bThe Birkbeckb magazine Issuek 22, Summer 2007

Happy Birthday, Mr President Eric Hobsbawm at 90 bbk Issue 22 Contents

TEACHING & RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS ALUMNI NEWS Birkbeck Stratford 1 Crime report 12 Update on the College’s A Scottish Chief Constable on east London initiative his Birkbeck experience

Rising star 3 In a class of their own 14 Profile of the School of Psychology Recent graduates on studying at Birkbeck Telling stories 4 Issue 22 of BBK is special. On Peace activists’ workshop She served her cause 15 the cover is a truly remarkable Tribute to Baroness Jeger man – Emeritus Professor Eric Ten years of dance 5 Hobsbawm, who has been One of Birkbeck’s more Solid foundations 16 President of Birkbeck since 2002. physical courses a decade on Money matters On page 24, Guardian journalist John Crace interviews Professor Who cares for the elderly? 6 FEATURES Hobsbawm who, at 90, is still Research on care home volunteers Developments in Bloomsbury 19 busy lecturing, and this month Successes of The Bloomsbury publishes his latest book MASTER’S REPORT Colleges Globalisation, Democracy and Financing our students 7 Terrorism (see page 29 for Extreme conservation 20 details). His contribution to the COLLEGE NEWS Archaeology diploma leads intellectual life of this country, as A building with ‘reel’ style 8 to Antarctica well as to the College, is immense. The new Centre for Film This issue also describes the and Visual Media Birkbeck’s President at 90 24 newly opened Centre for Film and Guardian journalist John Visual Media, a unique piece of Jolly good Fellows 9 Crace interviews Professor architecture, as Professor Ian Birkbeck’s recent Fellows Eric Hobsbawm Christie of the School of History of Art, Film and Visual Media Back to his roots 10 Obituaries 28 explains on page 8. Further visual James Birkbeck IV and genealogy interest is created on page 10, Books and Events 29 where you can judge for yourself Greening the College 11 whether there is a family Initiatives to make Birkbeck resemblance between James a greener place Birkbeck IV and his ancestor George Birkbeck, our founder. In ‘Greening the College’ on page 11 you will learn of the Cover photograph: initiatives that Birkbeck is taking Professor Eric Hobsbawm, President of Birkbeck to become more sustainable. (© Jane Bown, 2002) Conservation of a different kind in Antarctica is the subject of former student Nicola Dunn’s Birkbeck is a world-class research and teaching institution, a vibrant centre piece on page 20. of academic excellence and London’s only specialist provider of evening This is my last edition of BBK; higher education. Its academic reputation also attracts many traditional, Catherine Stevens returns to her full-time postgraduate and research degree students. editorial role in the next issue. Birkbeck Stratford How this exciting initiative in east London is progressing

The Stratford project is gathering momentum, as Birkbeck prepares to welcome its first students onto the east London programmes. In partnership with the University of East London (UEL), Birkbeck is providing additional opportunities for students in east London to study an exciting range of higher education programmes in the evening. Staff across the College have been working hard to ensure the success of Birkbeck’s ambitious new project. The summer months are seeing the final stage of a series of initiatives designed to boost student recruitment in the autumn. During May, the Outreach Team of three took part in a number of events during Adult Learners’ Week, ranging from information days at shopping centres, hosting an advice session for the TUC, and attending. It followed the same Stratford joins the CLDP group in running an information day with format as the Bloomsbury Open July, who will provide pre-course Newham Libraries. Birkbeck also Evenings, with a range of subject and in-course advice, and offer sponsored the ‘Progression to HE’ and support stands plus, in this study skills sessions and tutorial category for the regional Adult instance, taster sessions entitled support for Birkbeck Stratford Learners’ Week awards, organised History of Art and Philosophy. As students. by NIACE (The National Institute with the Bloomsbury events, the The Birkbeck Stratford Library of Adult Continuing Education – Stratford Open Evenings are a team is also busy preparing for this England and Wales), a non- critical part of the recruitment drive autumn. They expect to purchase governmental organisation working and will help encourage students to approximately 2000 books for to attract more adult learners. apply. The programme managers processing and sending out to the The second phase of the and course administrators have UEL Library at Stratford for use by marketing campaign, leading up to been working hard in preparation the Birkbeck Stratford students. the June Open Evening, consisted of for the autumn start date and many They are keeping in touch with outdoor and local press advertising of them attended the Stratford programme managers and will and a door drop in May of 200,000 event. purchase the required books for leaflets in east London boroughs. A At Boardman House, the Birkbeck the students to access at the start further 300,000 leaflets will go out Stratford HQ, the Office and of term. in the late summer to publicise the Programme team is now three This autumn will see the next Birkbeck Stratford Open strong. The Centre for Learning culmination of 18 months’ work Evening on Thursday 20 September. and Professional Development on the part of many academic and Birkbeck Stratford’s first Open (CLPD) team launched Drop-in and administrative staff at the College, Evening for prospective students Advice Sessions in the middle of to make this exciting initiative at was held on Thursday 14 June at the May, which are held every Monday Old Town Hall, Stratford, which from 4pm until 7pm in the Above: Prospective For more information about students gain advice proved to be a great success, with Stratford Advice Arcade. An Advice studying at Birkbeck Stratford, at the Stratford event visit www.birkbeckstratford.ac.uk around 500 prospective students and Learning Co-ordinator (JD Moore)

Teaching & research 1 Psychology students beat London rivals Students and School are on an upward path

Birkbeck has won both of this was to do a full BSc.” Since year’s University of London graduating in July 2006, Rachel psychology project prizes: the Burt has given birth to a son and is Prize for projects in the field of planning to go back to studying in individual differences was won by September. Eventually she is Rachel Sigrist; and the winner of hoping to begin a new career in the Carpenter Prize for projects psychiatry. not in individual differences was Stefanie Nixon (left), who was Stefanie Nixon. supervised by Dr Jennifer The annual prizes are awarded Aydelott, shared the Carpenter in competition with all University Prize for projects not in individual of London Colleges. Professor differences with a student from Mike Oaksford, Head of the School University College London. of Psychology, said: “It is a Stefanie studied the effects on the fantastic achievement for listener of having to listen to two Birkbeck to win both of these words at once, and investigated prizes and it is yet another whether listeners are able to demonstration that part-time process semantic information in students are able to compete with this situation. The prize is a their full-time counterparts. Both fantastic achievement for Stefanie, Rachel and Stefanie produced who had no previous experience of insightful and high-quality work higher education, as she left which is a testament to the broad school at 17 with O-levels and in range of topics and issues within 1996 took a GCSE in Psychology the School.” Above: Stephanie Nixon from which her interest (Birkbeck Photo Unit) In her project, which was blossomed. “Studying psychology supervised by Professor Jay proved to be more fascinating Belsky and Dr Naz Derakhshan, than I ever imagined. By Rachel Sigrist (below, right) examining the workings of the attempted to categorise people brain, you begin to realise the according to their relationship complexities of human nature and attachment styles (how secure or Below: Rachel Sigrist learn to appreciate the vast array insecure they are in their close of tasks individuals undertake on relationships – and, if insecure, a daily basis,” she commented. whether this is characterised by anxiety or avoidance), and also according to certain personality traits, such as overall anxiety levels and overall repression levels. Rachel, who was working as a ministerial speechwriter at the Treasury during her degree, completed her project as part of a BSc Psychology. Although already a graduate, Rachel says: “I could have done a conversion course, For further information about but psychology has always been a Birkbeck’s Psychology courses, visit: www.bbk.ac.uk/study/all_courses/ subject that interested me, so I psychology.html decided the best way to explore it

2 Teaching & research TALENTED BIRKBECK STUDENT RECOGNISED PhD student Abdul Martin, from the School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, was selected by the prestigious Medical Research Society from hundreds of applicants across the country to present his work on brain diseases to the Society. Abdul originally entered his application for the ‘Young researchers’ category, but the assessment panel was so impressed by his work that it was submitted to be judged among work by established surgeons and academics. Abdul’s research concerns Balamuthia, a parasite which causes the brain infection encephalitis. Abdul, who received funding from Birkbeck to cover his fees, says: “Birkbeck is one of the only institutions in the world with expertise in Balamuthia. I am indebted to the College for providing me with real insights into using state-of-the-art technology. When I came here I was quite a shy person. I really have been helped by Birkbeck staff and by attending the College’s presentation skills courses.”

Left: Abdul Martin at work in Birkbeck (Birkbeck Photo Unit)

Rising star Head of Psychology, Professor Mike Oaksford, comments on the School’s latest accolade

“It is not just individuals within worldwide to achieve this status, (neuroscience and behaviour).” the School of Psychology who have including the prestigious From its database of a decade of been winning prizes, but the Massachusetts Institute of scientific citation data, Thomson School itself has been singled out Technology. This is an impressive Scientific ESI uses information for excellence. Birkbeck was achievement, as specialist from bi-monthly periods to recently classified as a ’Rising psychiatric units typically determine the rankings. Rising Star’ in psychology and dominate this Rising Star Stars are those institutions that psychiatry, according to Thomson category. Only four other achieve the highest percentage Scientific Essential Science institutions worldwide were increase in total citations from one Indicators (ESI), which provides awarded this designation for the bi-monthly period to the next. This citation rankings of scientists, field of psychology and psychiatry measures the departments and institutions, countries and in 2006. Other institutions institutions whose publications journals. classified as Rising Stars in their elicit the biggest increase in “Birkbeck is the only UK fields at the same time as citations from their peers. institution to be awarded this Birkbeck included the Salk status in the absence of an Institute for Biological Studies associated medical school, i.e. no (microbiology), the Chinese psychiatry, since the Rising Stars Academy of Sciences were introduced in 2001. It is one (mathematics), and the US For further information, visit: www.in-cites.com/most_imp/ of only a handful of pure National Institute for Neurological september2006.html psychology departments Disorders and Strokes

Teaching & research 3 Telling stories Dr Isabelle Fremeaux (Lecturer in Media Studies) and Dr Tim Markham (Lecturer in Journalism) discuss their recent workshop for peace activists

in a way that reaches and convinces people. It aims to determine whose stories are told, how they are framed, how widely these stories are heard, and how deeply they impact on the public arena. Drawing from organisations such as Trident Ploughshares, Voices in the Wilderness and Jews for Justice for Palestinians, we got together with ten activists on the actual set of the Fallujah play, to develop collaboratively our own ’Battle of the Story’ strategy. By exploring and analysing the ways in which media have talked about and represented the war in Iraq, we tried to understand how to elaborate alternative narratives so that campaigns can improve their impact. Building on the personal experiences of participants, a collective analysis of coverage of the Iraq war and broader examination of the strategies and tactics available to the activist, the workshop enabled us to see On Monday 14 May, Birkbeck held tragedies of the war in Iraq, the the commonly recognised a one-day workshop for peace play asks us to reflect on how discourses around current events activists, as part of a series of stories are (un)told in our society. as just one of the stories that ’satellite events’ around the In such a context, it seemed could have been told. This moves documentary play Fallujah, which particularly relevant to organise an the political debate beyond a ran at the Old Truman Brewery in educational event that would narrow discussion of bias and London’s East End until 2 June approach the notion of storytelling objectivity: even when armed this year. Fallujah is based on in an innovative way. With the with the facts, the way an event testimony – that has never before support of the London Centre for is spoken about – its imagery, been heard – from people involved Arts and Cultural Enterprise, we metaphors, symbols and in the month-long siege, which saw decided to stage a workshop in characters – radically influences US military forces mount an air which activists would explore the its reception and the potential and ground assault on the Iraqi themes of storytelling and effective for action. city in 2004. campaigning. Entitled The Battle of At the time of the siege, the media the Story, the workshop was based were given very little access to the on the idea that crafting a Above: The city, so that much of what actually successful campaign message documentary play happened remained unclear for requires analysing and Fallujah, being For more information, visit performed at the www.lcace.org.uk/home.php or some time. By emphasising the understanding the power of Old Truman Brewery www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/mediastudies/ silencing of one of the worst narrative to structure information (Paul J Need)

4 Teaching & research Ten years of dance A decade of the course that goes from strength to strength

really want to pursue.” Buffy the social Like all the teachers on the researcher course, Maria speaks from experience when talking about the life of a dancer; she originally The first half of 2007 saw some trained in dance theatre studies at interesting seminars from the the Laban Centre, and has worked Birkbeck Institute for Social as a freelance dancer and Research (BISR), including a talk choreographer in dance and on her new book, Making Trouble, multidisciplinary projects by Professor Lynne Segal, and the throughout the UK. She talks with wonderfully titled Imagining the enormous enthusiasm about the Family: Constructions of unique role that the Birkbeck Alternative Families in Buffy the dance course plays: “Our course Vampire Slayer, presented by Dr can’t compete with those offering Viv Burr of the University of classes every day of the week, but Huddersfield. we don’t want to turn students Speaking about the Institute, into machines – we show them which opened in November 2006, how to explore dance as a Co-Director Professor Stephen discipline, we help them to come Frosh says: “The key word of the to understand their bodies. It is BISR is ‘interdisciplinary’. Social not just about muscles and research encompasses work in technique, but about finding an social theory, psychosocial studies artistic voice.” and sociology in the critical Dance is based in the Faculty of tradition for which Birkbeck is Continuing Education as part of known; it connects researchers in You might be surprised to learn the performance studies social psychology, social policy, that Birkbeck offers qualifications programme, which also includes human geography, law, gender in dance, but as the course heads opera, concert singing and acting. studies, politics and sociology, into its tenth year, the College’s Each course is offered as both a and makes links with colleagues reputation in performing arts is Foundation and Diploma course in other areas of the humanities steadily growing. and it is hoped that in the next and social sciences.” Originally started by Peter Burtt- couple of years the Faculty will The BISR is open to any Jones, who has been working at also be able to offer a BA Hons. Birkbeck academic who wishes Birkbeck for over 25 years, the aim There is no age limit for the to be a member and there are of the course is to offer students a course and the range of experience regular lectures, seminars and chance to explore their ambitions, can be very varied, so students are conferences, which are open to without having to give up their assessed before being accepted members of the public. day jobs. Current course Director onto the course. At least 75% of Maria Koripas explains: the students continue with dance “Normally, training to be a dancer training when they leave Birkbeck. means enormous expense, so most Maria concludes: “Our students dance students will only ever be make dance a way of life and this able to attend drop-in classes, or gives us a sense of lifelong they face having to pull their lives learning in the truest sense.” For more information about the Centre apart to pay for full-time courses. and details of forthcoming events, visit www.bbk.ac.uk/bisr or email the At Birkbeck, students can continue To find out more, visit Institute’s administrator, Julia Eisner: working, while exploring dance to www.bbk.ac.uk/ce/ps/courses [email protected] /dance/index.shtml discover if it is something they

Teaching & research 5 Who cares for the elderly? Gerontology student Rose Heatley writes about her project ‘Volunteers in Care Homes for Older People – an Underused Opportunity?’

“For me, hitting my 50s led to a growing interest in ageing. Who are our Birkbeck’s Gerontology Certificate students? on the social, medical and psychological aspects of ageing As well as advising students like was perfect. Subsequent work Rose Heatly (see article left), with hospices and care homes for Senior Lecturer in Gerontology older people has led me to wonder Anne Jamieson has been why, when three-quarters of all conducting her own research, hospices have on average 100 which involves a three-year study volunteers each, and when focused on all the 2003 Birkbeck volunteering is strongly graduates. She talks here about encouraged by the Government, her work. there are not more volunteers in “My research comprised care homes. This I investigated for postal questionnaires, in-depth my 10,000-word original research interviews and a three-year diploma requirement. follow-up study. The study “I talked to a range of people, was duplicated at the Open including care home providers, University, making for interesting care staff and activity organisers, comparisons of part-time students bodies like Age Concern and from the two institutions. organisations providing “Adults of all ages, ranging from volunteers. I also read widely – 20 to 60+, are attracted to both surveys about the quality of life Birkbeck and the Open University. in care homes and initiatives to The latter attracts more students improve it, schemes to set up with dependent children, for befriending, studies of why people whom the distance learning volunteer and so on. And I mode would appear convenient. identified a few homes where In terms of reasons for enrolling volunteers thrived. on a course of study, one of the “Roughly one in five of the UK most striking findings was the population over the age of 85 lives similarity between Birkbeck and in some form of institutional care. whose chief executive had been Open University graduates. At Boredom and depression are my supervisor, offered to publish both institutions the student serious problems, but paid staff Volunteers in Care Homes for body is heterogeneous. Some do not have time to sit and chat. Older People – an Underused graduates enrolled mainly for Surely there must be a role for Opportunity? It has sold 150 reasons of personal development volunteers? One exceptional home copies in two months and a and intellectual stimulation, had 60 in place aged from 16 to conference is planned in July. whereas others expected to 92, and I listed 40 activities What greater reward could there improve their employment involving volunteers. But would be for pursuing this worthwhile prospects. The three-year follow- potential volunteers be deterred and hitherto neglected topic?” up study found that most seemed by the fact that the majority of to have had their expectations care homes are privately owned? fulfilled. Not if you understand the At a confrerence at Birkbeck in different reasons why people For further information about March 2007, the first findings volunteer, in my view. Birkbeck’s Gerontology courses, visit: were disseminated. More material www.bbk.ac.uk/study/all_courses/ Above: Portrait of “I was delighted when the gerontology.html elderly women. will be available shortly on a Relatives & Residents Association, (Getty Images) dedicated website.

6 Teaching & research Master’s report: Financing our students Ensuring that our students receive financial support can be a complex business, writes Professor David Latchman

When I became Master of Birkbeck, government grants, the students’ though such students may be the Government had a target that own resources and Birkbeck itself. studying work-related subjects to 50% of 18–30 year olds should go to Currently, students with the lowest improve their careers. university. This ignored those over incomes receive government fee Last year, we introduced the the age of 30 and begged the support up to a maximum of £1,125 Student Opportunity Fund, which question of why their obtaining a per annum. Moreover, as income provided ten full-fee studentships university education was not levels increase, the level of to such students. Ideally, however, if something to be encouraged. government support falls away, so funds were available, we would like The Leitch report on skills* that even students with fairly low to provide full or partial support to heralded a new target: 40% of incomes receive partial support. To all students who have a significant the workforce should have a enable such students to study at financial need and who do not university-level qualification by Birkbeck, we introduced a scheme in receive any government support. 2020. Obviously, this new target is which the College tops up any Obviously, the need for student much more in tune with Birkbeck’s student who received only partial support funds will increase as we mission of providing a university government support and which recruit students in Stratford. We education for those who cannot ensures that their fees are fully have already received significant study full-time. paid. support for student bursaries at Both the Department for However, we are in danger of Stratford from the Sir John Cass’s Education and Skills and the creating a poverty trap in which Foundation and the Aldgate and Higher Education Funding Council Below: Students outside students whose incomes are just All Hallow’s Trust. for England (HEFCE) responded Birkbeck’s Torrington above the maximum for any Clearly, therefore, a significant Square building actively to the Leitch target by (JD Moore) government support do not receive number of students are now urging universities to engage more any support from the Government studying at Birkbeck who would *Leitch Review of with employers. HEFCE has made Skills: Prosperity for or from Birkbeck. In addition, no not have been able to do so it clear that it sees us as ideally all in the Global government help is available to without our financial support. Economy – World positioned to do this because of Class Skills (HMSO; students who have a degree, Much more remains to be done, our part-time mission and our December 2006) regardless of their income, even however, with the help of our high-quality, research-led education. We are in active discussions with HEFCE as to how it can best support us to do this. Ironically, Government is encouraging part-time study by those in work, while support for part-time students and the universities which teach them remains inferior to that for full- time students. It is not sufficient to say that these costs should be picked up by employers, since in many cases, employers will be unwilling or unable to do this. To enhance our part-time mission in the future, we need to ensure that all students receive financial support allowing them to study at Birkbeck, with such support being provided, as appropriate, by employers,

Master’s report 7 Reel style Professor Ian Christie, Professor of Film and Media History, describes the exciting new building

What is a research centre? In filmic associations: the jagged practice, it can be anything from a angles recall the Expressionist set gleaming new skyscraper to a design of The Cabinet of Dr nameplate fixed to an office door, Caligari, an influential German film and almost anything in between. of 1921; and the lurid colours evoke Indeed some of the most Andy Warhol’s silkscreen portraits influential organisations have of film stars. often been the least impressive Original and inspiring, certainly, visually. But when the opportunity but how well will it serve to to create a new centre for film and promote Birkbeck’s aspirations in visual media research at Birkbeck film and media research, and in came some four years ago, one teaching? The new centre hosts the unique feature quickly suggested London Screen Study Collection itself: why not design the centre (already described in BBK21), and round a real cinema auditorium, provides individual viewing which could be both a working stations for users of this resource, resource and a landmark feature? as well as space for seminars and Other facilities, such as seminar researchers. Meanwhile, the rooms, media storage and offices, cinema will run a programme of could surely be fitted round a London-related screenings and dramatic space that would special events, which should help proclaim the new centre’s identity. promote the theme of researching The winners of the competition for London’s screen history to a wider the project, Surface Architects, had public – and also feed into a no previous experience of cinemas, proposed new module, to be but soon became enthusiastic about shared between the existing MA getting it right. This meant planning History of Film and Visual Media the largest possible screen – in and MA London Studies. contrast to lecture theatre style – The new centre will also support and adopting raked seating and the School of History of Art, Film side aisles, as well as providing a and Visual Media’s new BA History projection room large enough to of Film, Art and Modern Media, take all the equipment we might which launches in October 2007. want, ranging from traditional film This focuses on the closely related projectors to the new generation of histories of many modern media, digital projectors. And, of course, from photography to contemporary full surround sound. gallery installation, drawing on art As a result, Birkbeck’s new Centre history, media theory and film for Film and Visual Media boasts a studies to deliver a highly remarkable 70-seat cinema innovative degree. The design of auditorium – already being referred the new centre, as much as its to as ‘The Screen on the Square’ – facilities, should underline the which is as soberly dedicated to belief that underpins much of the ideal screening conditions as the work of the School – that the surrounding break-out spaces and history of art and architecture stairway are an exuberant display provide an ideal basis for Photo: Part of of pure form and colour. In fact, studying other visual, Birkbeck’s new centre for film and visual Surface’s extraordinary projection plastic and, increasingly, media research (Kilian of intersecting cones has various digital media. O’Sullivan/Lightroom)

8 College news Jolly good fellows New Birkbeck Fellows express their admiration for the College at the graduation ceremony in March

Every year, Fellowships are awarded appointments at Birkbeck and Spanish. “I taught at Birkbeck for by the governing body in recognition University College London, and 17 years – the formative part of of exceptional service to the College since 2001 has been the Director my career. Birkbeck was my first or an outstanding contribution to of the European Bioinformatics love and I still have deep respect the academic debate. Institute in Cambridge. for it. When I left at 40 my Accepting his Fellowship of Professor Thornton joined metabolism was entirely in Birkbeck at the graduation Birkbeck in 1980. “I was part-time tune with the College.” ceremony in March, Liberal initially, a wonderful opportunity Professor Ife joined King’s College Democrat MP for Kingston and to spend time with my two London in 1987, when he was Surbiton Ed Davey reflected the children while continuing with my appointed to the Cervantes Chair feelings of all the newly research. Later I understood how of Spanish. He comments: “At appointed Fellows: “It is a real lucky I had been and appreciated King’s, people pulled my leg about honour; Birkbeck has helped me how much support I’d received at having a day job!” He became and thousands of others over the Birkbeck.” On being made a Fellow, Vice-Principal of King’s in 1997, years. The College enables people Professor Thornton said: “I admire followed by his appointment as to continue learning and to Birkbeck immensely, both for its Principal of the Guildhall School access some of the most work in giving people the of Music and Drama in 2004. An innovative and talented thinkers opportunity to study, but also for international authority on the in the world; few institutions its world-class research; the words history and culture of Spain and come close to Birkbeck.” ‘Birkbeck’ and ‘crystallography’ Spanish America from the fifteenth Ed Davey, who has an MSc are synonymous.” to the eighteenth centuries, and a Below: New Birkbeck Economics from Birkbeck, is a key Professor Barry Ife has also had fellows (from left to leading musicologist, Professor Ife figure in the Liberal Democrats, a long relationship with Birkbeck; right) Ed Davey MP, was awarded the CBE in 2000 for Barry Ife CBE and having been spokesman on after completing his PhD at the Janet Thornton his academic work in Hispanic Treasury Affairs and then College, he stayed on to lecture in FRS, CBE studies. Education and Skills; he is now Chief of Staff to party leader Sir Menzies Campbell. At the graduation ceremony, Ed Davey spoke of his admiration for the flexible approach to study that Birkbeck offers. He said: “Government must never again allow part-time education to be the poor relation. Higher education policies should not be based round bricks and mortar but around intellectual ideas.” Also awarded a Fellowship this year was structural biologist Professor Janet Thornton FRS, CBE. Professor Thornton has had a distinguished career in academia, and was one of the first people to classify protein structures and describe them in terms of their component parts; she was admitted to the Royal Society in 1999, holds professorial

College news 9 Back to his roots A surprise visit from the great-great-great-great grandson of College founder James Birkbeck provided a crash course in genealogy

New Yorker James Birkbeck IV had England, but my father and always known his great-great- grandfather were both janitors, so An everyman great-great grandfather had set up it seemed incredible. My family subject a college, and he had often have always rooted for the wondered what it was like. In underdog and this seems to fit March this year, when he and his with my ancestor’s aim when he James is certainly not alone in his fiancée, Chrissy, were in London, set up Birkbeck.” desire to discover more about his James thought it would be the When James came face to face origins. Birkbeck runs two short perfect time to find out. with a portrait of his relative in courses in Genealogy Research James, like his ancestor, cuts an Birkbeck’s Council room, it was an Skills (beginner and intermediate). impressive figure, though the lives eerie experience; the lace ruff of Mari Alderman, sessional lecturer of the two men are considerably the early nineteenth century may has seen a steady increase in the different – James works as a have been replaced with a twenty- subject’s popularity. “Some see tattoo artist in Virginia Beach, first-century tattoo, but the family genealogy as a way to find out whereas College founder George resemblance is undeniable. “This about themselves," says Maria. Birkbeck was a Yorkshire is the first image I have ever seen “They want to know how their physician. James comments: “As a of George. I have never liked my ancestors have influenced where child, I was always told I was nose. Now I see where it came they are today. Others are from this prestigious family in from,” he jested. interested in the social history.” She continues: “The subject really became popular at the end of the nineteenth century; Victorians hoped to find a coat of arms in their history. These days it is much more of an everyman subject.” So where would someone like James start? Maria says: “James is obviously in the privileged position of having a famous ancestor with an unusual name who will be recorded in the Oxford Dictionary of Natural Biography (www.oxforddnb.com) which lists addresses and family relations.” On Birkbeck’s genealogy courses, students learn research techniques, using civil registration and census documents, wills and parish registers. Maria says: “Each week we take a topic on a Left: Mirror image; James Birkbeck in particular source, for example the front of the portrait of internet or civil registration his ancestor, George (Birkbeck Photo Unit) documents. We also look at how to read old handwriting and we can For more information use documents from the London about Birkbeck’s genealogy courses, Metropolitan Archives. Family visit history has been described as www.bbk.ac.uk/study/ ce/genealogy or call completing a jigsaw, with no picture 0845 601 0174 and some of the pieces missing.”

10 College news Greening the College Birkbeck is going green on a variety of levels, explains Jane Stephenson

Key drivers starting from a position of a The College is being advised by low environmental impact environmental consultant and within the sector. Improved alumnus Mark Gough, who practices will reaffirm explains: “We are working towards compliance with forthcoming certification through the Acorn BS legislation and best practice. 8555 phased implementation approach, which allows us to break down the standard into College Green wins award manageable sections. The Kick-starting our green adoption of an EMS will enable credentials, Birkbeck’s College the College to move towards an Green website recently won a agreed level of environmental Green Light Environmental Award. certification in a structured and The site was set up by Tom phased way. An EMS is to do with McCartney, Health and Safety understanding and implementing Officer, to let staff and students both a social and a business air their views on sustainability model, as well as making the and to generate ideas to improve College staff, students and the environmental awareness. wider College community aware Results to date have included the of what we are trying to achieve.“ formation of several Green Teams The following key drivers have in Birkbeck, substantially more been identified by the EMS Group: openness about how issues like • Environmental impact energy consumption and waste reduction: Birkbeck is disposal are managed, and much measuring the effect of its improved dissemination of green activities on the environment advice and guidance to help and is developing practices and ‘green’ the College. When Birkbeck’s College Green procedures to reduce its global The award for environmental website was set up last year, environmental impact. practice in the public sector Professor Latchman, the Master, • Educating and influencing: was judged by a panel with wrote: “I encourage all staff and Birkbeck is using its unique representatives from the students to visit this website position of educating working Environment Agency, Barclays regularly, not only to watch our people to understand the Bank and Business Info magazine. progress in making Birkbeck a environmental impact of Tom McCartney collected the ‘greener’ institution, but also to businesses, with the aim of award at an event in Earls Court follow suggestions about making spreading understanding on 12 June. He commented: “This a personal contribution to this through the wider community. is great recognition for the site. initiative. The site gives • Changing perceptions, We hope even more people will information on how, through internally and externally: use the ideas we have there and simple measures such as increasing environmental take the initiative to recycle and recycling and energy reduction, understanding and knowledge save energy.” we can all make a difference.” Above: Health and will not only improve activities Now the College has also begun Safety Officer Tom and environmental performance formally working towards gaining McCartney receives within Birkbeck, but also spread the Green Light the ISO 14001 Environmental Environmental Award the message among its staff, Management Standard (EMS) – from Gary Meades, students and alumni. Environmental Affairs Visit the prize-winning site at: one of the major aims of Manager at British • Corporate responsibility and www.bbk.ac.uk/sustain Birkbeck’s sustainability policy. Airways risk management: Birkbeck is

College news 11 As Chief Inspector of Lothian and seven years on, I still believe that Borders Police, David Strang (48) is human relations are at the heart of CRIME one of the most senior police the police force; 80% of our budget officers in the country. The role, is spent on staffing and almost all which he took over at the end of of our calls are to do with some REPORT March 2007, not only covers the seat kind of breakdown in a human of the Scottish Parliament in relationship.” Edinburgh, but, as David points out, In 1987, David decided to extends well into the surrounding develop further his interest in countryside: “We cover a wide human relations and decision- variety of communities with very making, with an MSc different policing needs, varying Organizational Behaviour at from those in large rural areas to Birkbeck. “The course was hugely the specific needs of policing relevant to my work, exploring Scotland’s capital.” both the organisational and the Glasgow-born and raised, David personal. As I was so interested in originally intended to follow in his the topics I didn’t find it difficult father’s footsteps by studying to put in the time, and because it engineering at Durham University. was so relevant I was able to But on graduating he realised that a apply directly the knowledge that career in engineering wasn’t what I was acquiring. What was most As one of the most senior police he was looking for. “I know it useful was the contact with the sounds like a cliché, but I really other students on the course, who officers in Scotland, Birkbeck graduate wanted to work with people and came from very different Chief Constable David Strang offers a actually be able to make a backgrounds. Previously all my first-hand insight into cutting crime difference to people’s lives. Twenty- training had been with the police,

12 Alumni news but at Birkbeck I had the takes to speed up the treatment of opportunity to talk to minor offences and also how to practitioners from other branches tackle issues at their root cause. of the public sector, as well as “The police must tackle the causes hearing first-hand experiences of crime, rather than always from within the private sector.” dealing with the symptoms,” says David believes that furthering David. “To find long-term education and training is solutions, we must work with important for all police officers: partners in the voluntary sector “Whenever colleagues ask me for and youth groups, as well as local my advice about training, I always authorities. Community planning say it is better to study something is vital to tackle problems like you enjoy rather than studying youth disorder – the police can purely for your career. Birkbeck keep chasing kids on a Friday was the only time I thoroughly night, but by tackling the reasons enjoyed academic study. For me, why they are behaving in a certain taking the course was not just way, we can use police resources about getting a University of more profitably.” London qualification, but about the David is conscious that one of course content itself. When I look the key aspects for a modern at CVs these days, I am encouraged police force is the way their work by anyone who has gone back to is perceived by the public. He studying as a mature student.” says: “Although crime figures are Although Birkbeck’s central one measure of success, the London location may not seem the immeasurable targets are just as obvious choice for a policeman important, particularly how safe based in Scotland, David actually people feel. Interestingly, in now, which is about human spent the bulk of his career with the Scotland, although crime figures resources and managing a £200 Metropolitan Police, reaching the are falling, people say they feel million budget.” rank of Divisional Commander – the less safe. There are, of course, Having just started in his new equivalent of Chief Superintendent – many reasons for this, not least role, David is excited about the in Wembley. He returned north of how crime is portrayed in the challenges ahead, both on a local the border in 1998 for three years as media, but the police have a key level and more widely for Scotland Assistant Chief Constable of Lothian role in making the public feel as a whole. “One thing that has and Borders, moving on to Dumfries more secure. The police are on the really changed since my time as a and Galloway Constabulary in 2001. side of the public, and must be policeman is the growing threat of Does he notice any differences seen to be so, rather than being terrorism. This has to be a top between policing in England and regarded as an ‘army of priority for us; without national Scotland? “I think the public attitude occupation’. It is something that security, our other work is towards the police is less hostile in we take for granted in the UK, that undermined.” Scotland than in other places,” he our police are in the main And what challenges does he see comments. “We also have a closer unarmed. That we can continue to for himself on a personal level? relationship with government. have an unarmed police force is Might there be more studying in Policing is one of the devolved really based on trust.” the future? “With three teenage powers and as there are only eight In 2002, David won the Queen’s children to look after and a job Chief Constables in Scotland Police Medal. “Whilst this was an which means I am never really off compared with 43 in England, we honour, the real reward of my duty, it is enough to fit in the odd are able to have a very close career has been the variety of bit of cycling and gardening!” relationship with policy makers.” experience I have been able to Above: David Strang, at his new role in In devising police policy, David have, both on a day-to-day level Edinburgh For more information on Birkbeck’s has been asked to concentrate on and in the various roles I have had Left: Going Forth –a MSc in Organizational Psychology, visit police patrol bridge www.bbk.ac.uk/manop/orgpsychology/ criminal justice reform, which in the force, from being on the under Edinburgh’s msccourses.shtml involves looking at the time it beat, to a role like the one I have famous bridge

Alumni news 13 In a class of their own Recent graduates talk about their Birkbeck experiences

“It really was an incredible draws strengths from biology and Below (from left to Blue Badge guide for London, right): Jan Dalgleish, experience, one of the most computing, it was an ideal course Manjula Thimma and organising trips for academics rewarding things I have ever for me to study and explore new Geoff Lovett (Birkbeck and university groups, makes for a done,” says Jan Dalgleish about career opportunities.” Manjula Photo Unit). pretty full life for Geoff. “I feel I her course, MSc Career passed her course with a have more academic credibility Management and Counselling. distinction – a great achievement, and I am more confident when Jan, who is originally from New made all the more amazing when giving tours of historical sites Zealand, says that the course was you learn she has two daughters such as the British Museum. I unusual because it combined the under seven and she only moved made really good friends on my practical and the academic. “For to the UK three years ago. course too. I particularly enjoyed me, it brought together all the Geoff Lovett (32) also has two the seminars, which helped me to aspects of my career so far, as a young children, aged nine and be much more open with my ideas. teacher and then as an HR seven. As he and his wife, Denize, Birkbeck is an excellent ‘watering professional working largely were both studying at Birkbeck, he hole’, for those with a thirst for within professional service says: “We could not have managed knowledge.” organisations.” without the hard work of Deirdre Jan works for law firm Mishcon Lazarus and her staff in the de Reya. “In my job I have been Birkbeck nursery.” Geoff has just able to apply all the skills I learnt completed an MA London Studies, on the course. The partners in the while Denize is studying for a law firm have heard of the four-year degree. For more information about Master’s degrees at Birkbeck, academic rigour of Birkbeck and Managing his family’s north visit www.birkbeckmatters.com respect my qualification. In London hotel and also being a addition, the course taught me a lot about myself. I am definitely a more confident and empathetic person as a result.” Manjula Thimma (37) also believes that she has more self- confidence and increased academic knowledge as a result of her MSc Bioinformatics: “I really enjoyed the intensity and serious approach at Birkbeck. In India, courses tend to focus more on theoretical aspects, whereas the experience I had at Birkbeck was of a more practical nature.” The course lead to a career change for Manjula, who had worked as a computer engineer in India and Singapore, but who now works in a Medical Research Council laboratory, directly applying the skills she learnt at Birkbeck. “I was keen to find a course that used the skills I already had, but also gave me new challenges. As bioinformatics

14 Alumni news She served her cause Professor Hobsbawm remembers Baroness Jeger, a Birkbeck alumna, who represented the determination that all graduates need to succeed

At the March graduation ceremonies, the President of Birkbeck, Professor Eric Hobsbawm, paid tribute to the students, not only for their academic success, but for what he called the ‘sheer grit’ that lies behind each qualification. He reminded graduates that Birkbeck was founded by people who wanted to make the world ”a better and more human place”, and went on to pay a moving tribute to one such person: Birkbeck graduate of 1936, Lena Jeger, Baroness Jeger of St Pancras, who sadly died on 26 February 2007, aged 92. This is part of Professor Hobsbawm’s speech. “Baroness Jeger was the daughter of a Gloucestershire postman and lived at a time when university was a dream for all but a tiny minority. Thanks to her Birkbeck degree in English and French, she became a civil servant in the wartime Ministry of Information and the Foreign energetically and successfully for and not always follow it.’ Office. She was also a journalist the abolition of the earnings rule “She sat as a Labour member for on The Guardian from ’51 until which cut widows' pensions. She many years, until she moved to the ’54 and then from 1964 until 2003. also played an important role in Lords in 1979, handing her safe “As a politician, Baroness Jeger the battle for equal pay between seat to Frank Dobson, who said of represented St Pancras, which men and women, threatening to her: ’She pursued causes which included the area on which the lead a backbench revolt against may have become fashionable present day College stands. She the government's rigid prices and now, but were highly controversial was first a councillor (1945–59) incomes policy. when she espoused them. For and then when her MP husband, “Talking about the role of MP, example, she sponsored David Santo Jeger, died in 1953, she won Baroness Jeger said: ’An MP Steel's Abortion Law Reform Act the resulting by-election. Speaking cannot win by being all things to 1967, though her constituency had about this victory she said: all men and women. Constituents one of the highest Roman Catholic ’Somehow I had to live between want more shops open on Sunday, votes in London.’ “ the funeral and polling day.’ or all shops closed on Sunday; Summarising Baroness Jeger’s “She identified herself with a they want more abortion or no life, Professor Hobsbawm told this range of local interests, from abortion; hanging or no hanging. year’s graduates: “She didn’t make tenants’ rights to the anxieties This is where you cannot be millions or have a glittering of the borough’s Greek Cypriot arithmetically answerable to your ministerial career. But she served community about the denial by constituency. I believe, without Above (pictured far her cause and the people of Harold Macmillan's government any mandarin pretensions, that right): Baroness (then London as well as she could. It Lady) Jeger talking to of Cyprus’s right to self- the House of Commons often has VAT protesters in was a good life, lived by a good determination. She campaigned to give a lead to public opinion 1972. (Getty Images) person.”

Alumni news 15 Solid foundations Maxine Herbert missed out on education the first time round, but grabbed her second chance

“I enjoyed school until I was about “My job is quite diverse; I give 16, but I really didn’t like A-levels, training presentations, and write so I left school and started training workbooks. I am also working. I got on well, but later building a training database I began to realise that I was using Access, which is why I being held back by my lack of enrolled on the IT course at qualifications,” says Maxine, Birkbeck. Because of the practical now 37. applications of my course, the Maxine has had a long company agreed to pay for it. relationship with Birkbeck; she “Thanks to Birkbeck I am more first came here to study for a committed in everything I do. I foundation degree and she is now started the IT course thinking enrolled on a Diploma in IT about a training database, but now Applications. Doing so well at the I see the possibilities for all kinds College, Maxine has even been of applications. My tutors on the asked to teach some of the course course are really helpful and have modules. “I had learnt about loads of practical experience. We spreadsheets as part of my are constantly looking at real-work Foundation Degree, and I wanted to scenarios; for example, Ryman is develop that further and also learn study, but I feel comfortable with about to convert to Open Office more about Access in order to help that,” Maxine explains. and my tutors are offering advice me in my job. From the foundation Partly as a result of her Birkbeck about how best to do this, so the degree I learnt how to study; the IT courses, Maxine is now a training Above: Maxine Herbert course is directly integrated into course is more about independent manager for Ryman the stationer: (Birkbeck Photo Unit) my working life.”

Money matters Birkbeck has more money than ever to help students finance their course

A new student financial and publicise a new funding who might be caught in support package for part-time undergraduate financial support the ‘poverty trap’ (just outside undergraduate students was package for students. This government bandings) or who created by Birkbeck in 2006 package used a combination of the were otherwise ineligible for because part-time undergraduate new DfES money and donor money genuine reasons. students were not eligible for the (Birkbeck has a growing tradition The new financial support same financial support as full- of raising money from private package was launched in June time students when the £3000 donors to support students). Any 2006 and was very successful: differential fee was introduced. student who was eligible for 2372 students successfully A generous new financial partial government fee or course applied for funding from the support package for part-time grants would have it topped up to Birkbeck Student Finance Team in students was announced by the the full amount by the College. 2006 compared to 1732 in 2005; DfES in October 2005, but details Any student not eligible for £900,722 was awarded to students of the scheme were published late government fee or course grants in 2006 compared to £537,004 in in the 2006 recruitment cycle so could apply to the Student 2005; undergraduate recruitment Birkbeck needed to move quickly. Opportunity Fund. This fund, in October 2006 was buoyant; and The challenge in the summer of created from donor money, all the Student Opportunity 2006 was to devise, implement enabled students to apply for Bursaries were taken up.

16 Alumni news Thank you for supporting the Alumni Fund

The Birkbeck Alumni Fund was set up to provide additional help to those students who are unable to cover the full cost of their course and to ensure Birkbeck continues to provide a Birkbeck, University of London is vibrant learning environment for its students. an exempt charity under schedule To date 1,900 alumni have donated to the Fund and helped raise over £200,000. Their 2 of the Charities Act 1993. generosity has been essential in helping students with expenses such as childcare, travel costs, books etc, and made it possible for many to continue with their studies and achieve their goals. To become a donor please complete the form below. Thank you!

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Please return the completed form to: Development and Alumni Office, External Relations, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, London WC1E 7HX Developments in Bloomsbury Terry Bishop, facilitator of The Bloomsbury Colleges, reports on successes to date

The Government is actively impressive list of joint research encouraging collaboration between projects resulted in ten public sector bodies, including studentships for 2007, each with a higher education. This is lead supervisor in one college and particularly relevant in the a supporting supervisor in a provision of shared services and, second. Further studentships while cost reduction is desirable, will be offered for 2008 and are it is also important to aim for the additional to the awards offered improvement of the services by each college. Another very offered. Within the University of successful teaching and learning London, Birkbeck is striving to initiative has been the Bloomsbury achieve this through partnership Learning Environment (BLE) with our neighbouring colleges in involving academics and Bloomsbury. administrators across the six. This “Members of The Bloomsbury has led to a shared contract with a Consortium (TBC) are collaborating commercial platform and the together on a variety of establishment of a shared post. administrative and academic The major academic success matters and although these so far has been the creation of the arrangements are slightly more International Development Centre formalized than those at Liverpool, (IDC), drawing on the unique range both provide good examples of how income of around £270 million and and depth of expertise across the institutions can co-operate on are comparable in size to a large six partners. This, together with matters of mutual interest whilst research-led, multi-faculty the strength of partnerships with retaining their integrity and university. researchers, policymakers and independence.” This is from a paper Improving student services has practitioners in Africa, Asia and on Shared Services in the Higher been a priority and Birkbeck, other low- and middle-income Education Sector circulated by the which does not have a hall of regions, will see the creation of the Higher Education Funding Council residence of its own, is acquiring largest and most multi- for England (HEFCE) in August 2006 residential places for students in disciplinary academic grouping in and praising the efforts of TBC and September 2007. It is also seeking the UK. This has been made our friends in the North West. Since to expand that provision in future possible by a major grant of £3.7m then we have changed our name to years through partnership with from HEFCE, which will cover set- The Bloomsbury Colleges (still TBC) other TBC members and a quality up costs, including the Gordon and taken some significant steps developer. At the same time, the Square properties, which will forward. consortium has also been looking house the Centre. Its initial work The Bloomsbury Colleges at ways to improve the range of will support the attainment of the consortium was set up in 2004 and student welfare services, which UN’s Millennium Development consists of six colleges: Birkbeck, will help with international Goals; it will facilitate high the Institute of Education, the recruitment and student retention. quality, relevant, interdisciplinary London School of Hygiene and Bilateral and multilateral links research and will also develop new Tropical Medicine, the Royal between the members were teaching programmes, particularly Veterinary College, the School of flourishing before TBC was set up postgraduate and continuing Oriental and African Studies and and the group’s been building on education. the School of Pharmacy. The aim is this collaboration. An important The Centre will develop to identify areas where the six initiative has been the technologies to support teaching institutions can do things better establishment of TBC Research Above: Professor Jeff and research and will facilitate Waage, Director of collaboratively than independently. Studentships, tenable at two or the International Together the six have a total more of the partners. An Development Centre continued on page 28

Features 19 Former Birkbeck archaeology student Nicola Dunn talks about her nine-month stay in Antarctica

EXTREME CONSERVATION The temperature was “around minus 40c and my hair, face and eye lashes were beginning to freeze„

Antarctica is a place of extremes: it is the scientist? “In the first week we were world’s coldest, driest, windiest and most trained to survive the climate, camping out southerly continent. These challenges on the ice, getting used to the layers of have made it an obvious target for specialist clothing, scaling crevasses and exploration: though few of us will have discovering the enormous amounts of snow the chance to see it for ourselves. One of it takes to make a cup of tea,” says Nicola. the lucky few is former Birkbeck student When she arrived, there was continuous and museum conservator Nicola Dunn, daylight, but this quickly changed into who last summer began a nine-month 24 hours a day of darkness. How did stay in Antarctica, as part of a New she cope? “The constant darkness and Zealand-led conservation project. blizzard were broken by bright moonlight “My first sight of Antarctica was as I and the most spectacular auroras, so we climbed out of the US military plane that could go outside and walk and ski. There had landed on a runway built on the sea was also a large American base about a ice,” says Nicola. “A vast, white plain mile away, which we visited, and we stretched out to huge mountain ranges organised regular social events, including and Mount Erebus, an active volcano Scrabble tournaments and fancy dress smoking on the horizon. There are no trees parties! We even had a radio link-up with or plants to give scale to the landscape, so the researchers at the South Pole and judging distance was difficult, and the played them at virtual darts!” clear air creates optical illusions which Though the night-time entertainment extrude the height of the glaciers and may have changed since Shackleton’s turn mountains upside down.” time, Nicola says: “The modern base was Nicola was working as part of a long- bright and warm, but little has really term project run by Antarctic Heritage changed since the expeditions: we were Trust, a charity which aims to preserve living in an untouched landscape and three wooden huts and their contents, sharing many of the experiences that the used between 1901 and 1917 by explorers recorded in their journals.” expeditions led by Robert Falcon Scott In the huts there are over 15,000 and Ernest Shackleton. Talking about the artefacts, including furniture, caribou- importance of the project, Nicola says: “It skin sleeping bags, cooking utensils and is vital that these huts are maintained. photographic equipment. There is also a They are the first habitation on the large quantity of provisions, particularly continent and represent an important tins of food, and it was these that Nicola period of British history. Whilst we think was working on: “We were conserving the of Scott and Shackleton as heroic hundreds of tin-plated iron cans that explorers, their teams also included were left behind, all of which were excellent scientists who gave us an rusting and a number of which had burst. Above: “Most of our winter was spent conserving hundreds of tin cans, containing an impressive understanding of the Antarctic geology, We used a range of conservation range of foods, from Irish brawn, tripe and environment and weather patterns which techniques to halt the corrosion and kippered herrings to dried spinach and gooseberries. The cans are fairly similar to those are still relevant today.” prevent the cans from deteriorating. The of today, only larger, and were painted (this one So how was it for the modern-day cans that were leaking were emptied and with red lead) to protect them from rusting.”

Features 21 once we got over the revulsion of the to that. The tutors were very decaying food, we became fascinated by knowledgeable and enthusiastic. Not only the contents, ingredients for a 1907 did I learn about the beginnings of Antarctic meal, which could be anything British history and how objects are from tripe and onions to curried rabbit.” excavated and processed, but it got me Dealing with 100-year-old rotting food back into studying. Most importantly, it may not be everyone’s idea of a dream really helped me to understand the job, but Nicola is enthusiastic about the relevance of museum artefacts, how to variety of her chosen career: “Working in examine them and what they can show us conservation has given me some amazing about the cultures and people of the past, experiences. I've worked in Northern and alternatively what historic evidence Ireland and at Buckingham Palace, I've can be lost if artefacts deteriorate and visited America and lived in one of the are not conserved or treated properly.” original buildings at Colonial Since October 2000, Nicola has worked as Williamsburg, and worked in Tokyo and a conservator for the Museum of London: Taiwan. I never thought that I would get “When I was studying at Birkbeck, some to live in Antarctica, especially over courses were held at the Museum of winter, seeing the seasons change. So few London, and I remember thinking it would people ever experience that.” be fantastic to hold the prehistoric objects Nicola began her career as a silversmith in the cases. Ten years on, it is now my job and jeweller, but in 1992 she enrolled on to handle those same objects.” Above: Mount Erebus, the active volcano that an extra-mural Birkbeck course in dominates Ross Island where New Zealand’s Prehistoric, Roman and Post-Medieval For more information about Birkbeck’s scientific research Scott Base is located. It is so archaeology courses, visit high that it creates its own weather such as Field Archaeology. She says: “I chose the www.bbk.ac.uk/study/all_courses/ ‘lenticular clouds’, which often form around it. course because I knew I wanted to go archaeology.html With nothing to give scale to the landscape, To find out more about the conservation Erebus looked to be in walking distance but back to college to study conservation project, visit www.heritage-antarctica.org was actually over 30km away. (Nicola Dunn) full-time and archaeology was relevant

22 Features COLD COMFORT

Terra Nova hut, Cape Evans (right, top and middle) Terra Nova is the hut from which Scott, with Wilson, Evans, Oates and Bowers set out to the South Pole in 1911 but tragically died on their return journey. Buried in the snow around the hut are hundreds of objects from the expeditions including sleds, food supplies such as cans and bottles, nails, wire, the skeleton of a dog and two huge ships anchors left behind when the ships from a later expedition were blown out to sea during a storm. Inside, the hut seems quite spacious, but it actually housed 25 men. Thousands of artefacts remain in the hut, including personal belongings, household items, provisions, tools and equipment all left behind by the explorers and its these that bring the hut to life and illustrates how the explorers lived, worked and survived in the hostile, isolated environment. There were ice crystals on the inside of the roof as it was minus 35c.

Survival training (bottom left) Antarctica, particularly in the winter, is a deadly environment to work in. The ice that we frequently traveled over either in vehicles, on skis or walking is constantly moving, and crevasses open up that are often hidden by a layer of snow. During our survival training we practiced scaling in and out of crevasses. We descended into the spectacular and eerie ‘Imax’ crevasse with its shear walls of iron- hard blue ice. It was intensely cold, quiet and still, apart from the occasional cracking noise which reminded us that we were actually standing in a very slowly moving ice flow.

Nicola in Antarctica (far right) In front of a spectacular red sky during the twilight of a polar winter. The image was taken very rapidly because the temperature was around minus 40c and my hair, face and eye lashes were beginning to freeze – as did the camera. I had taken my scarf off for this image and lasted for only about half a minute while the photograph was taken before pulling it back up.

All images courtesy NIcola Dunn, except ‘Nicola in Antarctica’, courtesy Paul Stewart

Features 23 John Crace of The Guardian interviewed Professor Eric Hobsbawm to mark his 90th birthday and his five years as Birkbeck’s President

LIVING HISTORY It’s a fair bet that most people who and these days you’re much more likely to reach the age of 90 will have had their find Hobsbawm at his Hampstead home moments. But Eric Hobsbawm – despite his than on the political frontline; but his insistence that he’s had no more excitement academic output remains formidable. in his life “than a Victorian vicar” – has had Only this summer he published his more than his fair share. As one of the most latest collection of essays, Globalism, respected historians of the second-half of Democracy and Terrorism, and he has the twentieth century, he hasn’t just no plans to stop there. chronicled events, he’s lived them too. He “One of the benefits of being a historian was on his way home from school in Berlin is there’s no limitation on age,” he smiles. when Hitler came to power, he translated “In fact being old is almost an advantage for Che Guevara in Havana, he saw Stalin’s as you have a lifetime of study and corpse and ... and these are only a few of experience behind you. Inevitably there the more notable highlights. are some things I can’t do; for instance, I Above, right: Professor Hobsbawm, at his home His globe-trotting has understandably don’t have the energy to embark on a new in Hampstead, London. (Eamonn McCabe) slowed down over the past decade or so area of study. But I can – and will – revisit

24 Features my old material to bring it up to date.” Crises, such as global best way of understanding history.” There’s a sense in which the outside warming, can only be tackled And there’s been plenty that he has world often expects the great and the “ revised – not least his attitude to the at a global level and global good to re-evaluate their work on Soviet regime for which he has long been landmark birthdays – as if the mere decision making always more of a critic than apologist – and achievement of longevity confers a seems to come second to there’s still more that he plans to put wisdom and insight denied to others. Yet state interests „ right. Even his great tetralogy, The Age of Hobsbawm maintains that his desire to Revolution, The Age of Capital, The Age re-evaluate his work has nothing to do of Empire and The Age of Extremes, for with being 90. “It stems from wanting to which Hobsbawm will always be best reflect what has happened in the world,” known, does not escape self-criticism. “I he says. “There have been some enormous think I underplayed the importance of the changes – especially in the past 30 years USA in the nineteenth and twentieth – and they need to be taken into account.” centuries,” he says. “I rather took it for For many historians, the notion that granted and should have made it more events didn’t pan out in quite the way explicit. So, if I have the time, I’ll they hoped or expected comes as a near- definitely go back to this.” fatal, narcissistic wound. But Hobsbawm Despite this willingness to admit to has always been something of a one-off. his own mistakes, Hobsbawm argues While most other left-wing historians passionately that these misjudgments had abandoned their Marxist credentials have not affected his writing. “Yes, I got after the Soviet suppression of the 1956 some things wrong in my personal Budapest uprising, Hobsbawm retained political life,” he says, “but I defy anyone his Communist Party membership and – to read my work and show that these even now that he has disavowed much of errors affected my work. I would have what was done in the name of written the same book regardless of my revolution – he is still identified own opinions and beliefs.” Even so, the primarily as a Marxist historian. personal and the political have always There’s a curious dialectic at work here. been closely interlinked in Hobsbawm’s For though Hobsbawm resented being own life. trapped by other academics as the Although born in Alexandria in 1917, he spokesman for the Marxist ghetto, the grew up principally in Vienna and Berlin, fact that he was gave him a status and where he was looked after by relatives recognition – not to mention book sales – after both his parents died by the time he it might have been otherwise hard to was 14. “It would have been hard not to achieve. It’s taken a while for Hobsbawm have been radicalised at the time,” he to reconcile himself to this contradiction, points out. “It was obvious to everyone but he’s now relatively sanguine about it. that the centre ground under the Weimar “One of the goals of history is to Republic was collapsing and that things explain how humanity got from the were going to change. caveman to where we are now,” he says, “Joining the nationalists on the right was “and Marx was one of the first people to never an option. As a British person I was understand this and to try an build a always going to be excluded and as a Jew theory around it. He was also interested I wasn’t going to join an anti-Semitic in the history and thought of the organisation. So, I suppose it was unknown and the dispossessed in society inevitable I was attracted to the left and – those who had been ignored by became a member of the Communist Party. previous generations of historians. “In hindsight, it must have been “So it’s fair to say my methods were dangerous to have opposed the Nazi party inspired by Marx, and to that end I am so directly in its first months of power, still a Marxist historian. I see no need to but at the time it just felt tremendously Left: Professor disclaim this. A Marxist approach, with Hobsbawm wears exciting. Change was coming and, with the some modifications – Marx didn’t pay full academic gowns optimism of youth, I believed it would be in his role as enough attention to the importance of Birkbeck President a revolution from the left.” culture in shaping society – remains the (Birkbeck Photo Unit) Hobsbawm moved to England before

Features 25 due to a covert censorship. In many ways, then, it would have been far easier – and far more beneficial to his career – if Hobsbawm had followed the example of so many others and left the Communist Party in 1956.So why didn’t he? Hobsbawm says he was under no illusions about the Soviet regime but felt tied by an unbreakable umbilical cord to the hope of world revolution. Here the personal and the political almost certainly overlap. After all, how much harder must it have been for a Jewish person who had been present at the birth of Nazism to renounce his beliefs than for those whose politics were largely based on theory? Hobsbawm’s gradual transformation from academic outsider to establishment grandee – among the many awards he has collected is a Companion of Honour in 1998 – began in the 1960s as his scholarship achieved recognition above his politics. But there’s also no denying that – while remaining firmly encamped It was clear that the old the war and went to King’s College, on the left – his politics did become Labour party had become Cambridge where he also became a noticeably less hardline, a process he “ describes as being more of a realisation unelectable and that change member of the famous Cambridge Apostles – a secret debating society of that things weren’t going to happen in was inevitable. Not that I’m intellectuals, that had included Guy the way he hoped, than a drift towards necessarily pleased with the Burgess and Anthony Blunt who were later the centre with age. way it turned out, mind„ exposed as KGB spies. Not that the Soviets “There comes a time when you have to ever made any overtures to Hobsbawm – “I accept the reality,” he says. “It was guess I was too well-known as a obvious by the 1960s that there wasn’t Communist to suit their purposes,” he going to be a Marxist revolution from laughs. below in the West, so I never fell for the His war years were almost wholly apocalyptic rhetoric coming out of Paris uneventful. “Having lived in Germany and in 1968 nor gave any political credence to also being a Communist Party member terror groups, such as the Baader- must have made me a double threat to Meinhof gang. I may still have felt some British national security,” he shrugs, “as I kind of emotional attachment to the idea wasn’t allowed to go near any interesting of the anti-establishment rebel, but I action. So I was kept out of the way never thought they were going to educating soldiers.” change anything.” Life picked up – albeit slowly – once the As the 1970s morphed into the 1980s, war was over. He became a lecturer in all sorts of other unthinkables became history at Birkbeck in 1947, but his out- thinkable. “For the first time ever, I came spoken left-wing politics made many other to believe it would be better if a Marxist institutions rather nervous of him at a time revolution didn’t succeed,” he explains, “I when the Cold War was at its iciest. While had spent some time in South America Hobsbawm built an academic reputation and I thought it would be better for Peru by journal articles and conferences, his if Shining Path didn’t gain power.” failure to get any books published before Likewise, Hobsbawm found himself Primitive Rebels, his ground-breaking work marked out as one of the architects of on millenarianism in 1959, was entirely New Labour as he helped Neil Kinnock

26 Features Left: Left-wing MP Tony Benn with then party kick-start the transformation of the wants to save the world. But I can’t for leader Michael Foot at the Labour Party conference in 1980. (Getty Images) Labour party. “It was clear that the old the life of me see why the US went to war. Labour party had become unelectable and It had everything it wanted and needed that change was inevitable,” he says. “Not in terms of political and economic that I’m necessarily pleased with the way hegemony without doing so, and it has it turned out, mind. If John Smith had now put that at risk. The only explanation lived then things might have been must be that the divisions within US different ... Tony Blair has been a massive society must be deeper now than at any disappointment. I’m more hopeful about point since the Civil War.” Gordon Brown, though. At least I How will it all end up, then? “It’s not a understand where he’s coming from.” historian’s job to make predictions,” he It’s this desire to understand – says. But if he had to make a guess? “It’s combined with a willingness to possible things may stabilise in the short acknowledge change – that has always to mid term over the next 20–30 years, been one of Hobsbawm’s defining but the long-term outlook is bleak. Crises, hallmarks. There’s no virtue in such as global warming, can only be consistency if you’re consistently wrong, tackled at a global level and global and the only real requirement of an decision making always seems to come academic is the ability to be receptive to second to state interests.” new ideas and events and to try and It’s a bleak outlook, but Hobsbawm has make sense of them. And that’s one of the no real regrets. “I would have hoped we reasons why Hobsbawm has been so would have been better at saving the intractably opposed to the Iraq war. world,” he says, “but regrets are a waste “I just don’t understand it,” he shakes of time. I’ve lived longer and been more his head. “I mean, I can just about see successful than I ever expected, so I what Blair was up to, even if I don’t suppose I should be happy with that. approve. He’s got a Messiah complex and Besides, there’s always the possibility of

ON BIRKBECK Professor Hobsbawm with Birkbeck colleagues, family and friends, at a reception to celebrate his 90th birthday. The appreciation speech was given by Professor David Blackbourn, Coolidge Professor of History at Harvard, and previously Professor of History at Birkbeck. In reply, the Head of the School of History, Dr Julian Swann, said: “We can’t overestimate the students’ pleasure at being taught by Eric and thanks to him, 1917 was a very good year for historians.” Appropriately Dr Swann then presented Professor Hobsbawm with a 1917 bottle of port.

From left, front row: Professor Lucy Riall, School of History, Classics and Archaeology; Professor David Latchman, the Master of Birkbeck; the Austrian Ambassador HE Dr Gabriele Matzner-Holzer; Dr Julian Swann Front right: Professor Hobsbawm (Geoff Wilson)

Features 27 Obituaries Professor Roland Levinsky, and Minnie Heath

Developments in Bloomsbury

continued from page 19

knowledge transfer, capability building and dissemination, building on the members’ existing partnerships with other universities and practitioners and with international agencies such as UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank. A search for the new Director of the Centre produced an impressive international field and TBC is delighted to announce the appointment of Professor Jeff Waage as the first Director, who is an ecologist with a career in international development. He was Professor Levinsky to understand the political formerly Head of the Department background to his Polish-born of Agricultural Sciences at World-renowned immunologist and father’s life. Professor Levinsky Imperial College, formerly Wye former Birkbeck student Professor and his wife took up ceramics College, in Kent. The success of the Roland Levinsky, 63, was killed in when he was a junior doctor establishment of the new Centre January 2007 in a freak accident, and they continued to sell their will be celebrated at an official when power cables came down porcelain ware at local galleries. opening on 8 November 2007. during a storm in Devon, while He also sailed a 43-foot yacht, The IDC is the highest profile he was walking his dog. and was sufficiently proficient TBC activity so far but efforts Professor Levinsky was born to undertake a transatlantic continue to explore other exciting in 1943 in South Africa. He crossing. opportunities through performed the UK’s first Professor Levinsky is survived collaboration to improve services successful bone-marrow by his wife and three children. and to release resources to transplants in children; he also support teaching and research in performed the first successful the partner colleges. As HEFCE gene therapy on children with Minnie Heath also said in the paper mentioned serious inherited diseases who earlier: “The kind of voluntary would otherwise have died. He Former staff member in the collaboration framework that is was Dean of the Institute of Child Schools of Physics and operating in Liverpool and Health in London and was Vice- Crystallography, Mrs Minnie Bloomsbury may provide a useful Chancellor of Plymouth University (Netta) Heath, died on 17 January model for other institutions from 2002. this year. Born in Portsmouth in wishing to share services.” His MA Modern History at 1920, Mrs Heath worked for the Birkbeck is an enthusiastic Birkbeck in 2000 was not a subject College for many years, before partner in this venture and the related to his work; he studied retiring in 1985. She leaves results will continue to benefit Above, left: Professor the subject to rediscover the behind two children, Jackie Roland Levinsky its staff and students and the experience of being a student and and Christopher. (Image courtesy UCL) wider world.

28 Obituaries Books and events Current publications, and dates for your diary

Book review terrorism. As we are only too Other recent books and historical discussion aware, all of these have the Speakers Professor Ken Gelder Globalisation, Democracy power to affect our daily lives, Regressive Fictions (University of Melbourne) Dr and Terrorism from the state of our economies Graffigny, Rousseau, Bernardin Ian Conrich (Centre for New Eric Hobsbawm to the fear of murderous bomb Robin Howells Zealand Studies) (Little, Brown 2007) attacks in our cities. Maney Publishing (2007) Free, all welcome; Room B01 Hobsbawm discusses war Clore Management Centre, and peace in our lifetime, The Orange Order: A Torrington Square, London WC1 problems of public order, Contemporary Northern Organised by Birkbeck’s Centre anarchy and terrorism, Ireland History for New Zealand Studies nationalism and the changing Eric Kaufmann Contact [email protected] nature of the nation-state, and Oxford University Press (2007) the future prospects for democracy, setting out the Unionism and Orangeism in historical background and the Northern Ireland Open Evenings lessons it can offer us. Above Eric Kaufmann and all, he turns his piercing gaze Henry Patterson Thursday 6 September, to the Middle East and Manchester University Press 4pm–7.30pm Western imperialism. (2007) Birkbeck Open Evening Engaging, erudite and Royal National Hotel demonstrating his Making Trouble: Life and Politics To book online, visit characteristically firm grasp Professor Lynne Segal www.bbk.ac.uk/openeve of the facts and statistics, Serpent's Tail (2007) This is an engaging and Hobsbawm’s essays are Thursday 20 September, provocative survey of our indispensable to our Neuroconstuctivism, Volume 1: 4pm–7.30pm current globalised world, understanding of the world How the Brain Constructs Birkbeck Stratford looking at the historical we live in. Cognition Open Evening background and its lessons Eric Hobsbawm was born D Mareschal, M H Johnson, Stratford Old Town Hall for the future, from one in Alexandria in 1917 and S Sirois, M Spratling, To book online, visit of Britain’s foremost educated in Vienna, Berlin, M Thomas & G Westermann www.birkbeckstratford.ac.uk political historians. London and Cambridge. A Oxford University Press (2007) In this collection of distinguished historian, he illuminating, incisive and is a Fellow of the British Neuroconstructivism, Volume Erratum thought-provoking essays, Eric Academy and of the American 2: Perspectives and Prospects Hobsbawm examines every Academy of Arts and D Mareschal, S Sirois, We apologise for incorrect aspect of the issues that have Sciences, with honorary G Westermann, & M H Johnson details being printed in the inspired the greatest debate – degrees from universities in Oxford University Press (2007) 2006–2007 Presentation not only among politicians, several countries. Professor Ceremony brochures. Below academics and commentators Hobsbawm has been are the corrections: but among all of us – in recent President of Birkbeck Public lecture Cornelia Colonius years: that is, the effects of since 2002. MRes Global Politics globalisation, the plight of Wednesday 25 July, 6pm Sandra Hauber democracy and the threat of Antipodean Gothic Cultural MSc in Health and Disease

General correspondence External Relations, Birkbeck, University of London, Malet Street, Bloomsbury, London WC1E 7HX Editorial Catherine Stevens T: 020 7631 6569 F: 020 7631 6351 E: [email protected] Design James Brown E: [email protected] Photography Eamonn McCabe, JD Moore, Christina Panagi, Geoff Wilson 80 Birkbeck Society Evana Topolovec T: 020 7079 0718 E: [email protected]

Summer 2007 29 “A centre of evening education at the highest level is as essential to a world city as a good transport system, especially to a city that attracts ambitious people.

There is still no other place like Birkbeck in the metropolis.”

Professor Eric Hobsbawm Birkbeck President