’ relationships with horses through art is a cognitive understanding of a lived Bighorn Mountain ranges, to the Badlands experiencing them, and conversing with experience made material: an illustration of and multitudes of buttes, canyons, and river people. In this case I found out about things the importance of animals in human culture. systems; the Plains are hardly ever flat! I also such as why the youth group was set up, In my thesis, I ask if these representations visited the Blackfeet Reservation (Montana), how taking part in the ride helps the group,

14 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 how the individuals connect to horses, and The opportunity to examine what role horses have in their lives. human-horse relations and art items in I followed several Indian Relay teams contemporary life was made possible for through their training and races. This me by my Peter Storey Scholarship, in sport, said to have evolved from the conjunction with an AHRC Award and horsemanship of buffalo hunters and Travel Grant. When I experienced mishaps horseback warriors, is enjoying a huge surge – my car, camera and mobile phone all in popularity. It involves one rider, three broke at some point – extra funding, horses, and several ‘muggers’ who hold the including Balliol Graduate and Maintenance extra horses at the side of the track, so Grants, enabled me to replace these, that after one lap on a horse, the rider can and to buy other essential equipment, leap off and on to the next horse for the such as cold weather gear for when the next lap. It is all done bareback, at incredible temperature reached –4 to –27°C. speed, and at considerable danger to horses I am enormously grateful for this and humans alike. The horses are painted opportunity for research, which I am with designs that can also be seen in combining with research into historical historical visual sources, such as ledger art. sources, to give me a more in-depth Another form of horse decoration and multi-faceted picture of the story of how people relate to horses in the is the beaded and embellished regalia A keyhole design headpiece made with Northern Plains. that are worn in parades. People dyed horse hair. combine old family pieces with newly made items in displays that visually communicate crafts(wo)manship, wealth, family connections, cultural pride and enjoyment. Such a parade is held at Crow Fair (also known as the Tipi Capital of the World), the biggest event of the year in Crow Country. I was very fortunate to stay with the Old Coyotes in a tipi at the Real Bird camp. Here I observed the preparations for the parade, the ‘dressing’ of the horses, and the making of some of the regalia. I was able to talk to beadworkers about their art and closely examine regalia items, such as the keyhole headpiece shown above. I researched similar items in museum collections.

Travelling with the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe on their ride from Lame Deer towards the site of the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

Natalie arrives with the group at their next camp site. Sheridan WYO Rodeo Week Parade.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 15 Having a blast in Bangladesh Miina Hiilloskivi (2015) interned in a legal aid service

I had a wonderful experience interning Whilst communication difficulties were grateful for the opportunity, and I believe at the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services inevitable, everyone at BLAST was very that it made a significant impact on my Trust (BLAST) in Dhaka for eight weeks friendly and welcomed me and the other future, both professionally and personally. last summer. BLAST is a leading legal aid interns. I was very happy to work closely organisation that works on a wide range of with the amazing Honorary Executive human rights issues in Bangladesh. To name Director Sara Hossain (Wadham, 1985), a few of its activities, BLAST takes on cases who regularly checked up on us interns to on a pro bono basis, provides training for make sure that we had enough interesting lawyers and paralegals, holds legal clinics in work and were enjoying ourselves. I was so economically deprived areas and works on inspired by the people I worked with, and public interest litigation. It was eye-opening their ambition encouraged me to go on to be part of an organisation that makes and have a career with a social impact. such a significant impact and to meet Additionally, simply living in Dhaka and work with the leading human rights was a great experience, even if a bit lawyers in the country. challenging at times. I stayed with a host As a legal intern, I worked on a family that I met through an old friend variety of projects, the topics ranging from school. It was good to live with from ILO regulations to SRHR rights local people, and I was really treated and juvenile death sentences. It was my as a part of the family: I ate the same wish to explore different topics, and I food, I visited my host sister’s school and learned a great deal about international relatives, and the family took good care and Bangladeshi human rights law, as of me when I got the inevitable stomach well as becoming confident in doing bug during my second week in Dhaka. I’d research into different jurisdictions. I got never been to Asia before, so it was a bit to do legal research and editing, and to of a culture shock for me, but the family Miina Hiilloskivi, wearing a sari given to write policy briefs and research reports. was very supportive and I hope to keep her by her host family BLAST also took us interns on field trips in touch with them. to the Magistrate, Labour and Supreme As an organisation that relies solely on The opportunities described on this Courts, a legal aid clinic in a local slum, donations, BLAST is unable to offer paid page and page 14 were made the Liberation War Museum and different internships, although the trust paid for possible by the generosity of Old student events. The whole experience my daily commute and lunch in the office Members. If you would like to support reaffirmed my decision to go into the legal canteen. Without the financial support I Balliol students, please visit sector, which for someone starting their received from Balliol, I wouldn’t have been www.alumniweb.ox.ac.uk/balliol/support. final year was very useful. able to afford to do the internship. I’m so

Balliol climbers at BUCS On 17 February 2018 four members of on tiny edges and falling off followed. The 46th, the highest placed male and female the newly formed Balliol Climbers group emphasis of the competition is on climbing representatives from Oxford University. made their way up to Sheffield as part of the routes without making any mistakes, Additionally, Zachary Leather placed 141st, the 22-strong team from Oxford University with climbers winning 10 points for getting only a few points away from finishing in participating in the British Universities to the top on the first try, and then 7 and the top half of the field in his first ever and Colleges Sport (BUCS) climbing 4 points for second and third attempts; but competition. Everyone in the club said championship. The competition was stiff, mostly people weren’t taking things too the BUCS was worthwhile as a chance to with 259 men and 171 women vying seriously and were just enjoying the routes meet more of their fellow climbers. for the title, and some semi-professional that had been set. On the whole, it was a promising debut climbers amongst them. After a short brief When all the chalk dust had settled, for the Balliol squad, who are looking about the rules, the climbers were released an order was established. Balliol scored forward to planning their first trip away upon the 25 qualifying climbs. Three strongly, with Felix Peterken finishing joint sometime soon. hours of pulling hard, teetering around 35th and Stephanie Gaglione finishing

16 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Photo of single atom wins national competition David Nadlinger’s photograph ‘Single Atom in an Ion Trap’ won the 2018 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council science photography competition. In the centre of the picture a single positively charged strontium atom is held nearly motionless by electric fields emanating from the metal electrodes surrounding it: the atom can be seen as a small bright dot. David, who is reading for a DPhil in Atomic and Laster Physics, captured it through the window of a vacuum chamber that houses the trap, using an ordinary digital camera on a long exposure shot. ‘The idea of being able to see a single atom with the naked eye had struck me as a wonderfully direct and visceral bridge between the minuscule quantum world and our macroscopic reality,’ he said.

Orchestra tour In December 2017 the Oxford University and workshops with the universities’ Wind Orchestra – including Balliol own wind orchestras, and it was warmly undergraduates Rhys Underdown (alto welcomed across board. The tour was saxophone) and Alex Toal (trumpet and a wonderful opportunity, not only for orchestra manager) – undertook an music-making but also for sharing ideas ambitious tour to the USA. The tour was and passions across the Atlantic, and many entirely student-run, and the 56 members OUWO members are still in contact with raised a total of £54,000 to fund the their hosts from the States. project, by organising bake sales, busking, Alex and Rhys would in particular like and applying for travel grants from over 20 to give thanks to Dr Quarrell (Fellow colleges across the University. Dean and Lecturer in Chemistry), who During their 12-day stay in the was incredibly useful in giving advice, and States, the orchestra visited Cornell, to the College and the JCR, which both Massachusetts, Tufts, Brown, Princeton and contributed financially to the tour. Columbia Universities, playing in concerts Judo medal Representing Oxford and Balliol, Vidar Skretting won a bronze medal in the European Universities Championship in judo at the Coimbra University Stadium in Portugal in July 2017 in the men’s under 100kg category. Vidar, who comes from Norway, started judo when he was six years old and was on the Norwegian National Squad for many years. He is Men’s Captain of Oxford Judo.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 17 JCR introduces CAFG officers In Trinity Term 2017, Balliol JCR voted to discuss our homes, our towns, or the documentary about social mobility, in the introduce a new committee position: Class pressures we’re under, whether they stem hope of raising awareness of class and Affiliations and First Generation (CAFG) from university or home life, we can find access issues among the student body. We Officer. Since Hilary 2018 Mollie Cross and ourselves describing experiences which have gathered information about financial I (Isis Kearney) have been working as the no one else can relate to. This can be support to distribute it around the JCR. first ever CAFG Officers to serve a full isolating. We are in the process of collating advice term on the Balliol JCR committee. about how to structure essays for the • Feeling lonely at home. If our family JCR website. We have raised awareness What are CAFG Officers? and home friends are unused to higher of how background can impact academic We aim to represent and support first education, it may be difficult for them to performance at the College’s Academic generation students, and students from understand the pressures we’re under Committee, and we are working with the working-class backgrounds, low-income as students, no matter how caring they committee to implement change. We are households, socio-economically deprived are. We may also be unable to ask our also organising workshops for Freshers regions and state schools. ‘Class Affiliations’ parents for advice in the way that other in which background will be discussed, in represents the fact that we are trying students can. order to prepare students for difficulties to bridge a social gap and integrate they may face. We are providing a friendly everyone into our JCR regardless of • Financial difficulties. face for any student who needs someone their class. ‘First Generation’ highlights who can relate to their circumstances. that we work for all first generation • Academic difficulties. Schools’ resources Already we have observed that our students, regardless of whether or and philosophy can differ drastically by efforts are having a positive impact. There not they identify as working class. school type. State-educated students is now more awareness and discussion of may find themselves struggling to write class within our community in comparison What challenges do the students we essays or adapt to tutorials if they haven’t to when we arrived, which we hope represent face? been taught some of the skills that other means that students feel less confused Background is complicated, and no pair people have before coming to university. or alone about difficulties arising from of individuals will share exactly the same their background. By offering more help feelings. However, issues often raised are: How are we helping? for individuals to make the most of their We have created a Facebook group time here, we hope that as CAFGOs • Feeling lonely in Oxford. Only 11.2% and arranged events, aiming to foster we are broadening access to Oxford. of the Balliol cohort is first generation, a community atmosphere and remind and students from working-class or those we represent that they aren’t alone. If you have any questions, feel free to low-income backgrounds are also With the JCR Access and Admissions contact us: [email protected] underrepresented. Therefore, when we Officers we organised a screening of a or [email protected].

First place in an international finance competition MBA student Anders Smedsrud was one manufacturer Under Armour,’ Anders of five students from the Saïd Business explains. ‘All the teams were given the same School who represented Oxford University prompt ten days prior to the event, and it in the 18th Annual Wharton MBA Private was up to us to decide whether or not to Equity Buyout Case Competition. recommend a transaction to the investment Billed as ‘the premier MBA-level committee. We argued that in the current LBO case competition in the world’, the market environment, with the strategic tools competition brings together teams from that are available to the company, it would business schools around the world to be too expensive to take the company evaluate and make recommendations for private to yield an attractive return with an a proposed PE buyout transaction. Their exit planned in the next five years. presentations are judged by a panel of ‘The competition was fierce, as we were private equity professionals. put up against 26 of the world’s top-ranked ‘The presentation was an investment business schools. Fortunately, we had put in analysis of a proposed buyout case of the a lot of work and executed the presentation American sports apparel and footwear well, which led us to take first place overall!’

18 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 #VoteLeave or #StrongerIn Yin Yin Lu (2014) considers resonance and rhetoric in the EU referendum

context, and user features: attention- Twitter users are not representative of the arresting elements, institutional support, UK population. However, it is significant message framing and structure, emotions, that many users who tweeted about the thematic content, action-orientation, and referendum had Brexit-related usernames, playfulness. I will scale up my coding to the descriptions, or photos. This indicates a entire dataset using semi-supervised natural higher than usual degree of engagement language processing algorithms. Finally, I am with a political event. It is also important interviewing key users to better understand to note that journalists love Twitter. their motivations and strategies. Tweets achieve prominence when they It is important to note that over half of are quoted in the media; sometimes news all tweets do not get a single retweet or articles are written about trending hashtags like. Thus, success cannot be conceived of (#CatsAgainstBrexit is an excellent as virality; even getting one share or like example). If the virality is orchestrated, can be considered as resonance. My main news coverage can be skewed – which finding from my statistical analysis is that might affect popular opinion. content does not matter very much – even The significance and timeliness of the if expressed with flair, humour, or strong EU referendum has allowed my research I came to the Oxford Internet Institute emotions. What does matter is arresting to have public impact. I wrote a piece (OII) for the DPhil in Information, attention visually: including an image or for the Conversation in the run-up to Communication, and the Social Sciences video in the message. the referendum, and an analysis for the from a background in English language University of Oxford the month after the and literature, because I am fascinated by referendum. More recently, I have been the art of rhetoric. My thesis attempts to approached by The Times, The Guardian, answer an age-old question in a new media ‘One thing is clear: social Sky News, CNN, the BBC, The Economist, context: What makes persuasive content media companies need to Huffington Post, Wired, and other news work? Why do people engage with content, be far better regulators outlets to investigate Russian interference and what makes some content go viral? in Brexit on Twitter. No solid evidence The 2016 EU referendum was an of content. Bots and has emerged, but one thing is clear: social obvious context for my study of rhetoric: trolls are growing more media companies need to be far better unlike in an election campaign, there were regulators of content. Bots and trolls are two clearly defined (and thereby polarised) and more influential.’ here to stay, and they are growing more sides, and the vote had significant and more influential. implications for the future of the UK, Europe, and the rest of the world. Institutional users, however, have a I settled upon Twitter because of data competitive advantage: their tweets are far access: Facebook and Instagram share very more likely to resonate regardless of visual limited information, whereas millions of real- content. Thus, my results indicate that new time public tweets can be collected every media reinforces power structures in old day at no cost. What’s more, almost all media; politicians, journalists, and leaders of politicians and journalists tweet actively, so organisations are as dominant on Twitter it was a centre of EU referendum debate as they are in newspaper headlines, despite online. I gathered 26 million tweets from the vast literature on the democratisation March to September 2016, 12 million of potential of social media. which were from the referendum period All is, however, not lost for non- (15 April–23 June). institutions. A unique minority of users Given the complexity of rhetoric, the who do not have institutional support size of the dataset, and the interdisciplinarity manage to become extremely influential of the OII, I am employing a mixed methods on social media. New theory is required approach. I have manually coded a random to understand why they are so successful, sample of 3,000 original tweets from the and my thesis will contribute empirical referendum period, computed multivariate evidence for such a theory. regressions, and qualitatively analysed the I cannot comment on the impact of outliers. The coding encompassed content, Twitter on the referendum result, as - stock.adobe.com © irinastrel123

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 19 Target democracy Philip Howard (Professor of Internet Studies at the Oxford Internet Institute and Professorial Fellow) and Lisa-Maria Neudert (2016) share their findings about computational propaganda on social media

Social media offers a powerful platform for companies downplay the networks’ pinpoint political campaigning, mobilising political potential, European leaders caution electoral support, and distributing news ‘Increasingly evidence vocally about the threat of computational and information to a global audience accumulates that – far propaganda. UK Prime Minister Theresa with the click of a button. Networks like from empowering the May issued a stern warning to Russia over Facebook, Instagram and Twitter have given its attempts to ‘threaten international a voice to the victims of sexual harassment public online – social order’ with election meddling, hacking, in the #MeToo movement; offered activists media poses a threat and fake news. Following a cautionary during the Arab Spring a safe forum in speech by Chancellor Angela Merkel in which to coordinate; and in 2008 fuelled to democracy.’ front of the Bundestag in the wake of the Barack Obama’s successful presidential US election, Germany has fast-tracked campaign. However, increasingly evidence regulation to enforce the deletion of illegal accumulates that – far from empowering of information. Powerful propaganda fake news and hate speech from social the public online – social media poses a campaigns can be orchestrated from a media. Following in Germany’s footsteps, threat to democracy. smartphone, exploiting the dynamics French President Emanuel Macron has Computational propaganda – the use of social networks to spread messages. announced plans for a law to combat fake of information technologies for political The deep threats to democracy such news in January 2018. manipulation – is on the rise. Both state actions present reach beyond Russian Our project on computational and non-state actors employ algorithms meddling. Promulgating alternative facts, propaganda at the Oxford Internet and automated political bots to demobilise seeding conflicting narratives, and hacking Institute seeks to dispel the fog opposition, generate false support, and attention with information designed surrounding propaganda campaigns and disseminate junk news to sway public to go viral, are techniques that have foreign intervention in pivotal moments opinion. In some circumstances, the way reached the political mainstream. of public life. Using social data science, coded automation interacts with human It is because of its interconnectedness we seek to educate the public during users is unforeseeable. In others, individuals and openness that social media offers a elections and referenda, to shed light on and organisations work to build software vulnerable forum for foreign intervention manipulative junk news and misinformation that purposefully targets voters, activists, into political public discourse. While stories, and to investigate the strategies and political opponents. Highly targeted, US President Donald Trump questions and actors in propaganda campaigns. Over viral messages used as computational claims of Russian interference in the 2016 the course of the last year, our project has propaganda fuel a new weaponisation presidential campaigns, and social network studied elections in the US, UK, Germany and France; and it has researched the use and creation of computational propaganda campaigns in Brazil, China, Canada,

Rob Judges Germany, the US, Poland, Ukraine, Russia, and Taiwan. With multiple elections in Latin America and Africa on the horizon as we write, a flourishing alternative media landscape, and junk science on issues such as climate change rapidly gaining support, eventful times lie ahead of us. Computational propaganda spreads rapidly over social media, crossing international borders and reaching across multiple platforms. Propaganda messages take on a multitude of forms to reach their audience: hyper-targeted political advertising, the polarisation of junk news stories designed to go viral, automated political bots disseminating a flood of

20 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 messages, or public pages operated by hard evidence scarce, and culprits remain However, the real sin, on the part of trolls taking on fake identities tailored faceless. Social media platforms are partly social media firms, has been an act of to resonate with vulnerable groups in to blame for sending us into a democratic omission: they have failed to contribute the population. To study the algorithms deficit, and exposing our public discourse the data that democratic public that create and disseminate political to foreign attacks. Junk news, campaigns of discourse needs to flourish freely. While content, our research applies real-time, misinformation, and hate speech on social sitting on immense troves of information computational data science of social media have eroded our ability to deliberate on propaganda campaigns and election media, combined with fieldwork to study and make informed decisions. Certainly, meddling, social media firms watched the phenomena in their social context. social media networks like Facebook and as international leaders, journalists To engage the public in key moments Twitter do not produce propaganda. But and civil society groups made bad of political life, we collaborate with the they do serve it up to citizens. judgements about foreign interventions media; and we engage closely with multi- in their democracies, and poor decisions stakeholders in regulation and technology with the wrong information. It was to disseminate our research results. only after a year of ongoing public Our global and multiplatform pressure in the US, that Facebook, research has manifested an Google and Twitter have shared insistent conclusion. some dramatic pieces of The manipulation of evidence of Russian voter public discourse on manipulation on social media is their platforms. a mainstream Yet the evidence phenomenon, remains impacting fragmentary regimes, and democracies, inaccessible elections, to inspection referenda, through and everyday independent public life. third parties, such In 2014 as research or the World media institutions. Economic Forum As evidence of declared the spread Russian election of misinformation hacking is gradually buried online as one of the top and deleted from social ten perils to society. In our media, our chances to analyse, comparative analysis of the spread of and to prevent future propaganda junk news during elections – hyperpartisan, attacks, are decaying as well. Instead, ideologically extreme, or conspiratorial looming suspicions that data offered political news and information and often by social network firms has helped deliberately produced false reporting – we © cienpiesnf - propaganda messages not only to stock.adobe.com found that every country studied shared thrive but to make a profit, prevail. some significant amount of junk news Social media firms manage the over social media. In France, where users platforms over which most citizens value traditional media outlets, the ratio of in advanced democracies now talk professional news to junk news was the about politics. They gather valuable highest, with 7:1. In Germany and the UK data about public discourse and could we found a ratio of 4:1 with junk news strengthen our institutions and bring accounting for roughly a fifth of all news to light the information attacks on our and information circulated. In the US, our democracies. We thought social media research documented a ratio of 1:1 with firms would give us access to lots of one piece of junk news for every piece of ‘Junk news, campaigns of different people. Instead, they give us professional news and information being misinformation, and hate access to many people with the same shared. What is more, we found that speech on social media point of view. Some technical redesign polarisation was concentrated in swing and quality control would take a lot of states, suggesting a strategic dissemination have eroded our ability the propaganda and junk news out of of misinformation to impact public life. to deliberate and make circulation. But the next step is actively Despite this clear evidence of to help policy makers, journalists propaganda campaigns, scepticism about informed decisions.’ and civil society groups understand interference in elections is prevalent, the nuances of public opinion.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 21 © duncanandison - stock.adobe.com

Dynamics, vibration and uncertainty Alice Cicirello (Career Development Fellow in Engineering Science) explains her research interest and passion

Many industries require that design and perform costly modifications to it, but constraints relating to vibration and there would be loss of reputation. Likewise

Rob Judges acoustic performance are met. For in the space industry vibration levels must example, a car manufacturer needs to limit be considered to ensure that vibration, interior noise in a car to acceptable levels both during launch and in orbital operation, (usually below 50 decibels), in order to does not damage sensitive equipment or avoid complaints from customers. Imagine: hinder performance. Think about sending you finally get to buy the latest model of a satellite into space and then not being the car of your dreams. While driving, you able to communicate with it because an start to hear an annoying noise (and it is electronic component was damaged during definitely not coming from your partner launch: there would be very expensive complaining about how expensive the car consequences in that case too. was). You are not happy about it and you What these two examples have in try to fix it, but you can’t. In despair, you common is that they involve structures return the car to the manufacturer. If you made of many components. These were not the only person experiencing structures are subject to broad-band the problem, the manufacturer might loadings – for example, the engine noise of have many expensive cars being returned. a car and the interaction of that car with Not only would the manufacturer have the pavement – which can excite multiple to withdraw that model from the market vibration and acoustic modes. To avoid

22 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 this type of problem, one solution that a frame, doors, seats, engine, and so on. The another problem: the predicted vibration manufacturer could consider would be to model looks like a drawing of the car, but it and noise performance obtained with build several physical prototypes of the also includes all the mechanical properties the digital twin might be significantly actual structure and test them. But this and the mathematical relationships to different from the one obtained via approach could be very expensive and describe how the car will respond to testing of the real structure. For instance, time-consuming; moreover, it might be different types of loadings (for example, the measured interior noise levels of difficult to reproduce the same operating the engine noise and the interaction of the cars from the same production line may conditions of the manufactured product car with the pavement). The mathematical vary by around 10 decibels from one during testing. model can then be used to assess the car to another. This problem is due to Advanced computing capabilities response of the virtual car under specified manufacturing tolerances of the various have supported the widespread use of loadings, and the car design can be components of the car and to variability Computer-Aided-Engineering tools to optimised to ensure that the noise of the in the material properties of the roof explore rapidly the performance of the final product is below 50 decibels, before and window panels; it may also be due design of large structures (such as cars, the product is manufactured. to the presence of small attachments, satellites, drilling tools) by building full- Problem solved. Well … not quite! such as the bundles of wires to power scale virtual prototypes – so-called ‘digital Building a digital twin that is a true windows, which were not included in twins’ – instead of building multiple pricey representation of the real structure is the model because they are installed at a physical prototypes. Going back to the car very difficult. You need to capture the later stage of the design. Such variability example, an engineering team can build underlying physics of the problem, using leads (again) to expensive modifications a three-dimensional mathematical model very detailed information about the of the manufactured product in order to (known as a Finite Element model) of a mechanical and geometrical properties meet the performance requirements. car to verify its noise performance. Such a of all components, contact regions, and I hope you can now appreciate that, model will take into account all the main so on. Even if you are able to build the in order to assess the performance of structural components of the car – the perfect digital twin you then have to face engineering structures, it is important to understand the fundamental physics of the problem; develop efficient experimental and modelling strategies; validate advanced models with experiments on substructures and/or on the full assembly; and account for manufacturing variability. This is my research interest and my passion! © 3ddock - stock.adobe.com© 3ddock I work on the development of advanced mathematical models of engineering structures which account for uncertainties and manufacturing variability by using parametric uncertainty modelling (including intervals, probability density functions, imprecise probabilities) and non-parametric uncertainty modelling (such as Statistical Energy Analysis) to yield the performance envelope of an ensemble of engineering systems. This ensemble may be real (for example, cars from a production line) or virtual but realisable (such as an ensemble of manufactured satellites, when only one satellite can be built). I have recently established the Dynamics, Vibration and Uncertainty (DVU) Laboratory and I currently supervise five research students who are working on constrained damping layer models and experiments, dynamic friction models, manufacturing variability assessment through acoustic testing, and dynamic analysis of shafts with geometrical discontinuities. If you want to know more about my research and current projects in the DVU Lab, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected].

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 23 Bookshelf

Everyone Brave is Forgiven Cleverlands: The Secrets Behind the Chris Cleave (1991) Success of the World’s Education Sceptre, 2016 Superpowers Lucy Crehan (2005) The Second World War is the setting for Random House, 2016 Chris Cleave’s fourth novel. Based on the lives of his grandparents, it follows the lives As a teacher, Lucy Crehan became of three young people: Mary, who abandons exasperated with ever-changing government finishing school to become a teacher; Tom, policy claiming to be based on lessons from who wants to ignore the war and falls in ‘top-performing’ education systems and love with Mary; and his roommate Alistair, curious about what was really going on in who enlists and is sent to serve in Malta. As London endures the countries whose teenagers ranked top in the world in reading, Blitz and Malta comes under siege, all three of them – and the maths and science. So she set off through Finland, Japan, Singapore, connections between them – are tested to their limits. Shanghai and Canada, teaching in schools, immersing herself in their cultures and discovering surprising truths about school life. ‘Cleave’s foray into historical fiction is both grand and intimate. The In Cleverlands she weaves together her experiences with research novel’s ability to stay small and quiet against the raging tableau of on policy, history, psychology and culture to offer her insights. war is what also makes it glorious, an absorbing account of survival, racism, classism, love and pain, and the scars left by all of them.’ ‘A powerful defence of the idea that there is a lot to learn from New York Times how other countries learn.’ The Economist

Somebody Else’s Problem: The Minister and the Murderer: A Book Consumerism, Sustainability of Aftermaths and Design Stuart Kelly (1990) Robert Crocker (1979) Granta, 2018 Greenleaf UK, 2016 When a convicted murderer applied to This book calls for a radical change in how be ordained as a minister, the Church of we think about our material world, and how Scotland was sorely divided in its response. we design, make and use the products and Forty years on, literary critic and former Man services we need. Rejecting the idea that Booker prize judge Stuart Kelly explores individuals alone are responsible for the the case and the ethical, moral and spiritual environmental problems we face, Robert Crocker challenges us to dilemmas it posed, combining his narrative with a history of the look again at ‘high carbon’ development and its role in depleting church, analysis of biblical and literary accounts of forgiveness and resources and degrading environmental systems; he considers the sin, and personal memoir. problems of consumerism and their environmental effects; and he explores new methods of production that can reduce our excess ‘What an extraordinary book. It follows no known laws, fits no consumption and help us achieve a sustainable future. existing genre. It is, unmistakably, the work of a polymathic thinker who is also a writer of rare elegance.’ Robert Macfarlane Winner of the Axiom Business Book Award 2017 (gold), sustainability category

Economics as Applied Ethics: Fact and literature, and the changes in inequality over the years. Descriptions Value in Economic Policy of basic philosophical concepts are followed by conventional Wilfred Beckerman (Tutor in Economics welfare economic theory and policy, and by applications to topical 1964–69 and 1975–1992 and Emeritus economic problems such as income distribution and sustainable Fellow) development. Palgrave Macmillan, 2017 ‘This book is witty and wise, and a delight to read. It will enlighten In this substantially revised edition, the author economists – both students and teachers – and will encourage highlights the main value judgements in non-economists skeptical of the subject’s ability to contribute the analysis of what policies contribute to to human welfare to think again.’ Wendy Carlin, Professor of society’s economic welfare, and includes perspectives addressing Economics, University College London the moral limits of the market, the latest behavioural economics

24 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 The Reputation Game: The Art of WTF: What have we done? Why did it Changing How People See You happen? How do we take back control? David Waller (1981) and Rupert Young Robert Peston (1979) Oneworld, 2017 Hodder and Stoughton, 2017 Arguing that reputation – for individuals, In the wake of recent political shocks, Robert companies or countries – is more valuable Peston draws on his experience as a political, than money, the authors analyse how economics and business journalist to analyse reputation is formed and why it matters. what went wrong: what brought Corbyn, They draw on academic research and May and Trump to prominence, economic interviews with high-profile people – reasons for the Brexit vote, why immigration LinkedIn founder Reid Hoffman, musician Jay-Z and Booker-prize has come to dominate politics and much more. Addressing the winner Hilary Mantel among them – to show how the game challenges of the age and giving his views on how we might do works, including how reputation can be lost and regained, and to things better in the future – for example, how it is possible to demonstrate winning strategies. make a success of leaving the EU, lessons that can be learned from the Grenfell Tower fire, how to mend the fractures in society – he ‘This interesting book places the issue in its rigorously argued context argues that at least some of what went wrong could be put right. – an important matter for every senior executive in the public and private sectors.’ Lord Patten, Chancellor of Oxford University ‘Richly argued and brilliantly written … a deeply thoughtful analysis that should be mandatory reading for anyone seeking to understand where we have gone wrong.’ Financial Times

First Confession: A Sort of Memoir Resolving Structural Conflicts: How Chris Patten (1962, Chancellor of Violent Systems Can Be Transformed Oxford University) Professor Richard Rubenstein (1959) Allen Lane, 2017 Routledge, 2017 Setting out to explore ‘the relationship This book analyses structural or system- between politics and identity’, Chris Patten generated conflicts and poses the fundamental combines an account of the things that have question: ‘If there are social or political systems shaped him in his life and career – as MP, generating this conflict, how can they be cabinet member, last Governor of Hong changed?’ Showing how systems established to Kong, European Commissioner, Chairman of maintain order sometimes end by generating the BBC, Chancellor of the University – with his opinions on what serious violence, the author (who is University Professor of Conflict has happened in the world in his lifetime. How far Balliol made him Resolution and Public Affairs at the School for Conflict Analysis and – especially his tutors (‘a galaxy of brilliant and eccentric historians, Resolution, George Mason University) discusses how to envision and all of them both clever and kind’) and his Pathfinder award (Balliol’s implement new methods of transforming violence-prone systems in ‘equivalent of the lottery’) – is among his reflections. order to create the conditions for positive peace.

The Turing Guide Devouring Time: Nostalgia in Professor Robin Wilson (1962), Jack Contemporary Shakespearean Copeland, Jonathan Bowen and Mark Screen Adaptations Sprevak, eds Philippa Sheppard (1989) OUP, 2017 McGill Queen’s University Press, 2017 This book brings together articles from Analysing 27 films based on Shakespeare’s experts on Alan Turing, to create a works, from Kenneth Branagh’s Henry comprehensive guide to Turing that aims to V to Justin Kurzel’s Macbeth, the author serve as a useful resource for researchers in the area as well as investigates the filmmakers’ nostalgia for the the general reader. The book – which is extensively illustrated – art of the past. Addressing a range of topics, covers aspects of Turing’s life and the full range of his intellectual including gender, ritual, music, setting, rhetoric, and editing, she activities, including mathematics, code-breaking, computer science, argues that the directors’ choice to adapt these 400-old plays is an logic, artificial intelligence and mathematical biology, as well as his act of nostalgia, not only for the plays themselves, but also for the subsequent influence. Some of the 33 contributors worked at period in which they were written, the association of genius that Bletchley and knew Turing personally. accompanies them and the medium of theatre.

‘It is, I think, pretty much the last word on the subject.’ New Scientist

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 25 Nicholas Crouch reconstructed Naomi Tiley (Librarian) shares some discoveries

Thanks to generous funding by the Wellcome Trust, in 2016–2017 the Library was able to bring to light the remarkable collection of Nicholas Crouch (1634 and Fellow 1640-c.1690). Nikki Tomkins (project conservator) and Lucy Kelsall (project cataloguer) described the first part of their work in Floreat Domus 2017. Now that their work is complete, I would like to share some of their discoveries. One of the great finds of the project was a manuscript hidden among the printed books: Crouch’s lending book. It records Crouch’s personal connections through the use of his library, as well as giving an idea of who was reading what in the College community and further abroad at the time. Another telling manuscript is Crouch’s diary. Its sparse entries record momentous occasions such as the deaths of Charles I and of his own parents but also occasional Nikki Tomkins repairing a paper tear. treats such as eating deer pasty or buying a fashionable fabric for a coat, which suggest (Oxford libraries’ online catalogue) and the number of medical books in his collection that luxuries were notable for Crouch. books are safe to be handled carefully. and his surviving manuscript prescription The diary begins with an enigmatic Through his books and manuscripts, book. An intriguing number of these books inscription: Nicholas Crouch the man has emerged. are on gynaecological subjects and there In meticulous, handwritten contents lists, is an entry in his diary which suggests he For Heavens & fortune both agree recording prices paid for each title in each attended at the birth of a friend’s daughter. Noe woman ’ere should pitty mee volume, and mathematical annotations His curiosity evidently extended far in the texts, we see a picture of a beyond medicine. He was a member of We do not know what Crouch (a careful administrator with an interest in the Oxford Philosophical Society, which bachelor) meant by this, but perhaps we numbers. Crouch’s neat handwriting can held meetings in the Ashmolean Museum can infer that he was happy in a life in also be found throughout the College’s to pursue what we would now think of which he was fully occupied, travelling the administrative archive. as scientific enquiry but was then known country to visit friends and family and look Crouch was particularly interested in as natural philosophy. His library gave after the College’s business, and pursuing medicine and this is reflected in the high Balliol its first volumes of The Philosophical the wide range of interests that his books show him to have had. Crouch’s books – 2,000 individual works ranging from contemporary textbooks on gynaecology to a novel with a Persian setting – open a window on to the 17th century. Before the project started we did not have a clear idea of what was in the collection and many of the books were too fragile to open without seriously damaging them. Now a full catalogue of the collection is available through SOLO A severe case before and after conservation [Balliol shelfmark 915 f 8].

26 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Transactions of the Royal Society, the world’s first scientific journal. At the back of an early chemistry book, we see Crouch conducting his own experiment. Languages abound in the collection, including Persian, Armenian, Amharic, Latin, Greek, Arabic, Hebrew, French, and German. Language learning also features: a 1622 edition of Jacques Bellot’s Familiar Dialogues, unique to Balliol, promises to help French people to learn to pronounce English. Why Crouch might have needed this we do not know; perhaps for the comedy value of the dialogues. Each page has three columns of text, side by side: English, Dialogue in which children argue The Doctresse [Balliol shelfmark 910 a 2 French and an attempt at a phonetic about getting up in the morning from (5)], one of several gynaecological books rendering of the English pronunciation, Jacques Bellot’s Familiar Dialogues in Crouch’s library. designed for French speakers. [Balliol shelfmark 910 a 5 (3)]. Crouch’s reading ranged too over religion, politics, history, and even to such fiction as a novel drawn from a contemporary description of the life of Shah Safi II. His copy of Museum Wormianum, an illustrated catalogue of Ole Worm’s collection of curiosities, has a 17th-century musical manuscript bound at the beginning and the end. Unfortunately the College was not given, or did not choose to keep, any books of music belonging to Crouch. We know he had both a book of songs collected by John Playford and John Hilton’s rounds and catches, as his lending book records their loan on 27 February 1672 to Robert Hawkins, another member of the College. Nicholas Crouch records commissioning trousers and putting them on in December 1664. There is still plenty of Crouch’s life to reconstruct and Crouch himself is just one aspect of the collection which calls for further research. The Library plans to share with the public what we have learnt about Crouch through a dedicated exhibition to coincide with Oxford Open Doors 2018, and in new schools sessions based on the material. We also plan to promote the potential of the collection to the academic community through a research day in autumn 2018. The success of the project has been in a large way due to collaboration: between library, academic, development and accounts colleagues to secure and administer the Wellcome Trust funding, and between conservators and cataloguers to deliver the project outcomes. We hope that Nicholas Crouch’s library will continue to inspire collaboration, and research, in order to answer some of the many questions raised by the documents discovered in it. Crouch experiments with making different colour inks [Balliol shelfmark Arch A 4 2].

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 27 Professor Stephen Hawking (centre) with, left to right, Joey Goldman, Ben Pope, presenter Jeremy Paxman, Freddy Potts and Jacob Lloyd

How Balliol won University Challenge Jacob Lloyd (2014) remembers the journey to the trophy

I first met Joey Goldman when we both Before the first match, the producer made the Balliol University Challenge team checked that we were happy with the in the first year of my DPhil. We did not ‘I wasn’t nervous, exactly. Balliol introduction. I requested that Gerard get selected for that series, but we were I was no longer aware Manley Hopkins (1863) be added to the determined to do better next time. of the audience, of my list of alumni mentioned, to which Joey I told Joey that I had a friend who assented because none of Balliol’s poets would be a good addition to the team. teammates, just Paxman.’ would be included otherwise. This was Ben Pope. A DPhil astrophysicist, Our series did not start well, as Imperial he had studied Classics as part of his College London got the first question undergraduate degree. The breadth of his seen, for the first time, the amazing beauty (‘Umberto Eco’). After the bonus set, knowledge was intimidating. I had got to of the stars. After that, what else would he Paxman began reading out the next starter: know Ben, a real raconteur, at the Megaron, want to study but astrophysics? Ben later the MCR bar. I was pleased to see him at admitted to us that this story was at least ‘In an Act of the same name of 1713, the University Challenge trials the following ‘partly true’. Overall, I think we came across Parliament voted to provide a public year. After the written test and buzzer as a group of romantic, amusing young reward …’ trials Ben, Joey (as captain) and I were all men. We thought we had done well on selected. We were joined by two Freshers the written quiz as well. A few weeks later, I recalled a two-part drama series I had who had impressed: Kitt Rasmussen and Joey informed us via Facebook that we had watched as a 13-year-old. Freddy Potts (who was the reserve). been selected for the show. ‘… for such person or persons as shall For our audition with the producers, we Unfortunately, Kit had to drop out. discover …’ prepared by planning answers to questions Freddy replaced him in the team, while we knew they would ask, especially about Laurence Warner became the reserve. It I looked down at my buzzer and pressed why we had chosen our subjects. Ben was is a thankless task being the reserve, but as hard as I could. the star of the show, explaining how he had Laurence was brilliant throughout: always been short-sighted, but undiagnosed, as a supportive, never complaining, despite the ‘… within certain presc—’ child and when he was given glasses he had fact that he had Finals to revise for.

28 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 ‘Balliol, Lloyd!’ made no correct buzzes. My teammates The game got off to a good start, were really supportive, though, and told as Ben recognised the description of I wasn’t nervous, exactly. I was no longer me not to worry. We were determined to ‘Paris’ for the first starter. Wolfson then aware of the audience, of my teammates, come back stronger. took charge, answering the next four just Paxman. Before our next match, Ben managed starters correctly. Their performance to book us a visit to Chetham’s Library, on the bonuses was not strong, so they ‘Longitude?’ There was a hint of uncertainty where Marx and Engels became intimate. opened up a lead of just 40 points. Ben in my voice. By now we had become really close, and got the next starter on statistics and ‘Correct.’ practised enough that we knew how each Monkman negged twice in a row. For other thought. the second one, which was the location It was the first correct buzz by anyone on Against Birmingham we started well, of the ‘Iron Crown of Lombardy’, Freddy the team. I had buzzed early and I still think but, after we failed to get any of a bonus signalled with his fist to leave the question it was my best buzz of the series. round on ‘Australian deserts’, Paxman to him. We waited and he answered, We struggled in the game for a bit. made one of his snide remarks: ‘What’s the correctly: ‘Monza’. We took a brief lead, Imperial got two starters, but Ben came point of having an Australian if he doesn’t but Wolfson’s Chaudhri took the audio to our rescue. First he buzzed in with know things like that?’ Joey responded, round, and scores were level at 80–80. the answer ‘Jericho’ to a question asking ‘Well, he knows physics.’ After I got the next In the second half, the lead switched for a city on the West bank of the river starter, we had a bonus set on physics. Ben back and forth. Monkman was extremely Jordan, and then with ‘Taylor Swift’ as the supplied all three answers. The incident quick, but he also negged a further three name connecting the author of A Modest demonstrated Joey at his best as a captain: times, twice allowing Joey to come in with Proposal and the actress who won an uncowed and showing his confidence in the the right answer. Ben had carried us in the academy award for Who’s Afraid of Virginia rest of the team. From then on, we steamed first half, but in the second it was Joey. His Woolf? After bonuses, we were never ahead and we ended up winning 265–65. speed in recognising the picture starter behind again. We won 220–55. (Velásquez reinterpreting Picasso) was For our second match, against Robinson, testament to his knowledge of art history Cambridge, Freddy had his strongest game and restored our lead. Joey got the next with four correct buzzes, and Joey was ‘Whenever we met two starters, but then Monkman did the on form with six. There was one incident up, we couldn’t resist same. The match was still close. We were which became, bizarrely, controversial. whispering, ‘We won 165–140 ahead when Joey named the Asked to identify the actor who founded Chinese dynasty whose time spanned the RADA, Joey suggested ‘Laurence Olivier’ University Challenge.’ The lives of Gavin Douglas, Thomas Malory and and then had the temerity to answer experience created an Edmund Spenser: Ming. We picked up all back when mocked by Paxman for the three bonuses on German cities. The gong answer: ‘Well, we might as well guess extraordinary friendship sounded before Paxman could finish the something.’ Some viewers seemed to between the four of us.’ next question. We had won 190–140. find this impertinent. This impression was Ben and I had lost all sense of time: we deepened when Paxman said the answer had not realised we were so close to the was ‘Sir Herbert Draper Beerbohm Tree’ It was the widest margin of victory in any end of the match, so there was just an and Joey appeared to offer a sarcastic match in the series. Having got two starters, immediate sense of relief. Our strategy had ‘Terrific’ in response. In fact, it was Ben I was relieved to be contributing again. worked. Afterwards, we felt huge pride at who, with good-natured enthusiasm, said Our remaining quarter-final, against being the first Balliol team to win the trophy. ‘Terrific name’ upon hearing the answer. Corpus Christi, whom we knew from Whenever we met up, we couldn’t resist Against Wolfson, Cambridge, for our quizzing in Oxford, and the semi, against whispering, ‘We won University Challenge.’ first quarter-final, we encountered Eric Edinburgh, were both games which The experience created an extraordinary Monkman, their star player. Unfortunately, I we expected to be tough. However, friendship between the four of us, which has got muddled on the first starter and made we started both matches strongly, and lasted well beyond the TV series. an incorrect early buzz (my first ‘neg’ of the maintained a clear lead throughout. The producers had told us that the series), losing us 5 points. My bad start set For the final, we had a reunion with trophy presentation would take place some the tone for a frenetic, error-filled match. Wolfson, Cambridge. There was a bit of time later because someone really exciting At one point we were 60 to -5 behind, but socialising between the teams beforehand: was going to present it. When we were thanks to Joey and Freddy, we fought back, the two Bens (Pope and Chaudhri) were informed that the presentation would and late on, even took a 125–110 lead. fairly matey, since both were physicists, take place in Cambridge, we were pretty However, Monkman then got three starters and Laurence had become friendly with confident we had guessed who it would be. in a row. Although Joey got the final starter, Wolfson’s reserve, Louis Ashworth. When Professor Hawking entered the it was too late and we lost 165–135. We had agreed a strategy for the oak-panelled room in Gonville and Caius It was a really exciting match, but at the match: we would not try to buzzer-race College, the excitement was palpable. time we could only think of our defeat. Monkman, but play at our usual (still Our experience of the show had been Aside from Freddy, we had pretty much all quick) pace. We felt we could outscore incredible, and we concluded it by drinking had bad games, sharing six incorrect early them on bonuses if we did not make sherry with Wolfson, the best of rivals, all buzzes. I felt responsible because I had buzzer mistakes. of us in awe of the eminent scientist.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 29 Paul Carter

The Garden Quad in Wartime John Jones (1961 and Emeritus Fellow) tells the story of a Balliol painting

The College’s most interesting 20th- in Wartime, and my interest was renewed expertly examined and conserved by century painting hangs in the College last year when Eurich’s daughter Philippa Victoria Boyer in 1997. It was probably Office corridor. By the distinguished artist Bambach visited in connection with the made in France during the early 18th Richard Eurich (1903–1992),1 it has been catalogue raisonné of his work which is century, and was originally gilded – called Officers and Men of the Allied Nations, being compiled. traces of the gesso base remain. Balliol, although there are in fact several The painting, in oils on coarse-grained Eurich signed the painting without women in it. I used this great picture as a canvas, is in a reused antique frame date, but entries in his unpublished diary major illustration in the revised College which has been stripped and altered show that it was painted in 1946–1947, history, where I called it The Garden Quad to fit. Beautifully carved, the frame was although what it represents took place in 1943–1945. He started his studio work on 24 September 1946, daunted by a ‘hell of a job and undertaking’, and

John Jones John did not decide to ‘call it finished’ until 3 October 1947. He made several special trips to Oxford, including one on 21 May 1947 to see the chestnut trees in bloom. Although he is best known for his seascapes and as an official war artist, trees feature frequently in his later work. Christie’s sold a simple small landscape of his concentrating Detail of the carved frame. on flowering chestnuts in 2002.

30 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 the banking of the standing water tanks for use by the Dean’s Fire Brigade was not all cleared until after the war. The scene is generally true in character

Photographer unknown Photographer to the many Ministry of Information photographs which were taken during one of the courses and survive at the Imperial War Museum. But the figures are imaginary, except for the three in civvies. These are mini-portraits. Giles Alington of University College is shown centrally, smoking a pipe. For him, Eurich might have worked from a photograph such as the one below of him at his desk as Course Organising Secretary. But Eurich sketched Lord Lindsay (Master 1924–1949), in the group on the left, and John Bryson (1923) from life for the picture. Richard Eurich with his painting. The striking drawing of Lindsay matches well with the Hall portrait4 so Our painting was commissioned by session. A couple of thousand must have far as likeness is concerned, but conveys a Vincent Massey (1911, later Governor passed through the College this way by sterner impression, which reminds me that General of Canada) as a thank-offering2 the time the scheme was wound up in the Christopher Hill (Master 1965–1978), who for the survival of his sons Lionel and Hart autumn of 1945. Although some Balliol dons knew the characters of both men very Massey (1935 and 1936), who had both gave lectures, the associated bureaucracy well, thought Lindsay Cromwellian. been wounded in action during the First was independent of the College, so we have The drawing of Bryson is, as far as we World War. Intended for the Massey Room, no systematic records. Most of what we do know, a unique image of him in his prime. which Massey had funded in the mid-thirties, know3 is derived from ephemera presented He taught English at Balliol 1923–1963, it hung there for around 40 years before by people who attended. We know that and was wartime Acting Dean and Fellow removal to its present location. Massey was the courses left a lasting impression on Librarian 1947–1963. His teaching was evidently pleased with it: he thought Eurich’s many of those who took part. One at least, somewhat casual by some accounts, and fee too modest at £400 (including £60 for the late Malcolm Hardwick QC (1945), who he published relatively little under his name. the frame) and paid him £500. attended a course in 1944, later became a He has been under-rated as a result. But The military people in the picture full-blown member of the College. he was a prolific anonymous reviewer of were not members of the College, but The College buildings, including the books, theatre, and art before the war, were attending one of the Short Leave elegant Waterhouse building on the right a friend of Tolkien, Betjeman, John Piper, Courses for junior officers and other ranks which was demolished in the mid-1960s to Osbert Lancaster, and Helen Gardner, and which were staged in Balliol from 1943 to make way for the present frightful Staircase a serious art collector.5 1945. Lasting about a week, the courses XX, are very accurately shown. Most of the We are delighted to have learned about comprised a few lectures and discussions trees shown have gone, but the big white these two important drawings of major on cultural and political topics, and a lot horse chestnut which appears centrally Balliol figures. of social activity. Some seventy or eighty survives, now dominating the lawn in front of Americans and Canadians, along with a few Staircases XV–XVIII. The lawn topography other Allied nationalities, took part in each is accurate for 1947, but not for 1943–1945: 1 See the Official Website of Richard Eurich R.A. at http://www.richardeurich.co.uk/frame.html 2 Richard Eurich to JHJ, 26 July 1989, Balliol Archives MISC.306.14. 3 For information on the Short Leave Courses, see

Paul Carter Paul Carter J. Jones, Balliol College: A History (2nd revised edn, 2005), pp280–282, and material there cited, some of which is available at https://www.flickr.com/ photos/balliolarchivist/sets/72157625279691367 4 By Lawrence Gowing, whom Eurich met while both were working on their commissions in Balliol in 1946. 5 See the Papers of John Norman Bryson at http://archives.balliol.ox.ac.uk/Modern%20Papers/ bryson.asp.

I am grateful to Philippa Bambach for locating and sharing the drawings, permission to reproduce them, and information from her father’s diary; and to Anna Sander (former Archivist and Curator of Lord Lindsay: sketch by Giles Alington in his John Bryson: sketch by Manuscripts) for assistance. Richard Eurich. office. Richard Eurich.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 31 Tutorials remembered William Haines (1947) pays tribute to ‘Rodge’

Floreat Domus 2017 has some cameos reader realised his own shortcomings. in one’s thought processes. With that of past tutors. Here I submit one of A.B. During nine terms with him, Rodge never approach to essay writing, I was averaging Rodger, Fellow and Tutor in Modern once showed impatience, providing always Beta++ by the end of Hilary Term, enough History 1924–1961 as well as Dean of the one had done all the work for the essay. to ‘bag a second’ (Rodge again). College. While he was not as eccentric Coming up straight from school in Apart from his tutorial skills, Rodge as Tommy Balogh (Fellow and Tutor Australia, I had no idea of how to write was up to date in four special subjects: the 1945–1973), Rodge’s tutorials were still an essay, until Rodge taught me. He would French Revolution, Peel’s Government, the memorable. In his study, now the site of take a simple question like ‘Was Alfred Peninsular War and Slavery and Secession the SCR, he would stand in front of the a Great King?’ Firstly, he would get one in the USA. His forte was naval history and gas fire, jingling the coins in his pocket. to define greatness, then greatness in books on the Royal Navy are peppered Unlike Balogh, he did not interrupt, but at a king and, finally, greatness in a king in with references to ABR. In passing, he the end of one’s essay, he would invite the the England of the ninth century. That was born too late: he belonged on the other undergraduate to contribute to the completed the first paragraph, leaving the quarterdeck of a frigate carrying out discussion. Only then did he put searching rest of the essay to develop the themes. Nelson’s signal ‘Engage the enemy more questions, in the style of Benjamin Jowett Rodge made the point that the examiner closely.’ (Master 1870–1893), until the hapless was not interested in the answer but only

Walking in the footsteps of Belloc Geoffrey Adkins (1951) recalls a vacation during his Balliol days

When I came up to Balliol in 1951, I described – in my limping French – life decided that I would spend each of my in an Oxford college we ate an excellent three summer vacations in a different dinner and finished with an Armagnac. European country. Spain and Portugal were The next day I reached Foix by local the first, by train, bus and boat in 1952. Italy bus and autostop. Now the Pyrenees was planned for 1954, leaving France for loomed ahead. I found the stream and the middle year. Money was short, so travel the footpath and set out, to find the first had to be by hitch-hiking (‘autostop’). I also problem: a dam was being built over the wanted to see the Lascaux caves and then stream. Hearing my objective the engineer press on to Andorra. thought I was a mad Englishman and just This latter destination was because I said: ‘Doucement; tenez la gauche.’ I walked had recently borrowed a book by a Balliol and scrambled onwards and upwards, man, Hilaire Belloc (1893), describing a afternoon and evening, and met many Hilaire Belloc, 1910 footpath starting from Foix which would mules loaded with contraband cigarettes take me to Andorra, following a stream up descending with their drivers. and over a pass of 2,000 metres above sea was fortunate to see the originals. Finally, exhausted and drenched after level. I considered his description – coming Now back to ‘autostop’ under a a thunderstorm, I reached the landmark from a Balliol man – trustworthy but I had sweltering July sun. Finally a tiny Citroen Lac du Fontargent at dawn. From there forgotten that his book, The Pyrenees, was 2CV stopped, containing an important a scramble over a rocky scree took me written in 1909 and that some things might lady and her soldier son. ‘Where are you to the pass from which – far below – have changed … staying tonight?’ I muttered something Andorra, my objective, came into view! I went by train to Limoges and then by about a pensione, to which the reply was: A long descent over grassy fields took autostop to the Lascaux caves: my first visit ‘No, you will stay with us tonight.’ We me to Andorra la Vieja where I found a to well-conserved cave-paintings of bison, arrived in Villefranche-de-Rouergue, at pensione and collapsed exhausted on a ibex and horses, dating back 15,000 or so a chateau overlooking the town. Now bed. I slept profoundly but was awakened years. I understand that a concrete copy of I understood that the lady was the at midnight, and the waiter asked if I the caves has now been made, to protect Baroness and her husband the Baron, wanted dinner! I had forgotten that in Spain the artwork from thousands of visitors: I and their son had two sisters. While I mealtimes are somewhat later than ours …

32 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Social enterprise in Rwanda Jonathan Scherer (1980) has set up a natural oils company to help farmers

Five years ago my business partner Stephen To provide a core level of production the moringa tree is well suited, once Louis (Keble 1984) and I started a social for the company, Asili has also invested established) are considerable, as are the enterprise in Rwanda: Asili Natural Oils. in two Asili-owned plantations (totalling challenges in developing reliable long-term Asili (the name is a Swahili word meaning 56 hectares on which 55,000 trees have demand for the product. ‘from the source’) presses seeds from been planted). One of these, in the arid My and Stephen’s role has been to various plants to produce cold-pressed south-east of Rwanda near the border provide start-up capital as well as advice vegetable oils, which are exported and with Tanzania, is a mile away from the and strategic input (and once even, when used in the international cosmetic industry, 60,000-strong Mahama UNHCR refugee our CEO was due to attend a trade show for example in hand creams, shampoos camp (the refugees having fled from and had his visa application declined by the and body butters. The main oil produced Burundi); Asili now employs daily up to UK authorities, direct marketing and sales comes from the moringa tree, best known 200 people from the camp, including two efforts, which is not a particular strength perhaps for the use of its leaves as a agronomist interns who have recently of mine!). We travel to Rwanda about food supplement, although the oil is now graduated there. More than 70% of the twice a year to support Asili and to look becoming better known internationally. people Asili works with are women; more for other interesting social enterprises in Today Asili employs about 40 people than 60% of the full-time employees are which to invest. We have now invested in/ directly, all Rwandans, and works with unskilled and would likely otherwise not supported three other businesses there: approximately 2,000 out-grower farmers, have found employment; and more than a bean producer, a yoghurt manufacturer loosely grouped in co-operatives. Asili 68% of the employment is in very poor (two-thirds of whose workforce are deaf), provides the farmers with saplings or rural areas. and a fish farm. seeds, along with water, compost and Our ambition is to make Asili a stand- If any Balliol alumni know the region or training to help ensure that the plants alone, enduring and profitable business, but market, have suggestions, or would like to thrive, and the farmers supply Asili the difficulties of agriculture in this poor visit or learn more, please do get in touch with seed from the trees they grow. arid part of Africa (to which theoretically ([email protected]).

Some of Asili’s out-grower farmer leaders, in yellow shirts, with Jonathan (left) and his business partner.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 33 Will Parsons ‘The primary aim of the journey was to explore responses to refugees and asylum seekers’

Isabel and Christy in Kent. A Listening Pilgrimage Christy Hawkins (1997) walked, talked and listened from Dover to Iona

Last spring my fiancée Isabel and I walked migration from troubled locations in the who had arrived as unaccompanied minors 700 miles from Dover to Iona. We called world beyond. We also wanted to cross and exchanged with us stories of journeys our walk a Listening Pilgrimage. We were a national border on our walk in order to on foot and of holy places. In London we sponsored and supported by the charity compare the distinct cultures of England spoke to former refugees in a community Projects For All, who saw this project and Scotland. We chose Iona as our end garden where they helped each other to as a way to learn from individuals and point because of its historic status as a heal with assistance from local experts in communities about ways to support pilgrimage destination. This ‘island off an counselling and law. displaced people seeking sanctuary in island off an island’ seems far removed In Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Britain. from war and famine, yet it has much Bedfordshire we were confronted with The primary aim of the journey was to teach us about human movement, views which we found difficult to accept, but to explore responses to refugees and hospitality, and the promotion of tolerance. we were able to listen without judgement, asylum seekers; however, Isabel and I also The line between Dover and Iona and these face-to-face encounters were wanted to get to know our own country allowed us to visit cities which are notable always amicable. It was here in the south more thoroughly at a time of instability for their reception of migrants and that we saw the one piece of racist graffiti and division. We were living in London refugees, namely London, Nottingham, visible from our path. We covered it and felt that we were in a bubble, with Leeds and Glasgow. These great urban up and planted wildflower seeds which only the media to tell us what was going centres and the spaces between them gave had been given to us by a friend whose on elsewhere. We decided to walk out of us unique lessons in geography, history and grandmother had fled from Nazi Germany. that bubble as pilgrims, dependent on the culture which could be learned only by Heading north through the coal hospitality of friends and strangers. travelling slowly and on foot. country of the Midlands we learned about Dover was our point of departure. Our journey began on well-trodden the changing social structure of the recent As England’s gateway it faces towards pilgrims’ routes to Canterbury, London past. Stately homes, agricultural landscapes Europe and the unprecedented waves of and St Albans. In Kent we met teenagers and windmills ancient and modern told

34 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 their own stories about shifting patterns most inspiring advocates for refugees. of wealth, labour, and relationships with The hospitality of the Scottish people the land. In Nottingham we joined huge and their empathy for the downtrodden celebrations of St George’s Day and exceeded all our expectations. attended performances of poetry and Staying with a retired farmer and his music by migrants and refugees from all wife we were struck by their compassion over the world. for refugees, prompted by the practice The land grew hillier and the accents of indefinite detention of migrants in the broader as we passed through Yorkshire. In nearby Dungavel Removal Centre. Over Batley we met friends and family of Jo Cox, 30,000 migrants are detained in the UK the MP murdered in 2016, and learned every year. Unlike most of western Europe, about her legacy of tackling loneliness the UK has no maximum time limit on and nurturing friendship across multi- immigration detention. People can be and ethnic communities. In Leeds we visited are detained for months or even years. the West Yorkshire Playhouse: a Theatre In Glasgow we met an English expat of Sanctuary in a City of Sanctuary. We who had set up a night shelter for destitute spoke to former refugees now working asylum seekers cut off from state support. to help new arrivals and joined separate We also spoke to an ex-detainee who was groups for teenagers, mothers and men, reliant on charity because he is not allowed each with distinct needs and gifts with to work while his asylum application is which to enrich their new homes. being processed. He expressed warmth for The route. North of Leeds we walked through and gratitude to his Scottish hosts but felt scenery of increasing grandeur along the frustrated that he was unable to make a events in Britain and the wider world. In Pennine Way to Hadrian’s Wall. In Malham greater contribution to the local economy. Lockerbie we found a peaceful memorial we saw how the countryside is being made On Bute we met a Syrian man who had to the victims of the infamous bombing; on accessible to refugees who have been the same day we learned about the terror settled in urban areas. Walking and working attack in Manchester. Near Dumfries we on the land are powerful experiences for ‘We met many diverse discovered a World Peace Centre founded displaced people, many of whom originated by Japanese visionaries in the wake of in farming cultures and feel alienated and inspiring people Hiroshima’s bombing. in the cities they have been sent to. and gained a wealth At our journey’s end we were As spring turned to summer we welcomed by the Iona Community and in found ourselves in Scotland, having of insights about ways St Columba’s Abbey we heard a moving followed trails of bluebells and fattening to help refugees.’ sermon about a refugee victim of the lambs all the way from Kent. Our route Grenfell Tower fire. To mark the end of took us westwards via Dumfries and our pilgrimage we placed a small piece of Glasgow, where we met some of the been relocated to the island as a refugee. Dover chalk in the ancient chapel where He has now set up a barber shop and his Columba’s body once rested. That evening children attend the local school. He spoke we met a woman from Dover, who gave us warmly about his welcome, though we also a pebble of Iona marble to carry home. learned of the prejudices faced by new In the course of our pilgrimage we met arrivals to this isolated community. many diverse and inspiring people and Pilgrimage is part of many religious and gained a wealth of insights about ways to secular traditions, and though our journey help refugees. You can hear some of the was not religious by nature we took the interviews we recorded on our blog: time to investigate the sites of worship that www.listeningpilgrimage.org. are prominent throughout the land. Projects For All recently helped to set As we walked through England and up the network International Initiatives for Scotland the buildings told a fascinating Migrant and Refugee Education (IMRE). history. We learned about the successive You can learn about their work at occupations by people from across the www.projectsforall.org. sea whose genes, languages and buildings The Listening Pilgrimage was the are still with us. We saw evidence of most remarkable experience, and we are religious transition and pondered the deeply grateful to all the kind people who lives of the pilgrims in whose footsteps helped us on our way. Our journey bears we walked. We saw monuments to no comparison with those undertaken the great and the humble, and we by refugees, but it has given us a greater stepped inside buildings shattered by appreciation of the ways strangers can bombs and the ravages of time. welcome travellers, and how important this Christy meets Chaucer in Canterbury. Our walk connected us to recent is for individuals, communities and the world.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 35 Global Balliol: Canada

Ilse Treurnicht (1979), CEO of MaRS Discovery District, works at the intersection of science, business and capital

How did you come to live in Canada? What do you enjoy about living and I met a Canadian Rhodes Scholar while in working in Canada? Oxford, and agreed to test the winters in Ian Taylor I feel very fortunate to live, work and raise Canada. More than thirty years and four a family in this amazing country, with its kids later, I am still here. endowment of natural beauty, bustling cities and creative and generous people. Toronto How did your career develop after you is a vibrant diverse global city, which in many left Balliol? ways serves as an important experiment During my post-doctoral fellowship in of inclusive innovation for the world. We Canada I came to the realisation that the are working hard to foster a uniquely application of science had more appeal Canadian innovation ecosystem – one that than pursuing an academic or research amplifies Canada’s strengths to create both career. I joined a fast-growing green economic and societal prosperity. This chemistry start-up out of the University of model is in short supply in our troubled Toronto, and learned business by jumping world. We believe it can flourish here. in at the deep end. After working with a few other young companies, and some How did your time at Balliol influence consulting while the kids were young, I was you? recruited to develop a new seed-stage It was a magical time! I arrived at Balliol from venture capital fund focused on advanced South Africa, a place of riots and upheaval. technology opportunities. During this Oxford expanded my horizons: I became period, the idea of MaRS crystallised, and a citizen of the world during my time here. I joined the fledgling organisation. For the On the one hand, graduate work at Balliol past 13 years, we have been building this deepened my passion for science, and also ambitious non-profit innovation hub in the allowed me to explore many other areas of heart of Toronto’s Discovery District, with interest – politics, economics, international a wide range of support programmes for affairs. Following that, curiosity shaped scientists, innovators and entrepreneurs my path in a meaningful way. And I still who want to change the world. MaRS is treasure friendships forged with wonderful now well positioned for the next phase of travelling companions from a wide variety of growth, and I am exploring new adventures. backgrounds and many parts of the world.

What have been the challenges and satisfactions in your career? Both the challenges and satisfactions have been shaped by a non-linear career path, building new organisations and working at the intersection of science, business and capital – often playing the role of translator, broker, and catalyst for new models of collaboration. None of it was neat and tidy, but it fuelled new thinking and bold experiments. Ilse (above) speaking at What qualities do you feel it has taken Balliol’s 750th Anniversary to achieve all you have achieved? Celebration Weekend I have been lucky to work on projects and (below) during her that matter to our community, and with Oxford days with the late incredible people drawn to a shared mission. Cynthia Stallman (1979) That combination makes anything possible. and Cheryl Hume (1979).

36 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 For Ian Macdonald (1952), President Emeritus of York University, Toronto, academic interests and ice hockey have been key in his post-Balliol life

Just over 65 years ago, I arrived in Oxford Government in the negotiations that led to for the start of my Rhodes Scholarship. national medicare provided a satisfaction Never did I imagine how much that that is difficult to replicate. would challenge and change my view of My ten years as President and Vice- life. I chose Balliol (and thankfully it chose Chancellor of York University provided me) for two reasons – one practical and a different vantage point for viewing the the other inspirational. For four years as academic life, as well as an extraordinary an undergraduate in the University of challenge. When I joined York, the Toronto, I was a commuter student; in university was only 14 years old – a Oxford, I wanted to be in the very centre mere institutional adolescent with all the of the community. More importantly, I had growing pains of that stage of life. In that learned that Balliol represented the very role, of all my sources of satisfaction two essence of my ideal sense of the academy: are hard to surpass, particularly in the an international mosaic of students drawn current sociological environment: the together by tolerance, mutual respect establishment of salary equity for women and intellectual curiosity. For three years faculty members, and the creation of the at Balliol, I found my horizons to be first centre to deal with sexual harassment broadened on a daily basis. in any Canadian university – the first, in However, the beginning of a career the late 1970s, followed by the second in involves the narrowing of horizons and the the early 1980s. selection of an initial path. The challenge Beyond that, my life evolved in directions is to convert that path into a journey ‘My favourite form of clearly born of the Balliol experience. I was of exploration over many roads and in recreation, playing ice elected in 1954 to represent the Balliol numerous directions. Happily, that has been hockey, helped me to JCR at the International Union of Students my experience from the Balliol launching Conference in the former Soviet Union. pad. After two years in PPE followed by realise the potential of That became my inspiration, leading to the completing a BPhil in my third year, my international sport for Presidency of World University Service narrowing world settled into a choice of Canada and, in particular, to placing among three opportunities: entering a friendship and goodwill, 183 Hungarian students in Canadian management training programme provided culminating in my universities at the time of the 1956 by a major British corporation; moving to becoming Chair of Hockey Hungarian revolution; and later, to serving Switzerland to be the playing coach of an for ten years as the volunteer Chair of emerging ice-hockey team; or returning Canada for seven years.’ the Commonwealth of Learning. Even my to the University of Toronto to teach favourite form of recreation, playing ice Economics in the Department of Political hockey, took on an international dimension Economy. I chose the third option because my life being otherwise. Throughout a as the result of three years with the Oxford it provided the opportunity to blend a varied career, academic interests have University Ice Hockey Club and its winter place that I knew well with the continuing provided my centre of gravity. My ten tours on the Continent. That helped me to stimulus of my three years at Balliol. The years in the Ontario Government, first realise the potential of international sport outcome was a degree of confidence that as Chief Economist and then as Deputy for friendship and goodwill, culminating in enabled me to pursue a 60-year career Minister (viz. Permanent Secretary) of my becoming Chair of Hockey Canada for whereby I never took up any role for Finance and Intergovernmental Affairs, seven years, responsible for our Olympic which I had been occupationally prepared nourished my love of public policy and my and international ice-hockey programme. or which I had planned to assume. appreciation of the contribution that the So much of my life’s satisfaction I can One year ago, at age 87, I gave up academy could make to good governance. trace to Oxford in general and to Balliol in formal classroom teaching, but I still The fact that those years corresponded particular. What a totally different life from maintain an office at York University where with a notable period of transformation that of my immigrant parents who had left I give guest lectures, mentor students (and in Canada’s Confederation made that school in Scotland at the age of 14 and yet even graduates) and participate in the part of my career all the more enlivening. made all of this possible for a wide-eyed social life of the university. I cannot imagine For example, representing the Ontario young Canadian.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 37 Notes from the next revolution in housing Helen Lawrence (1979) reports from her job at the WikiHouse Foundation

We face a huge housing challenge in the manufactured – two important steps in coming decades. Yet the way that we a rethink of how the building industry approach housing has barely changed works. Now our focus is on reducing the in over a century. We are still reliant complexity. So much of the cost of housing on the same model of speculative mass lies in the risk inherent in the building housebuilding, and we are still getting the process, with so many ‘unknowns’ along the same results. In order to really change supply chain. It is a process so fraught with anything we will need to totally rethink the drama and agony that it makes a good TV way our building industry works. programme. When was the last time you I joined WikiHouse Foundation saw a Grand Designs project that didn’t go at the start of 2017, intrigued by the over budget? ambition of a small organisation that was The web-based platform we’re taking on this huge, complex challenge. currently prototyping, BuildX, dramatically Over the course of my career I had reduces the unknowns in the building heard the phrase ‘making money’ too process. Instead of a series of professionals many times, and I wanted to shift focus each using a different proprietary software towards social innovation. I thought that package, on BuildX everyone involved my (rather generalist) skillset might be in a building project has access to the a good complement to the impressive same data and files. Our aim is for the A design that anyone can assemble – no design and coding skills of the others. platform accurately to calculate the cost bricks or mortar involved. In the past I’ve explained the generalist and energy impacts of a design decision. role within an organisation as being the Our underlying mission: to put the power own the new digital language for the built mortar between the bricks that your to build sustainable homes into the hands environment, a language which will allow specialist colleagues are putting in place. of individuals, communities and small the construction industry to participate in But in WikiHouse Foundation that feels businesses. a more circular economy. like a really bad analogy: WikiHouse has What I love about the ethos in To get this far WikiHouse Foundation designed building technologies that use WikiHouse Foundation is its focus simply has been funded by a range of plywood. No bricks or mortar involved. on creating free open digital infrastructure. organisations which support innovation The point of this plywood technology is Just as no one owns the white lines which for social good. Nesta, headed by Geoff both that anyone can assemble it, making make it possible for vehicles to share Mulgan (1979), has been a great supporter house building more accessible, and that roads safely – and no one owns the world of the Foundation’s work. Significant its digital design means it can be locally wide web itself – so no one needs to funding has also come from Innovate UK and Power to Change. In 2017 we were one of three winners of the European Social Innovation Challenge – testament to the value of European collaboration as well as the power of housing to change lives. Everything we do is open source, and produced in collaboration with other innovators and industry leaders. You can join the WikiHouse community via the website (www.wikihouse.cc), and I’d love to hear from anyone who wants to get their company or organisation involved in the digital transformation of housing and the built environment.

The BuildX platform: calculating the cost of design decisions. [email protected]

38 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Balliol entrepreneurs We invited a few Balliol people who have founded their own companies to tell us about their businesses, the challenges they have faced and any lessons learned

My top three learnings from all this: opened in 1997 and we now have almost 300 stores in 7 countries including the US, 1. Follow your instinct and ignore the Canada, Poland and Germany, with total doubters. If you believe and you are turnover in excess of £200m. Our most truly dedicated to the cause, you stand recent opening, at the end of last year, was every chance of winning, especially if on Broad Street just opposite Balliol in a your customers see this passion in you store that my college room used to look and your business. out on! 2. The team is everything, both at work Plenty going on still: we have plans to and at home. One of the most difficult open a couple of stores in New Zealand challenges I had was to change the this year as well as the Netherlands and management team very early on, Czech Republic. We’re always on the because the chemistry was not right – lookout for new customers - the code so hard but worth it. Importantly, make ‘Balliol’ will give readers 20% off at sure your partner and family at home www.mountainwarehouse.com. are behind you, as times will be tough and sacrifices will need to be made. 3. The rewards are greater because they are down to you. MBA winning ‘World’s Stephen Maher Leading Agencies’ accolades three years running and industry gold for our talent Stephen Maher (1980) management five years running are worth those many weekends at work CEO of MBA; Chairman of the and at least some of that stress! Marketing Society www.mba.co.uk; @sfmaher ‘All of our actions take their hue from the complexion of the heart, as landscapes their variety from light.’ So penned Francis Bacon. Mark Neale (1986) I founded the digital marketing agency MBA in London in 1994 with a belief – as with CEO Mountain Warehouse so many entrepreneurs – that I could do better. I felt strongly that in the world of I graduated in Physics in 1989 with little marketing communications, it was not about idea of what to do next. After a brief offering clients brand advertising or direct career as a management consultant, marketing: it was about offering them both. I decided to set up a business in my When we then relaunched our business mid-20s, before I had to worry about as a fully fledged digital agency 10 years supporting a family, paying a mortgage, ago (after a management buy-out from any real responsibilities; I was living in a Omnicom, who part-owned us) this belief shared house with a couple of friends from became even more relevant and enshrined Balliol and just needed to be able to pay in our agency strapline: ‘Where Digital and the rent each month. After a number of Direct Interconnect’. Today MBA delivers false starts (rollerblades, greetings cards, all forms of digital communication, from educational toys) my fourth attempt at a email to social to web platforms, for our retail business was Mountain Warehouse. clients, who include O2, Investec, Cambridge We sell great-value, everyday outdoor University (sorry!) and Money&Co wear for all the family – whether it’s for a (founded by the prolific Nicola Horlick, skiing trip, gap year backpacking, festival visit Mark Neale 1979) – but always with a strong ROI focus. or simply walking the dog. The first store

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 39 Alexis Richardson (1988) The biggest challenge has been making time for business development. I’m on- CEO Weaveworks site within an advertising agency for an average of four days a week. INPUT takes After Balliol I started a trading job at up a few lunchtimes a week, plus the Goldman Sachs but got bored. I thought occasional day of meetings. My husband is that making software products could be a Westminster City Councillor in addition more rewarding than derivatives, and left to his full-time job, so I have our three- to start a software company. This is not year-old son three evenings every week the same as an internet company, which and most Saturdays. I need to launch uses technology to advertise and sell a company newsletter … somehow. people things over the web. I’m talking My main tip is to remember that about the software and cloud services that you probably know more than you power all these websites and much else think you do. I’ve had three weeks of besides, from banks to robots and rockets. unplanned downtime in nearly four I found all this exceptionally hard at first. years as a freelancer and I won Runner- Britain in 2000 was a hostile climate for Up in the IPSE Freelancer of the Year tech and entrepreneurs and largely remains awards in June 2017. My other tip is so. Also I knew absolutely nothing. Doing to try not to take rejection or lack of things is a good way to learn, though, and response personally and instead to focus eventually I discovered how to make things Melissa Holloway on maintaining good relationships. people might even want to buy. The best known is RabbitMQ, which is used all over Melissa Holloway (2001) www.speakingdiabetes.com the world. We sold the company to VMware Founder of Speaking Diabetes in 2010. An earlier company, Cohesive, is still going. Today I’m doing Weaveworks, a tool Rachel Carrell (2002) As a history postgrad at Balliol, I grew tired for speeding up software development of hearing stories of fellow students with Founder of Koru Kids using automation and cloud technology. type 1 diabetes having trouble managing at university. In early 2003 Andrew Copson I’m the founder of Koru Kids. We’re building (1999), as OUSU VP for Welfare, helped the world’s greatest childcare service, me to set up a diabetes outreach network. starting with after-school care in London. Within two weeks of posters going to GP After I left Balliol in 2007 I went to surgeries and college nurses, 40 people McKinsey for six years; then I became CEO had joined the group. of a healthcare company. In that job I had In July 2003, I received over 150 a baby. But when I went back to work and emails in response to a guest column tried to find childcare, I discovered how on the website Medscape Diabetes & difficult it was: incredibly expensive, very Endocrinology, including a job offer from hard to find someone great, emotionally a US-based investor newsletter. By early exhausting. My friends who were having 2004, I had decided not to complete my Alexis Richardson DPhil on the social and political roles of families of married clergy in England and Wales from 1560 to 1750. Starting tech companies and building Between 2004 and 2014, I worked teams around them is very satisfying. in medical devices, healthcare business From tiny first steps you can make things consulting and healthcare advertising. millions of people use daily. Customers Since 2013, I’ve directed my passion for are not limited by geography; talking with improving diabetes care into serving them is the best part and a reminder of as Chief Adviser with INPUT Patient the limits of parochial concerns. Having an Advocacy. Going freelance as a medical international perspective helps you succeed. copywriter in 2014 ignited my interest in Talk to as many people as you can. entrepreneurship. There are a few Balliol folks out there – At a Balliol Entrepreneurs event in late just in the last year I’ve seen Paul Fremantle 2015, Katie Hodgson (1986) challenged (1987), Jez Humble (1995), Tracy Dorée me to focus on my passion for diabetes. A (2003) and Hephzi Pemberton (2004). year later I set up Speaking Diabetes, which I’d happily speak to anyone wanting to offers consulting and training services start a tech company. You absolutely will regarding diabetes. So far, I have worked need help and there is more available today. with four clients, all of whom are shaping Rachel Carrell www.weave.works the future of diabetes care.

40 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 kids at the same time all had their own design agency. Through that we work with variations of the same struggle. designers all around the world, who deliver So I quit my job and founded Koru Kids, design every day to our clients. in order to build a better alternative. My We started out trying to do something vision is that Koru Kids becomes the best quite different – we were trying to build an childcare service in the world, bar none. AI system that would turn your sketches We’ve faced lots of challenges. I had IVF into slides, for people working in banks earlier in the year which was successful and management consultancies. Thanks to (yay!), so I’ve been running the business feedback from our advisors and customers, while pregnant, which has been more tiring this morphed into a human-powered high- than I could have imagined. Definitely the end design service. hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. The biggest challenge we faced was There have also been lots of highs. when we realised that, because of some We’ve attracted financial backing from recent changes in business, the company some of London’s top investors, and won was going to run out of cash and had four a few awards. The best thing, though, months left to live. We came up with a is the fast growth of the business. Just risky plan to become profitable, and told about every week is a ‘record week’, Tracy Dorée the whole company the big changes we which feels so exciting – and we get needed to make. We did not know if it feedback every day about how our The first member of my family to go would work out. Thankfully, the changes service has changed parents’ lives. to university, I was welcomed into Balliol. and discipline that came out of that gave us Starting a business is super tough, I loved the fact that my peers were one of our best years so far. but having tangible evidence that you’re empowered and took ownership of their helping people makes it all worth it. future, and that a melting pot of people The London start-up community of different backgrounds, perspectives is also incredibly vibrant and fun, and experiences came together around a and very supportive, full of talented, common set of values and a vision for how hardworking and passionate people. things could be done differently. We’re hiring all the time, so I’d That is my inspiration today. I believe love to hear from any Balliol grads that fast-growing business is the only interested in getting involved with our place where true meritocracy can exist, mission. And of course if you need where through hard work you can create childcare in London, drop us a line! value and be directly rewarded for it. By sharing the profits of our fund with the www.korukids.co.uk founders we back, I believe we’re building a collective – a group of change-makers Tracy Dorée (2003) where the community is greater than the sum of its individual parts. I share that Founding partner at Kindred feeling with my Balliol family – my husband and my half-dozen adopted sisters and In the summer of 2015, nine years after brothers who are still today my strongest graduation, I shook hands with three critics and loudest cheerleaders – and David Mack exceptional people to build a venture with a generous alumnus who financially capital fund: a firm that would seek supported me at Balliol and who continues Our biggest satisfactions have come from to back the most ambitious founders, to be a sounding board for my career. growing our revenues, signing new clients, to find, fund and fight for the highest Building value is hard, and impossible getting positive reviews and seeing all the potential entrepreneurs in the UK without a group of like-minded people creative ideas our designers generate. market and to assemble an army around around you. So many lessons learned the hard way each one of them; a firm that would over the last four years. I’ve learned to be www.kindredcapital.vc encourage collaboration between much more selective and rigorous when the founders it backed by sharing the hiring, and to fire faster. I’ve learned to upside of the fund. We wanted to David Mack (2009) embrace the dominant dynamics in people build the fund we wished had existed and commerce, rather than try to fight when we were founders ourselves. Co-founder of SketchDeck them. I’ve seen how all business is much Kindred is an £80M, London- simpler to do than it sounds in lectures. based venture fund, of which I am one SketchDeck is a high-quality graphic design I’m really enthusiastic to help more of four founding partners and one service, used by some of the most famous Balliol alumni go through Y Combinator, of 48 economic partners, including brands in the world. who backed us, here in California. Email 38 entrepreneurs running the 19 We’ve built a collaboration platform me ([email protected]) if you’d like to companies we’ve backed so far. that essentially automates running a talk about it.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 41 Raising standards in literacy Harriet Goodwin (1988) describes her work as a visiting author

I’ve spent today at a school about as far removed from the privilege of Oxford as it is possible to be, in this country at least: a school in Cannock, a deprived part of the West Midlands, where I’ve been working with Year 6 students (ten- and eleven- year-olds). Many of them had reading and writing ages of about six; most were on free school meals; more than a handful did not own a book (and never had done). Such deprivation is something I experience all too frequently. For as long as I can remember, writing and music have been my twin passions. As a child I was always either writing stories or playing the piano: luckily for me, people at school seemed to like my eccentricity. It could so easily have gone the other way. At Balliol, I studied English Literature (medieval: I was one of the few who took Course Two), and every spare second of my free time was taken up with music of some kind: Chapel Choir, The Arcadian Singers, Schola Cantorum. After Oxford I trained as a singer at the Royal Northern College of Music, and then spent some time singing with The Sixteen and The Monteverdi Choir, touring all over Europe. I did a bit of opera too, but increasingly journey to becoming an author (starting reading and desperately wanted a copy came to prefer my concert work: I am a with a blast of Puccini to break the ice), and of one of my books, but his parents were real home-bird and wanted a big family. a series of creative writing workshops: we poor and books weren’t part of their Shortly after the birth of my fourth child, discover how to get words to spring off the lives, so he had no money for one. I gave I had a dream which was the starting point page, work on gripping openings and story him one anyway. Then there was the of my first children’s novel, The Boy Who structure, and explore characterisation. unhappy-looking girl with a ginger plait Fell Down Exit 43 (Stripes Publishing, 2009). Over the past few years, I have been who wrote about … a girl with a ginger I wrote it in ten minutes a day over eight lucky enough to receive a discretionary plait with an abusive stepfather and an months, in longhand and completely in award from a wonderful foundation called alcoholic mother. I could go on. And on. secret. Within a few weeks of publication, Cockayne Grants for the Arts, which I hadn’t bargained for this aspect of the book was shortlisted for the 2010 Blue has allowed me to go into eight or nine being an author. It doesn’t matter how Peter Book Award’s ‘Book I Couldn’t Put schools a year in seriously deprived parts often I do these visits: they always shock Down’ category. Since then I have written of the country which could not otherwise me, and they always leave me with a three more novels: Gravenhunger (2011), afford an author visit. mixture of emotions: sadness; frustration; The Hex Factor (2012) and Dark Tide Of course, I get plenty of requests to and a tiny flicker of hope that I might have (2013) (all published by Stripes), as well as visit extremely well-to-do schools as well, helped a few children in a very small way. two short ghost stories for Collins. and I enjoy meeting and working with I wasn’t very politically aware at Balliol Visits like the one today in Cannock their students immensely. But I am at my – I was too busy having a good time – but are the by-product of writing for children: most fulfilled when I can motivate students now, in my late forties, I have finally woken I now spend much of my time going for whom the world of books is a million up and found my conscience. I only wish I into schools, inspiring students of all ages miles away. could make more of a difference. (right up to sixth formers) about books, Amongst the children I met today reading and writing. A typical visit consists was a boy with a pale face and dark To enquire about a school visit, please go to of a presentation, in which I talk about my rings around his eyes. He clearly loved www.harrietgoodwinbooks.com

42 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 What do alumni really think about their College?

In 2017 Balliol began a two-year research In the first, qualitative phase of the e-newsletters, the alumni website, project in order to better understand its research, Old Members from around social media and communications; and Old Members and how the College may the world were invited to participate current and potential alumni benefits. best serve them, as well as to provide a in facilitated group discussions which Old Members were also invited to briefing to the incoming Master on the covered how they felt about the College, write a message to the incoming Master global Balliol community. The results have what they need from the College and on the subject of what makes Balliol special provided us with invaluable insights into their thoughts on Balliol’s charitable and what they would like to see from the the thoughts and views of our alumni. priorities. In total, we ran 11 discussion College in the future. This questionnaire Working with Holly Palmer, an groups: face-to-face discussions took was sent to over 7,500 contactable Old independent consultant and specialist place in Oxford and London, while Members by email and post and was open in conducting alumni research, 6 discussions took part online to for completion from 16 November to 31 we aimed to find out what Old ensure that the views of Old Members December 2017. Members really thought about: around the world were represented. We received the results of this survey Building on the findings from these in early 2018. A summary was presented • their time at Balliol and how it shaped groups, the second, quantitative phase to the Master on her arrival in April and their lives; took the form of an online questionnaire the full results will be presented to the • their relationship with College now; exploring Old Members’ attitudes, Governing Body. We also plan to give a behaviours and opinions through summary of the key findings to all those • their views on how we can improve the questions on: their experiences as a who participated, followed by further experience for Old Members in future. student and Old Member; volunteering; updates in the coming months. giving to Balliol; events; publications,

February June September December March May January 2019 Planning and Discussion Survey planning Survey closes College receives Full results onwards preparation group analysis and design summary report presented to Implementation of Fellows new programme

2017 2018 2019

May August November January April June onwards Discussion groups Presentation Survey opens Survey analysis Summary report Planning of new in London, Oxford to College on presented to alumni programme and online progress to date Master on arrival

Who took part? Location of participants We are delighted and grateful that many Old Members of all ages wanted to get involved with this project. In total, over 2,000 Old Members participated in the discussion groups and responded to the survey. Of those who completed all elements of the survey 51% were donors, 5% were Pathfinder hosts, and 34% were alumni who are yet to volunteer with or donate to the College. 10% did not declare. Most (67%) read at undergraduate level. Participants were well spread across matriculation decades; 74% were men, 21% women, compared to the whole alumni body of 75% men and 25% women (5% did not declare their gender); and participants lived in 57 different countries.

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 43 Number of male and female participants by age 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42 44 46 48 50 52 54 56 58 60 62 64 66 68 70 72 74 76 78 80 82 84 86 88 90 94 97

Undergraduate level, Have you attended a Balliol event postgraduate level or both? I am a… in the last 3 years, or not? 11%

Donor 1,020

40% 22% 1,718 1,722 responses Neither of these 665 responses 60% 67% Pathfinder host 105

Matriculation decade In the last 12 months, I have…

Received a printed 1940s 21 1,608 publication from Balliol 1950s 146 Received Balliol’s 1,291 1960s 273 monthly e-newsletter 1970s 294 Visited the Balliol 752 1980s 268 website Viewed a post from 1990s 290 273 Balliol on social media 2000s 292 2010s 139 None of these 18

A few findings In the survey we asked Old Members both general questions and questions specific to their own relationship with Balliol – for instance, event attendees were asked about recent events, while non-attendees were asked about why they did not attend Balliol events. In total there were 22 possible question categories. In addition to providing participants with a more detailed summary later this year, we present here an overview of some of the things the answers have revealed.

Balliol identity Asked to choose three words to describe Balliol life, Old Members are most likely to describe Balliol with words relating to academic rigour, warmth and openness – a finding that has provided us with useful insight into perceptions of College.

44 FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 Experience of Balliol Student experience Old Members are generally positive about their student experience, I felt that the learning environment helped me to reach my potential their Old Member experience and the communications and I enjoyed the social aspect of College life activities the College offers them. Publication readership and event attendance is high, the website is I felt like I fitted in serving its purpose, and almost all Old Members feel that it is I felt like the College cared about my wellbeing appropriate to ask them for support. The survey results also I felt like my university experience was special as show that a smaller but significant compared to that at other colleges and universities number do not feel part of the Balliol Old Member community. Student academic achievement, Old Member experience wellbeing and welfare, diversity and financial support are all key I feel like I’m part of the Balliol areas of interest for Old Members. Old Members community The comments accompanying these responses have also given us Balliol is interested in me as an Old Member plenty to consider as we explore how to broaden the appeal of our alumni relations programme. My experience at Balliol shaped me positively

Strongly disagree I feel connected to the College Disagree Neither agree nor disagree I would like to feel more connected to the College Agree I feel I know what’s happening at Balliol Strongly agree

Future priorities for the College Which of the following do you wish to see the College focus more on over the next 3 years? In the findings (right) themes 1,291 in the ‘other’ answers – such 625 as investment in Fellows’ 552 509 research, career services for students, and connecting Old 149 143 Members to each other and 88 to students – provided further Student Student The diversity Financial Student Other Student indications of what Old academic wellbeing of the support for facilities clubs and Members see as priorities. achievement and welfare student body the students societies

What next? We are enormously grateful to everyone plan to make more effort in this area. the survey findings. Once the Fellowship who took part in a discussion group or Over the coming months, we will be has received and approved this plan, more who completed the online survey. Your incorporating your feedback into a review of significant changes to our activities will be responses have provided a huge amount of all aspects of our programme including: the forthcoming in the 2018/19 academic year. insight and they will prove invaluable as we type of events we offer, the communications We look forward to sharing our plans develop our plans for the future. we send, how we report on the impact for the future with you. Thanks to the As a result of the survey we have your donations are making and how we feedback from Old Members around the already begun to make small changes to keep people informed about student world, we hope to deliver an even better our activities; for instance, responding to welfare, diversity and widening access. experience for all Balliol alumni. the finding that donors wish to know From this review we will be developing more about the impact of their gifts, we a new alumni programme on the basis of

FLOREAT DOMUS JUNE 2018 45 The Greville Smith Society SUPPORTING FUTURE GENERATIONS

Remembering Balliol in your will is a straightforward way to contribute something special to the Oxford experience of future generations.

Gifts of all sizes have a transformative impact on the lives of our students so, once you have provided for the needs of those close to you, please consider including Balliol in your will. To say thank you, the College would be delighted to invite you to join the Greville Smith Society and to welcome you back to lunch in Hall each year.

Over 250 alumni and friends are currently members of the Greville Smith Society. Will you join them?

To discuss your bequest to Balliol, contact the Development Office at [email protected]