Gates Scholar Newsletter
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GATES SCHOLAR NEWSLETTER Volume 2 Issue 2 www.gatesscholar.org Autumn 2005/Spring 2006 HM THE QUEEN MEETS GATES SCHOLARS AT THE FITZWILLIAM HM The Queen meets Gates Scholars MUSEUM PERSPECTIVES ON THE FIRST INSTALMENT HM The Queen meeting Gates Scholars at the Fitzwilliam Museum, 8 June 2005. OF ORIENTATION 2005 Photos courtesy of Nigel Luckhurst 1–2 TRIPPING THE ROAD SCHOLASTIC 3 BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SCIENCE AND POLICY 4 BIOVISION WORLD LIFE SCIENCES FORUM 5 AN UNLIKELY LINGUIST IN THE WORLD OF BRANDING L–R: Pierre Far, Anna King, Su-Yin Tan, Asbjorn 6 L–R: Alex Bremner, Sarah Dry, HM The Queen. Steglich-Petersen, HM The Queen, Mihai Brezeanu, FROM C TO SHINING C Dr Gordon Johnson, Moncef Tanfour. 7–8 SIMON & SHUSTER TO Perspectives on the first instalment PUBLISH LEVEY (’03) BOOK IN 2006 8 of orientation 2005 NEVER MIND: CAMBRIDGE Compiled by Paul Franklyn ALUMNI THAT THE WORLD FORGOT 9 Michael Dodson – explored the Peak District, one of the most RETHINKING Diploma in Computer beautiful parts of England (in my limited MULTICULTURALISM Science experience), hiking through the hills, going on 10–11 I love athletics. night walks to the pub (a mere 2 and a half Watching them is miles), canoeing, etc. Most importantly, DID YOU SAY enjoyable, simply out of however, I believe we had a distinct advantage “PALAEOBIOLOGY”? appreciation for the over other new graduate students coming to 12 effort and skill involved, Cambridge. By the beginning of the first week, but playing them is a NEWLY FORMED ALUMNI when everyone else is just showing up, we ASSOCIATION PLAYS much more fulfilling already had a large group of close friends for INTEGRAL ROLE experience. The sport socializing, exploring, experiencing the 13 itself, however, is less significant than the nightlife, and even just for talking about home. people next to you. The intense interaction We had senior scholars to show us around GATES ALUMNI EVENTS during training, practising, winning, and losing Cambridge and help get us settled into our new results in unbreakable bonds between team- HAVE YOU REGISTERED homes. Finally, we had the comfort of knowing YOUR CURRENT DETAILS mates, and is precisely the kind of interaction that we wouldn’t be alone in a new place, we ON THE WEBSITE? experienced during the Gates Orientation 2005. would make friends, we would have people to 14 These friendships are independent of the go out with, and we had a very good year (or sport or activity and are primarily the result of three) to look forward to. ALUMNI EVENTS IN shared experience. If permitted, they transcend PICTURES ethnic, social, economic, national, and racial Ashleigh Hildebrand – THE GATES SCHOLARS lines. Though orientation wasn’t an “intense” MPhil Environmental WEBSITE: WHAT IT HAS experience, it was a constant and dynamic TO OFFER Policy 15 interaction among an international group that Like all of the new Gates lasted the better part of three days. The Scholars, I wasn’t sure PHOTOGRAPHY orientation was focused around group activities, what to expect from the 16 challenges, competitions, and problem solving Orientation Camp in the EDITORS (alphabetical) which provided the base of shared experience, Peak District. I knew that Alex Bremner trial, error, and success resulting in friendships I would meet other Pierre Far which developed and progressed very quickly. scholars and spend some Jennifer Gibson In hindsight the orientation was a blessing in time outdoors. What I Benedikt Mandl several ways. We were exposed to new found was a much more Andrew Robertson activities, like rock climbing and caving. We stimulating experience than I had anticipated. Su-Yin Tan Moncef Tanfour Stop Press: Gates Scholars’ Alumni Association established – see page 13 for details 2 Standing in the crowd waiting to board the buses, I heard A group of new accents from all corners of the world. I realized that as a and returning small-town girl from Kansas, there was much I could learn Gates Scholars from the people surrounding me. I then made a plan to get in the Peak to know each and every person there. I figured that three District days would be plenty of time. The outdoors experience we received was rather intense and it certainly initiated the relationship building process. Within hours of arriving at the camp, my group for the teamwork activities was holding hands to manoeuvre across an Adventure Course. Natural leadership came through when reconstructing the Towers of Hanoi, and we later all gasped in mutual astonishment as one member The entire trip was so helpful in generating friendships dangled upside-down just inches above the rocks during and helping each of the new and old scholars to meet and Stream Crossing. (We then worked as a team to rescue his learn everyone’s names and interests. It was a great way to cell phone when it plunged from his pocket into the water!) welcome international students to England. We also bonded through various activities of our own choosing, which challenged us both mentally and physically. Jonas Neher – Though some activities, such as caving and weaselling, are PhD in Biochemistry inherently silent, there’s something about crawling through On the morning of October 26th, a tunnels below the ground that fosters a sense of kinship group of about 100 new (and some with those around you. Other activities, like archery and returning) Gates Scholars set out to hiking, provided plenty of time for conversation. The camp explore the mountains of the Peak kept us pretty busy, but we did have some free time, which District and to engage in a variety of was mostly spent speaking with scholars over cups of tea sports, which we didn’t know at this or on long walks to the local pub. point would include crossing rivers in Though I spent many hours socializing, I quickly the dark, taking a little bath in a pond discovered that my plan to know every scholar would fail. (fully clothed) and jumping from 6 This was no stuffy cocktail party, where you drift around the metre high poles... room, briefly acquainting yourself with each person and During the journey, we had a first making small talk. These were Gates Scholars. Each of us chance to meet the people sitting close was chosen to receive this honour to us and waited while the bus drivers for a reason, and as I delved into had to deal with a bridge just broad each conversation with a new enough to allow the buses to cross. friend, those reasons became But as everyone knows, suffering apparent. I found myself bonds people together, and arriving in constantly drawn into lengthy and Edale the initial uneasiness some of us inspiring discussions with may have experienced had been intelligent, experienced people. overcome. Though I certainly did not get to As most of us had only arrived in talk with each person, my plan was Cambridge one or two days before, not a complete failure. Instead, I some of the poor overseas people discovered that it will take many were still suffering from jetlag, but more weekend trips, pub nights, and were not shown any mercy. We random run-ins on the street for me were sent out directly to engage in to fully appreciate each one of the an orienteering exercise, which The first instalment of Orientation 2005 took place scholars and understand what also posed a problem in terms of in the picturesque Peak District motivates them. I look forward to remembering the names, colleges continually learning what makes a Dr Gordon Gates Scholar. In the meantime, I will learn what it is to be a Johnson, Provost part of this community of inspired and inspiring people – to be of the Gates a Gates Scholar. Cambridge Trust, welcomed the new Anthony Hylick – scholars PhD in Computer Science The Gates Orientation trip was great. From the very beginning, as we were assembling behind Queen’s College, the new scholars had the and courses of all the people we met along the way. Having opportunity to meet the other dealt with these initial questions, additional information scholars for the first time and about each person’s life had to be stored somewhere in our congratulate the scholars that one overloaded brains. may have met in Annapolis or During the next two days, however, the various sports and elsewhere. This informal setting for team-building activities led to reformation of the groups. And finding out where people were from, what they were while the tight schedule during the day did not leave us much studying, whether they were doing a PhD or MPhil, and freedom to talk to each other, (queuing up for) the meals and what one’s plans were once the program was completed the nightly walks to the nearest pub – which was about 45 continued on the bus ride up to the Peak District. minutes away – did provide us with the opportunity. Even if Once we arrived at the Peak District, everyone seemed to the person you thought you were talking to along the (dark) be equally as fascinated with the beauty of nature at its way turned out to be a different one in the light of the pub... finest. The hills, animals, and the purity of the rural setting Thus, we eventually managed not only to know the others’ captivated us all. However, we soon found out how deceptive names without glancing at the ever-present name tag but the steepness of the hills was as we began the orienteering also remembered some more personal details. After an activity. It was a workout to say the least.