The Third Issue of Our Annual Alumni Magazine Looks At
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3 GTC.THE ALUMNI MAGAZINE FOR GREEN TEMPLETON COLLEGE | EDITION 3 | 2011 THE THIRD ISSUE OF OUR ANNUAL ALUMNI MAGAZINE LOOKS AT THE ROLE WESTERN JOURNALISM HAS PLAYED IN COVERING THE EVENTS OF THE ARAB SPRING, FOLLOWS THE HIGHS AND LOWS OF AN OLYMPIC 2012 CYCLING BID, ASKS ‘WHAT NEXT?’ FOR HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE UK AND EXPLORES HOW FACEBOOK IS DECODING OUR BEHAVIOUR GREEN TEMPLETON COLLEGE | GTC MAGAZINE 2011 30 Back into the Wild 15 Eye on the Heavens The GTC Magazine is published annually by the Development and Communications Office at Green Templeton College, Oxford. Editor: Sue Wilson, Communications Manager Tel +44 (0)1865 274787, email: [email protected] Editorial advisors: Dr David Levy, Sue Berrington. With thanks to Heather Ebner Designed by: stevem CONTENTS Front cover: Andrew Lee Butters pictured with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon No part of this publication may be reproduced, used in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission in writing of the publisher, nor may it be issued to the public or circulated in any form of binding or cover than that in which it is published. © Green Templeton College 2011 2 | 3 27 Breaking New Ground 12 Medic on Track 17 Ancient wall and water gate restored How will we work in 5 tomorrow’s world? 4 PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME 5/6 HOW WILL WE WORK IN tomorrow’S WORLD? 7/9 ONE OF THE CROWD 10/11 MEDIA REVolution OF THE arab SPRING 12/14 MEDIC ON TRACK 15/16 EYE ON THE HEAVENS 17/19 GTC NEWS 20/21 THE YEAR IN PICTURES 22/23 NEWS FROM THE UNIVERSITY 24/26 FUNDING HE UK 27/29 BREAKING NEW GROUND 30/31 BACK TO THE WILD 33 SUPPORT FOR RISING RESEARCH STARS 32/37 SUPPORTING GTC 38 ALUMNI FOCUS 39 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY GREEN TEMPLETON COLLEGE | GTC MAGAZINE 20102011 GREEN Templeton COLLEGE: IN conVersation These events all underline the the world how conversations begun College’s very considerable in Oxford have come to structure ‘convening power’. An example, their personal and professional lives. which I am personally looking Meanwhile, closer to home and even forward to greatly, is our third PRINCIPAL’S WELCOME PRINCIPAL’S more personally, I particularly enjoy Emerging Markets Symposium, to my conversations with Michael Pirie, be held between 13 and 15 January the College gardener (who never 2012, when policy-makers, scholars complains about having to lay aside and practitioners from all around his hoe), colleagues in the Porters’ the world will address the theme of Lodge (whose fingers are always tertiary education. All of the societies firmly on the pulse of College life), they represent are struggling with the families of students who are the challenge of how best to design, neighbours in Observatory Street, deliver and nurture those systems Photo: Rob Judges Photo: and the Chair of the Common Room of post-compulsory education Liaison Committee (Emeritus Fellow that enable their members to live he best description I know of Professor Ken Reid) on the tennis productive, purposeful, responsible what we are trying to do in higher court (he always wins). and fulfilling lives. In this sense, the education is of ‘a conversation emerging economies are throwing GTC Associate Fellow Theodore between more and less into sharp relief, and with a sense Zeldin concludes his Conversation T experienced learners’. This is the of urgency, questions about equity (based on a series of talks given on definition we used in the report and efficiency with which more BBC Radio Four and published by the of the Dearing Committee (Higher established nations (like the UK, as Harvill Press in 1998) as follows: Education in the Learning Society, I argue elsewhere in this Magazine) 1997). It is why research and “What is missing from the world is have yet fully to engage. teaching are inextricably linked. a sense of direction, because we It is how higher education is Such exchanges are also are overwhelmed by the conflicts always an unfinished business: we underpinned by the College’s which surround us, as though we are seek the truth, but in asymptotic profound sense of place, which will marching through a jungle which fashion we never quite reach it. only be reinforced as major Schools never ends. I should like some of and Departments of the University us to start conversations to dispel Green Templeton College is awash in join us on the Radcliffe Observatory that darkness, using them to create conversation: informally over lunch; Quarter, and (I hope) join in our equality, to give ourselves courage, rather more formally (especially conversations in the café we are to open ourselves to strangers, when we have our usual ration of planning as part of the proposed and most practically to remake our interesting guests) at dinner; over new western quadrangle for the working world, so that we are no coffee in the Stables Bar and Gallery College. I see a lot of Aristotelian longer isolated by our jargon or our or Common Room; and in many peripatetic teaching and advising professional boredom…That is what more structured sessions too. going on as fellows and students I call the New Conversation.” wander around the site. Meanwhile, The latter include: our annual And what better locus is there for it is no accident that when I call programme of lectures and seminars this noble enterprise than Green meetings involving other members (in early 2012 the GTC Lectures will Templeton College? of the University they frequently address ‘States in Crisis’); the thematic ask to hold them in the College. series we host and help to plan (for Here they can enjoy our garden, the example with the Reuters Institute or communal spaces in the Observatory the Future of Work Programme); and Professor Sir David Watson and our excellent catering facilities. student-led events like the Tuesday Principal, Green Templeton College evening Welfare and Wine discussions It is also why other conversations (the only thing wrong with which is matter deeply. I have found the title – I am impressing upon the Collections to be an especially “The ideal college is Mark GCR that much of global conversation effective way of getting to know our Hopkins (President of Williams around welfare deliberately eschews remarkable student body, and the College 1836-72) on one end alcohol), and the annual student-led importance of their work. It has also of a log and a student on Human Welfare Conference (another been an immense pleasure to hear the other.” James Garfield considerable success in 2011). from alumni and alumnae all around 4 | 5 HOW WILL WE WORK IN TOMORROW’S WORLD? Few subjects are more vital to current policy and economic debates FEATURE than the prospects for work and employment. Green Templeton’s Future of Work Programme aims to enhance our understanding of the critical developments most likely to impact on our working lives in a world of rapid economic, social and technological change. “ suppose the danger with calling the Launched in February 2010, the our programme could not come at initiative the Future of Work is that interdisciplinary Future of Work (FoW) a more critical time.” it’s misleading because it implies Programme brings together a diverse Four GTC fellows are leading the that we are somehow speculating group of academics and researchers, Programme: joining Ian Kessler and I about what work will look like in both within GTC and across Oxford, to Marc Thompson are Martin Seeleib- some far off ‘space age’,” says Ian explore why and how work is changing Kaiser, Professor of Comparative Social Kessler, GTC Fellow and Reader and impacting societies, and how and Policy and Politics in the Department in Employee Relations at the Saïd whether the development of work of Social Policy and Intervention and Business School. and employment might contribute Robert Walker, Professor of Social to social, economic, physical and “In fact, we are very firmly rooted in the Policy, Department of Social Policy psychological well-being. present: we are seeking to understand and Social Work. They are supported more deeply what is happening now, The programme’s interpretation by research assistants Jonas Heirman so that we can better appreciate future of ‘work’ is broader than just (DPhil Development Studies) and Joe changes in the nature of work and employment: it also includes Feyertag (DPhil Social Policy), both employment and their consequences.” the concept of volunteering, so GTC students. important in the independent sector, The Programme has held regular and activities in the domestic domain, lunchtime seminars and a larger termly often traditionally undertaken by seminar with speakers such as John women. The FoW research agenda Martin, OECD Director for Employment, INNOVATE SOCIAL focuses on six themes: identity Labour and Social Affairs, and in March and work; work boundaries; ethics ETHICS 2011 Junior Research fellow Tuukka IDENTITY of work; mind body and work; PROFESSION Toivonen led a workshop focusing on researching work and innovation youth, early careers and motivation. A and change in work. reading group has also been set up, led FUTURE “The route to full participation in by GTC Junior Research Fellow Karenjit society and a healthy economic order Clare, and the Ngo Future of Work goes through the workplace,” argues Prize, generously sponsored by GTC Marc Thompson, Fellow in Strategy Singapore alumnus Professor Steve RESEARCH and Organisation at Saïd Business Ngo, has been established. School. “All forms of work are worthy It grew out of a shared interest in work of basic dignity and respect – in terms BOUNDARIES and employment issues at a macro and of decent work, decent wages, good micro level at both the former Green and working conditions and the ability to Templeton Colleges.