May 2012 Harkness Report The Newsletter of the Harkness Fellows Association

What’s inside?

n the next two pages there is Oa heart-warming story of what happened to one of the world’s most famous rugby players, who took up a Harkness fellowship, plus an update of the changing face of the fellowship programme.

This is followed by three obituaries of fellows who have recently died: James Cornford, an iconoclastic and widely admired public policy reformer; Mike Smith, a leading academic on the processes of European integration; and Jean- Louis Veret, a pupil of Le Corbusier, Sir David Bell moves on who set up a famous architect’s collaborative in Paris. Then we take a look at what life was Few CVs of even Harkness and support. And a Harkness travel voucher Fellows can have such a steep and like for an early woman Harkness allowed him to travel to 25 different states ever ascending record as to widen his research. Fellow who went to Berkeley in the Sir David Bell’s. Even so, it was thanks to changes made 1930s. by William Plowden, as Director of the We get to the more serious subjects His undeviating drive to take on a Harkness Programme, that David wasn’t at the back. Peter Jenkins (HF 1971- succession of ever more challenging isolated from other fellows by his Southern 73), who was British Ambassador posts is captured by his progress from base. Included in his year’s study was a to the International Atomic Energy primary school teacher in his native city succession of five seminars that brought Authority between 2001-06 in of Glasgow to Permanent Secretary the class of 93/94 together at five different Vienna, sets out the background at the Department of Education. In venues – New York, Arizona, Washington to the current concern over Iran’s between these two posts, the CV records DC, Atlanta and Chicago -- to pursue nuclear programme. He has been a deputy head at 26, head teacher different themes. They certainly bonded 29, chief education officer 35, chief well because 19 years on they are still a calming force, widely quoted by executive officer of county council 40, holding annual reunions in Oxford near to both broadcasters and newspapers, chief inspector of schools 42, Permanent Thanksgiving week-end. The secretary of as international concern has risen. Secretary at Department of Education the group is one David Bell. The final inside piece is an 46. Then, at the age of 52, he moved There has been plenty of media coverage edited version of a lecture Bruno to become Vice Chancellor of Reading of David’s latest move. Peter Wilby, a Weymuller (HF1971-72) gave to University last October. former Independent education editor, Harkness Fellows in London entitled David is quick to pay tribute to his noted in a Guardian feature: “If you ask ‘Can Technology Help Save Us from Harkness Fellowship in 1993/94 at Georgia how he got (such a succession of) jobs, Climate Change’. He systematically State University in Atlanta for expanding people will say it’s because he’s good runs through the various challenging his confidence, ambition and appetite for at running things. They can quote, for public policy-making. It was in Georgia options facing policy-makers. example, from a ‘capability review’ on the where, as a 34-year-old assistant director Education Department carried out by the The back page provides details of of education in Newcastle, he began Cabinet Office during Bell’s tenure: he was three forthcoming Harkness events studying education policy-making and ‘visible, decisive, engaging and inspiring’. in London in July, September and local government reform in the US. Or Ofsted’s verdict on Newcastle in 1999: October as well as two events Why Georgia? Partly to be “au-contraire that ‘a remarkable improvement’ in its planned to take place in the South – most fellows were choosing either the performance ‘to a large extent resulting West in June and September. East or West coasts and partly because from’ Bell’s appointment as director of of my fascination with the American education four years previously. He did so Malcolm Dean editor and South”. He wasn’t disappointed. Georgia well as Permanent Secretary that he was at Veronica Plowden, assistant editor University treated its first Harkness Fellow one stage tipped for Cabinet Secretary.” with never-ending Southern hospitality Wilby went on: “But other people are > Sir David Bell good at running things. ... so perhaps it is Wilson Whineray Bell’s authoritative manner that has taken him so far. Everything he says sounds balanced and measured – ‘I am extreme in my moderation’, he explains – and the The Harkness certainty and confidence probably derive (though he is no longer a churchgoer himself) from his Scottish Protestant International Rugby Star background. Estelle Morris, a former Labour Education Secretary, describes him as ‘one of the calmest men I’ve Over five decades after ever met’.” becoming one of the world’s Even John Bangs of the National Union most famous rugby players, of Teachers, no lover of education inspectors, delivered David a back-handed the Harkness Fellow who compliment: “Under him, Ofsted was as played for Harvard Business good as it got.” School’s rugby team in 1967- Predictably David’s latest move 69 is still sought after by prompted media speculation beginning in that he was the the media. victim of a ‘mass clear out’ of Labour- appointed mandarins by Michael Gove, ilson Whineray remains the the Conservative Education Secretary. longest serving captain of the The truth, in David’s words, was ‘more WAll Blacks and is still regarded prosaic’. He told Gove from the start he by many as the greatest did not want to do a full term with him rugby captain of all time. He played his and 18 months later took up the Vice first international in 1957, Chancellorship offer from Reading. became captain the next year at the age He joins a university which has had plenty of 23, and went on to play 77 matches to celebrate in the last decade: £400 for the All Blacks between 1957-65. million spent on campus improvements, student satisfaction rates rising to 89 per Playing in an era when it was solely cent, some 87 per cent of its research an amateur sport, Wilson took a pause reaching ‘international standard’, and from the game in 1964 to ensure he a world ranking that puts it in the top completed a degree. Two years later he 200 (164th in 2011). The University is was on his way to Harvard. He arrived But as for the extreme ones, you charging the full £9,000-a-year tuition at a tumultuous time with the Vietnam think ‘What planet are they on’.” rate – to make up for the 25 per cent cut War and protest demonstrations at In his second year there was a choice in government funding – but unlike many full pitch, the declaration from Lyndon of subjects: “We were introduced to universities has seen a 10 per cent rise Johnson that he would not run for something called a computer and I in its undergraduate applications for this another term, the assassinations of both thought, I have heard of those things, Autumn, despite a national fall of seven they might be around for a while. So I per cent. Bobby Kennedy and Martin Luther King He is renting a farm house on one of the and a victory for Richard Nixon in the will take that course.” university’s science-based farms, giving November 1968 election. Like many other fellows he would not him 600 cows as neighbours and only a Earlier this year he described his have got to the US without the 10 minute walk to his university office. So experiences on his Harkness Fellowship Harkness Fellowship. His parents had what does he make of his latest challenge, to the New Zealand Herald: “I five children and were far from affluent: yet again coming into a job as an outsider, remember one of the heads at Harvard “Money was put aside each week to never having worked as an academic? “I said to us one day ‘we don’t want you pay for essentials, like the gas bill.... am an educationist. I have seen the value to feel that somehow you are beholden Mum only had one coat.” Nor was there of what education can do. In my own to us and you must love America for the much money made playing international case, I was the first person in my family rest of your days. That’s not the case. rugby in the amateur days. to go to university. I’m coming here as someone who is passionate about what We just want you to see if you can education represents.” And at least as a understand us – the way we are, the He had chosen the US because he was former Permanent Secretary at Education, way we think, the way we get driven keen to work for a global company. he is already familiar with how the Vice so that you can better understand the Ironically, having gained his MBA at Chancellors’ network operates. decision we make and why we make Harvard he turned down offers from them.’ ” General Motors and Ford and opted to He still doubts whether he return to New Zealand. There he began understands the Americans, but “I’m working with a company which grew to not sure I understand New Zealanders”. one of the country’s biggest, Carter Holt He went on: “When you look at Harvey, currently employing 10,500 American politics and see these extreme in the timber trade and pulp, paper people, you think, ‘Are they members of and packaging. He rose to become the same nation?’ But I do have a better chairman, retiring from the board in feel for them and their country now 2003. His other successful business having worked there. When you mix positions included being managing with Americans they are nice people. director of NZ Wool Marketing

2 Harkness Report May 2012 The changing face of a Harkness fellowship

Corporation (1973-74), Chairman of How far has the Harkness Fellows programme changed? the National Bank of New Zealand, and There have been two changes, not one. The first, in 1988, as director of the Auckland International explained in the last Newsletter replaced the original open Airport. arms approach – poets, composers, writers, academics, But for all his successful commercial journalists as well as people in health, education, and the and charity work, the media continues to search for rugby stories. Last civil service – into four broad areas of public service. Autumn’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand prompted further pieces. A he second in 1996 narrowed the of its own who spend their year at the modest man, Wilson turned down book four themes into one: health. Institute for Health Improvement in offers for over four decades but finally TThere are now three funds Cambridge Massachusetts.The Nuffield relented on condition any profits went financing the scheme, not one, even Trust itself then started to fund one to charity. It was published in 2010 though the annual number of fellows fellow, and the Department of Health’s with a preface by another former rugby has fallen because of financial restraints. research arm also funds one. Nuffield international turned business man, Tony What has emerged is obviously a sad hosts the UK selection process. O’Reilly, Chairman of Heinz and Chief loss of breadth but a much deeper and Current fellows tend to be in their Executive of the Independent News and richer programme for fellows than the early thirties, interested in life beyond Media Group. In the preface O’Reilly original scheme. medicine, with established research skills compares Whineray to Mount Rushmore In 2008 when Dr and publications. As before they can go with its carvings of four US Presidents. (below) (HF 1991) became Director, the with spouses and children. He wrote “Whineray is the face of New Nuffield Trust was already sponsoring The programme is even more intense Zealand...granitic in quality, unchanging the Harkness Fellowship programme, and therefore more costly than before. over the years.” alongside the and Immediately on selection the new O’Reilly played for Ireland, but they the Health Foundation. The number fellows attend a dinner with alumni and had played together for the Barbarians, of UK Fellows was then around twelve spend the next day starting to plan their an invitation team for top internationals per year, the programme having been tenure. Between January and August several times. It was against the extended to five European countries and they work with the Commonwealth Barbarians in Cardiff in 1964 that in the Canada, and still including and Fund on establishing their mentors course of the traditional last game of New Zealand. and host institutions, and they attend what was an all conquering All Black At that point the Health Foundation Nuffield’s February health policy summit tour, Whineray swerved and dummied started to fund three or four fellows and July reception. his way for one of the team’s eight Once in the US a series of rich week tries. In a memorable scene at the long seminars through the year brings game’s end, Whineray was carried the fellows together to help them make off the field shoulder high, not just by the most of their time there and to the All Blacks but by Barbarian and lay the foundations for a continuing Welsh supporters too, to the echoes of international exchange of learning a large part of the Welsh crowd singing and ideas. A September orientation “For he’s a jolly good fellow”. Those workshop is followed by a November were the days. international symposium with health ministers from participating countries Among his many honours and awards and the US, where fellows have Wilson was a guest on the BBC’s Desert breakfast with the relevant Minister Island Discs on 8 February 1964; New from their own country. Zealand Sportsman of the year 1965; In February there is a Washington knighted in June 1998; inducted into policy briefing – a week on Capitol Hill the NZ Business Hall of Fame 2002; with members of Congress and senior and was one of the first five players to government officials. In May all go to be inducted in the newly inaugurated Canada for a policy briefing, and in International Rugby Board’s Hall of Fame June they present their findings and in October 2007. In November 2004 the conclusions at a final reporting seminar. New Zealand Herald reported him to be Each fellow has a mentor in the UK the top contender to replace Dame Silvia as well as in the US, which helps to Cartwright as the Governor General of keep the work done in the US alive on New Zealand, but he refused to let his re-entry, and there are some alumni name go forward. activities. Continued over>

May 2012 Harkness Report 3 Obituaries

amibitious attempt so far to draft very happily in Totnes, Devon, through such a proposal. his guardian Leonard Elmhirst, with socialist foster parents Lil and Les IPPR was Jame’s third policy research Ramsden and at Dartington school. institution or think tank. Previously he At the age of eight his grandmother led the Outer Circle Policy Unit (1976- arranged for him to go to King’s College 1980) and the Nuffield Foundation choir school, picking up the academic (1980-1988). The work of the former Cambridge links of the Cornford family reflected his unconventional thinking which he never dropped, then to about public policy, covering several Winchester college. topics that stayed at the centre of his thinking over time: the future After gaining a first in History at Trinity of devolution, the hidden economy, College he spent the middle section producers’ co-operatives, quangos, and of six years postgraduate work on his especially the Official Secrets Act and its Harkness Fellowship at the University of replacement by an information act. The California, Berkely, and the University of Campaign for Freedom of Information Chicago. Unlike most new graduates James Cornford started then, chaired by James with at the time he had already spent some (HF 1961) a versatile social and Maurice Frankel as director. time in the US, and he made the most political reformer died on 26th of his nearly two years with his wife September 2011 aged 76. One Nuffield colleague recalls James Amanda. He immersed himself in Dubbed by Richard Reeves in a 2008 fostering the provision of qualified sociology and learned about computers New Statesman article ‘an academic interpreters and translators in legal, and statistics, while Amanda worked as by background and a marvellous health and local authority public a secretary, more enjoyably in Chicago iconoclast,’ Cornford was from 1989- services. Under his guidance Nuffield than in Berkely. As with all Fellows they 94 the first director of the Institute funded the training and accreditation found the extensive travel round the for Public Policy Research (IPPR). of Public Service Interpreters, work States wonderful, leaving them with which helped inform a series of EU enduring insights and friendships. His first two colleagues there were projects and legislation for the legal Patricia Hewitt as deputy and David sector. Another remembers his interest His working life began in 1964 and Miliband as researcher. In 1990 IPPR in research not for its own sake but as a continued for twelve years at Edinburgh published A British Bill of Rights, means to social and policy reform. University, rising very rapidly from reflecting his commitment to a lecturer to professor of politics. He written constitution as a key element Jame’s father John was killed before produced a relatively small quantity of in constitutional reform. This was James was two years old, fighting published work, and seems even then followed in 1991 by a report on The on the republican side in the Spanish to have been readier to be involved Constitution of the Civil war. His awareness of his father’s in the world than to study and write composed under Jame’s personal commitment to anti-fascism and the about it. A then aspiring PhD student of supervision, and in the judgement of sacrifice he had made for it were to Gramsci, Murray Armstrong, offers an Trevor Smith in an excellent Guardian inform his moral and political outlook anecdote to illustrate Jame’s “laid-back obituary, the most comprehensive and for life. His early childhood was spent management style”, where admitting he The changing face of a Harkness Fellowship continued from page 3 Fellowships). These individuals’ calibre is HFA or on the mailing list could contact shown in their prolific publishing, their Lizzie Clark on [email protected]. With the current heightened level of ‘phenomenal’ level of contacts in the interest in reform in the US and their rapid promotion into very If you are interested in nominating new US, the UK and internationally, this senior roles. Recent examples are the Fellows please contact Robin Osborn at intensive exchange of informed policy chief executive of NHS Scotland, the the Commonwealth Fund (RO@CMWF. ideas cannot but be valuable. Jennifer head of research at the King’s Fund and org). If you would like to keep abreast Dixon finds that each fellow’s specific the head of health policy at University of new fellows’ work and activities research project is less important than College London. in the US please see http://www. the effect the whole experience has The links between these ‘new’ fellows commonwealthfund.org/Fellowships/ on their subsequent careers, and on and previous alumni through the Harnkess-Fellowships.aspx. If you are their fields of interest both sides of the Harkness Fellows’ Association may not interested in attending relevant Nuffield Atlantic. (This was also true of the old be as close and fruitful as it could be. events get in touch through: sushma. Harkness and Commonwealth Fund Any who are not already members of sangyam@nuffieldtrust.org.uk

4 Harkness Report May 2012 May 2012 Harkness Report 5 Obituaries

knew little about Gramsci he introduced Returning to the UK, he served for five Armstrong to Hamish Henderson, years as Fellow of Sydney Sussex Col- a dauntingly important Gramsci lege, Cambridge, before moving to Hull connection, in the local pub and left University, first as senior lecturer and them to it. then as head of European studies. In 1993 he set up the Institute of European After IPPR he spent three years as Studies at Queen’s University, Belfast, director of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation and 10 years later moved to Glasgow until, in 1997 under the new Labour Caledonian University as Dean of law government, he was appointed advisor and social sciences. He was promoted to the minister David Clark with to Vice Principal and Pro Vice Chancel- responsibility for constitutional reform. lor (strategy) one year later, where he But the Cabinet could not stomach steered the university to significant their proposal for a strong Freedom of success in the 2008 research assessment Information bill and Clark, Cornford and exercise. Frankel all had to resign. Pamela Gillies, Principal of Glasgow Caledonian and a former Harkness As well as ‘laid back’ many colleagues Fellow herself, described Mike as “a Sarabhai and Shodhan houses and describe Cornford’s style throughout gentle, charming, warm and humorous the Millowner’s Palace. Returning to his varied career as consistently sharp- man with a brilliant brain.” She spoke Paris in 1955, he co-founded in 1958 minded, sceptical about managerial of his ability “to think strategically and a famous architects’ collaborative, the pomposity and political rigidity, but also to deliver creative solutions to complex Atelier de Montrouge. A year later he kind, friendly and informal. problems”. He had a deep hinterland was awarded his Harkness Fellowship, being passionate about music and art. travelling to Harvard to work with Serge Mike Smith Mike published numerous books and Charmayeff, and enjoying “every mo- (HF 1970-72) a Cambridge graduate scholarly articles on European history ment of a memorable road trip across who initially focused on Russian and the processes of integration. He was the continent”. history, but whose interests shifted awarded a personal Jean Monnet Chair Returning to France in 1961, he worked towards broader issues of European by the European Universities Council in on the most important scheme he built history, particularly the processes 1995 and led one of the first European with the Atelier collaborate, the holiday of greater integration, died on 1 Centres of Excellence awarded in the resort of Cap Camarat (1959-65). His October, 2011, while recovering European Union. He was elected a work there has been praised by Jean- from complex surgery. His initial member of the Standing Conferences of Louis Cohen, Professor in the History postgraduate studies were at the Heads of European Studies. of Architecture at New York Univer- London School of Economics, where Glasgow Caledonian has established sity, for “brilliantly developing themes he won his Harkness Fellowship for a Smith Scholarship in his memory, shaped in Le Corbusier’s unbuilt Roq et research in Soviet Affairs at Stanford an open ended award offering travel, Rob project, playing with concrete and University, California and Columbia further study and/or a post in public local stone.” Cohen also praised him University, New York. service. for producing alternative designs which challenged “the hegemonic model Jean-Louis Véret of the French high-rise social housing (HF1959-61) the last surviving schemes”. associate of Le Corbusier, the Despite the public recognition which famous pioneer of modern the Atelier received, winning the Prix du architecture, died on 4 September Cercle d’Etudes in 1965 and the Grand 2011 on the French Atlantic coast. Prix National d’Architecture in 1981, its founders separated in 1981. As the Architect’s Newspaper noted, Jean-Louis continued as an independent he was “widely recognised as one of architect and teacher. He was a Visiting France’s most distinguished architects Critic at ’s Graduate of the last half of the 20th century”. School of Design, Visiting Professor at In 1968 he was named Chief Architect the School of Architecture Nancy (1981), of Public Buildings and Monuments by and Professor of the School of Architec- Andre Malnaux. ture Paris La Villette (1985-93). Jean-Louis was recruited by Corbusier One of his tributes to his old men- in 1952 after he had graduated from tor was his meticulous restoration of the Ecole des Beaux Arts. He spent his Corbusier’s Villa Savoye (1987-94). An- first three years overseeing Corbusier’s other was an exhibition of Architecture projects in Ahmedabad, India – the in India, which he curated in 1985.

4 Harkness Report May 2012 May 2012 Harkness Report 5 Eleanor Francis a Harkness Fellow in 1930s Berkley

rom California to Cambridge, honour of a Commonwealth Fund Scott’s second expedition. Now Eleanor, Eleanor Francis wrote home Fellowship - was secure in the bor n the same year, 1911, found Fdescribing the species ‘co-ed’. knowledge that she had met the love of herself included in Debenham’s friendly her life. Two years doctoral research on world of field trips, explorers, and Here on the Berkeley campus in 1936 the relationship of sources of power to expeditions, with a flat in the Scott Polar freshmen wore a type of workman’s economic development in Califor nia Research Institute. trousers, and blue and gold “dinks” coincided with his disappearance to Debenham installed the 22 year-old - small caps with upturned brims. As Antarctica as leader of the British Eleanor in his grand ground floor Sophomores they exchanged the “blue Graham Land Expedition. John R ymill, study where she could intercept time- jeans” for well-worn, ancient-looking an Australian who had prepared himself wasting visitors and unnecessary “cords”. But girls? Here Eleanor’s Girton for exploring the polar regions by interruptions. Only days after starting, in College eye noted ‘striking’ hairdressing, lear ning surveying, navigation, flying October 1933, Eleanor answered and the importance of cosmetics - the and skiing, was currently exploring a knock on the study door, opening it numbers of dates so acquired being ‘a the Antarctic Peninsular, aims in part to, as she later wrote, ‘the broadest- concrete measure of the success of their coinciding with Colonial Office shouldered, tallest, and most stunningly labours.’ No “blue stockings” here, political and strategic ambitions. While handsome man I had ever seen.’ At observed Eleanor. ‘The high standard Eleanor examined the uses of hydro- just over five feet, Eleanor gazed into his of feminine attraction... may be due to electricity, John R ymill was further south blue pullover-encased chest, then the proximity of Hollywood...but that anyone on the planet. lifting her eyes on, and up, met John it can also be explained by the fact that In Cambridge Eleanor was a bright, R ymill. many American parents and more eager member of a tight academic and The 28 year old R ymill was intensely American daughters regard a campus networking circle. As a new geography pressured with financing and planning not as a centre of learning but as a graduate she was given the chance to his new expedition. But despite the matrimonial field.’ be her Professor’s Secretary cum work there was time for tennis, dances, On the other hand, Eleanor - with a Assistant cum Librarian. Professor Frank dinners, excursions, before the double first in the Geographical Debenham had landed in Antarctica in expedition’s schooner Penola departed Tripos, a hockey blue, and now the 1911 as a member of Captain Robert south in September 1934. Debenham,

6 Harkness Report May 2012 May 2012 Harkness Report 7 her excitement, was presented the Fellowship by the Duke of Windsor, the 24th woman since the programme began in 1925. Back in Cambridge in 1937 to tutor, and write up her research, Eleanor was the first woman to gain a doctorate in Cambridge’s faculty of geography. That year John Rymill returned to England, the expedition a success, all members safe. In September 1938, the book of the expedition written, Eleanor’s doctorate conferred, John and Eleanor married. Boarding one of the great P&O liners for Australia, Eleanor was excited at the prospect of visiting the old homestead and the thousands of acres where John had been born in south-east Australia. Both devoted to horses, they looked forward to riding over the brown paddocks, past the great red gums. John of course was planning his next polar expedition. Instead, it became necessary to manage the inheritance at Old Penola. John refused every persuasive approach to return to the polar regions. Instead he began the all-involving business of dealing with stock and land, improving, surveying, Eleanor’s training as a geographer, her drive and intelligence, a crucial element of their partnership. If she had hopes to pursue her academic life - they were not recorded. As Eleanor Rymill, she became the much loved and admired mother of two sons Peter and Andrew, a vital part of the local community, working together with John until he died in 1968, tragically, as two of his daughters now in their late final degrees as a means of identifying as the result of a car accident. She lived eighties recently recalled, was top achievers ...’ had approached on, a central part of her extending ‘wonderful to his students, looking after the College for a name. Eleanor’s had family, and of Old Penola, deeply them.’ Both vividly remember Eleanor’s been put forward. The Mistress, re- respected, a guardian and interpreter pretty, lively company, her mass of summoning Eleanor to announce she of her husband’s polar records, and curls. And John Rymill? - ‘he was so had been selected for interview, was memorabilia; until her death, aged 92, handsome. We were all in love with speechless with shock when Eleanor in 2003. him.’ Standing on the edge of the Cam, blurted out she would not be available. Did she ever use her title of Doctor I watching this gentle giant rolling his The interview clashed with a skiing trip asked one of her friends. No. Local sealskin kayak, frightened whether he in Austria. Reprimanded for her people expected medical advice, and would manage to turn it - to get back impulsive and imprudent failure to were disappointed when she didn’t upright. Then - the relief when he recognise the honour bestowed on the deliver. So she dropped it. ‘How did it reappeared. College Eleanor had to cancel, and feel,’ the friend told me she asked In 1933 Cambridge women although attend. Eleanor, ‘to come to an isolated farm able to hold the title of their degrees, Eleanor’s doctoral thesis begun in after all you had done?’ Her answer, were not (unlike Oxford women) 1934-35 in Italy was curtailed when the simply - ‘I was in love.’ admitted to full membership of the bottom-pinching reality of being a single In February 2013, late in the Antarctic University. But academic excellence did young woman became too much. summer so maximising the opportunity provide opportunities. As Debenham’s Adapting her research programme to to push below the Antarctic Circle, Secretary, along with tutoring California Eleanor applied for and was family, friends and the interested will undergraduates, Eleanor had an awarded a Commonwealth Fund be able to commemorate the British income. Living out of College meant Fellowship, 1935-37. The prompting not Graham Land Expedition on the she could have a car. The Mistress described, except that she came from a Akademik Ioffe, accompanied by South of Girton summoning the graduate family with high academic standards, Australian winemaker Peter Rymill. Eleanor informed her that ‘a Board a schoolmaster father, a teacher for a enquiring into the efficiency and value mother, and a brother William who of University examination results for already held a Fellowship. Eleanor, to Meredith Hooper

6 Harkness Report May 2012 May 2012 Harkness Report 7 Peter Jenkins (HF1971-73) is a former British Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), set up to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and inhibit its military use. A main focus of his time there was the Iranian nuclear controversy. His views have been widely sought by the media since the turn of the year. Can the West solve the Persian Puzzle?

he winter months saw the quarrel founder on distrust, misunderstanding, over Iran’s nuclear programme political in-fighting in Tehran and T become dangerously heated. Washington, and incidents contrived Western media were encouraged to by opponents of a deal must not be interpret some of the findings in a underestimated. November report by the International In 2007 a promising opening vanished Atomic Energy Agency as proof Iran was when Iran’s chief negotiator clashed bent on making nuclear weapons. The with President Ahmedinejad. In 2009 it US, UK, and France used the resulting was the President’s turn to be thwarted concern to justify a further sharpening by domestic rivals; and President of their attack on the Iranian economy, Obama, under pressure from a Congress while Israel’s political leaders pressed for largely hostile to Iran, withdrew his a different sort of attack, to wipe out negotiators instead of waiting for the Iran’s nuclear facilities. US Republican Iranians to sort out their differences. In candidates for the Presidency vied to 2010, the timing of Iranian assent to a display eagerness to zap Iran. Iran proposal brokered by Turkey and Brazil reminded its adversaries that it could caused the West to reject it. retaliate by closing the Straits of Hormuz Ever since the NPT opened for to oil and gas shipments. Mercifully, and the Israeli public are tiring of the 20 signature in 1968 US experts have since January passions have cooled. year-old Israeli policy of playing up the been reluctant to accept that the treaty US officials have reminded the media Iranian threat to Israel and the West, allows non-nuclear-weapon states that US intelligence agencies see Iran and of demonising Iran’s leaders as evil (NNWS) access to technologies that can as embarked on a similar path to fanatics. serve both civil and military purposes. other states that have assembled the So it is rational to hope that talks There’s been a 44-year itch to close ingredients for making nuclear weapons with Iran in Istanbul on 14 April have what Americans see as a loop-hole, as a precautionary measure, but have no launched a process that can lead over despite all the evidence that many states plans to breach the core Nuclear Non- time to an agreement, long overdue, on are unready to concede a back-door Proliferation Treaty (NPT) commitment to handling Iran’s nuclear programme in renegotiation of a carefully- balanced refrain from producing weapons. accordance with the NPT. instrument. President Obama dealt robustly with An NPT deal would recognise Iran’s The Iranian side tends to react when Prime Minister Netanyahu, when the right to enrich uranium and would provoked. For instance, the recent latter visited Washington, telling him accept Iran taking advantage of that trashing of the British embassy in Tehran that a military attack was unnecessary right, in return for Iran placing all was in retaliation for fresh sanctions. Yet at this juncture (and perhaps that it was nuclear material in its possession retaliation can be counter-productive: inconceivable the UN Security Council under IAEA safeguards and renewing vandalism is unlikely to encourage would authorise such use of force in the its commitment to refrain from the British government to accept absence of proof of an imminent Iranian manufacturing or otherwise acquiring enrichment. Will Iran resist the urge threat). nuclear weapons. to retaliate if offence is given while The US and EU agreed to talk to Iran’s In one sense the West approaches negotiations are underway? nuclear negotiators despite the latter’s this negotiation from a position of Underlying the whole controversy is failure to commit to implementing weakness. The Iranians have shown no the fact that Iran’s nuclear programme relevant UN Security Council resolutions. sign of abandoning enrichment under is a symbol of a geostrategic shift: Iran (Notably these require Iran to suspend the pressure of ever tighter sanctions is slowly returning to the ranks of Asia’s all production of the enriched uranium and they know that the West’s military greater powers. that Iran could divert into military use if option is deeply unattractive to any of This shift is unwelcome to many of it decided to withdraw from the NPT, or sane mind. Iran’s Arab and Jewish neighbours. to ignore its NPT obligations.) In another sense, the West has good They have sought to prevent it by There have been signs that the US, cards in its hand. Sanctions are hurting encouraging Western governments UK and , if not France under Iran and Iran has an interest in getting to assume the worst of a state whose President Sarkozy, are at last moving them lifted provided the price is not intentions the West finds it hard to towards the Russian and Chinese intolerable. Abandoning enrichment fathom, and by playing on Western position of accepting Iranian enrichment would be intolerable; volunteering distrust of “wily Orientals”. as long as Iran offers the best possible limitations on enrichment, top-notch guarantees that all its nuclear material access for IAEA inspectors, and other But this kind of shift cannot be will remain in non-military use. measures to allay the concerns aroused prevented without conflict. A war Most promising of all, recent news by Iran’s research into enrichment against Iran would be costly. So would out of Israel suggests that both senior technologies prior to 2003, need not be. it not be wiser to accept the all but defence and intelligence professionals And yet the scope for any process to inevitable?

8 Harkness Report May 2012 May 2012 Harkness Report 9 How can Technology help save us from Climate Change?

By Bruno Weymuller in an address to the Harkness Fellows Association

he evolution of climate is research and innovation are mostly • Transport (cars, trucks, planes, extremely complex, and the focused on new technologies enabling trains and ships), a growing source of Tlong-term effects, especially reduced GHG emissions. emissions. for a specific geographic region, are Among the sources of this energy, fossil hard to state precisely. It is common What GHG emissions are due to fuels (coal, oil, gas) are dominant. GHG knowledge that the average human activities? emissions related to their combustion temperature of our planet has gone Carbon dioxide (CO2) coming from the differ according to their carbon content. up and will continue to do so. production and use of energy is the As a rough approximation, to produce dominant source, representing nearly electricity in modern plants, if coal is There is a general consensus, although 2/3 of the problem. But some other one, oil is 0.7 and gas is 0.5. not total, that emissions of green gases, even significantly less in volume, Biomass is used today in several regions, house gases (GHG) initiated by human are more potent in terms of warming notably in non-OECD countries. Its activities have a great responsibility in impact. Agriculture and changes in modalities are emissive, even with GHG that trend. So it seems essential to land use are also key contributors. capture at the initial stage of the crops. try to reduce those emissions, but in Nevertheless I will limit this discussion spite of all mitigation efforts, global to GHG emissions linked with energy, in We must look at world energy warming appears unavoidable. So we four main sectors of activity: challenges alongside climate issues. will also have to adapt to an increase of • Electric power generation, the most A global approach is absolutely required. temperatures, but for that actions and important emitter, What in EU terminology is called energy/ techniques are still difficult to define, • Industry, climate policy is in fact, at best, just a and successes in mitigation would • Buildings, residential and commercial climate package. Energy is essential for reduce the need. At present, therefore, (heating, cooling, cooking, lighting), economic development and is deeply

8 Harkness Report May 2012 May 2012 Harkness Report 9 Can Technology help save us from Climate Change?

General Motors Urban Energy and climate challenges are to overcome to be realistically Electric Car gets a deeply interlocked: considered. battery charge 1973 On the demand side the aim is to reduce Over time, the planning of big cities the growth of energy consumption and should evolve, but there are a lot of so mitigate related GHG emissions constraints and complex interactions. In On the supply side we have to modify the shorter term, changes in car users’ the energy mix, to develop new sources behaviour could reduce consumption. of energy beneficial to the climate, Aviation and marine transportation are less emissive or even with almost no of course also part of the equation. emissions.It is essential to improve Third: Develop low emission existing technologies, to find new renewable energies for electricity technologies and to implement them. production. • Hydraulic energy has strong What can we do ? What are the advantages, but this energy is already main ways technical progress should rather well implemented in the world. be achieved? : • Wind energy (on- or offshore) is First: Promote savings in energy uses growing rapidly still with a lot of That means reducing losses and potential, and improving. increasing efficiency of use. A key • Solar energy (photovoltaic or solar example is buildings (improving thermic plant) has a low worldwide insulation and optimizing energy share and limited volumes. We hope for choices). Promising new technologies The inconvenient truth is that these already exist including renewable energies are not satisfactory with energies (roof top solar installations existing technologies. Numerous technological for instance) but they have to be drawbacks include: implemented. Structural constraints are • Low energy intensity because of breakthroughs high in the existing building stock, and limted production on specific sites. there are a lot of agents to coordinate. • Generally intermittent supply, which is but a succession We have also to be more efficient in really a great disadvantage. producing energy. Two examples are the • Still very high costs that cannot be of incremental performance of electric plants and the dramatically reduced in the foreseeable reduction of auto consumption of the future, unless unexpected technological improvements is refineries. Fewer players are concerned, breakthroughs occur. mostly the energy firms, but solutions So a world energy framework relying are usually very capitalistic. mostly on renewables appears today an more frequent Second: Transport, the social quest unrealistic dream. In 25 years one could for mobility expect just a limited increase in their Oil is today overwhelmingly dominant share in the world energy supply. And linked to ways of life a lot of countries in transport energy needs (above 95%). they will have to be properly articulated don’t intend to get rid of. In the coming It is awfully hard to find substitutes, with other sources to ensure stability of decades, energy will have to be supplied and the potential demand in emerging supply. with stability, reliability, accessibility and countries is huge. Emissions, mostly Fourth: Reduce the impact of fossil at reasonable costs. at the final stage, are diffuse, so new fuel emissions. The prospects in the energy scene are engine technologies are required. This is very important even if not really challenging: Progress is still being made in improving popular with ecologist lobbies. Fossil • Energy demand is growing, mostly in the traditional combustion engine and in fuels are likely to remain dominant even large emerging economies. In 25 years developing new engines such as electric in 25 years and their GHG emissions world demand will probably grow by cars, and new fuels: are unavoidable due to their carbon more than 40 %. India and China are • Biofuels, provided that their emissions content. Action has to be focused on expected to account for half of this of GHG is less, and if their production three domains : increase. doesn’t introduce conflicts with food or • Avoid emissions at the extraction • Energy supply will struggle to keep water (the research is active on micro- stage. A lot can be done to reduce pace with demand growth. For various organisms generating new biofuels and “flaring or venting” of gas. reasons, tensions and even scarcities on the algae option) • Avoid emissions due to fossil fuel could appear in several sectors. • Synthetic fuels could also be a solution combustion in industrial plants. That’s • The world energy system has great (with “coal to liquids” or “gas to the objective of CO2 capture and inertia. In 25 years fossil fuels will still liquids” technologies), but today yields storage (CCS). Existing technologies are represent 80 % of the supply, and are low and GHG emissions high. costly and reduce performance. And it is existing capitalistic infrastructures will • Hydrogen too has a lot of challenges hard to find local storage sites. require time to evolve.

10 Harkness Report May 2012 May 2012 Harkness Report 11 Can Technology help save us from Climate Change?

• Finally, although a second best Hybrids are probably a good second best dangerous bias; in emerging countries solution, increase the share of natural solution. pushing demand for fossil fuels, in gas, a relatively less emitting fuel. Those two examples suggest some developed countries creating artificial Fifth: The rise of electricity comments on technological progress: conditions for renewables. The future This energy vector has great advantages We hope for technological characteristics of energy systems are still due to its cleanness, the ease and breakthroughs but a succession of vague, and it is best to keep different comfort of its use. So its growth rate is incremental improvements is more options open without privileging some high. As it is a secondary energy it has frequent. We would like to speed up the techniques in advance through artificial to be produced from different primary pace of innovation because economic support. When it comes to climate and sources, used with existing technologies development and climate issues require not only to energy, it is clear that fixing (coal, today dominant in the world, that. But it is wise to appraise clearly a price to carbon would be useful in natural gas, nuclear, renewables) and the time required for different solutions. promoting specific technologies to reduc switches are possible. For example it is clear that two very GHG emissions. Of course in this context, nuclear energy promising low carbon technologies, remains one of the large scale sources nuclear fusion and the use of solar Public opinion that don’t cause global warming. It is energy to produce fuels directly Populations have to accept such very hard to see a credible worldwide (oxygen and hydrogen) reproducing developments. All energy sources imply low carbon scenario excluding nuclear photosynthesis, will only be available in risks (for security, for environmental energy from power generation. the very long term. footprint). Those should be carefully But production is not the only domain For now, we should learn to fix appraised and measures to control them of technological progress for electricity. priorities. It makes sense to pursue the implemented. The social impacts of price There are other hot subjects for cheapest options first. Nevertheless increases have to be monitored. innovation: some risks should be taken to support Finally NIMBY reactions are common • Energy storage newborn technologies when their and not always easy to address in • Efficient distribution potential deserves it. Government democratic states. • New technologies for demand support can play an important and Often in rich countries, in Europe fot management (smart grid) sometimes a necessary role. But due instance, people dream that what they to the state of public budgets, subsidies would like is possible. If we want to What kind of technological progress? have to be carefully designed and avoid ecological populism, politicians To illustrate, let us focus on two prioritized. must tell the truth and try to make innovations: In some domains, the use of standards voters conscious of what is at stake and The emergence of non-conventional can promote innovation, as with positive about technology. gases, like shale gas, initiated in USA. European norms for CO2 emissions So technological progress cannot be Existing technologies in drilling have of cars. All the agents for innovation considered in isolation from political been used and improved step by step. have to be mobilized (large firms but aspects. Public authorities have a great And several other factors have been also start ups, specialized research responsibility to fix a rational long-term supportive (expertise and dynamism of centers but also institutions open to strategy on energy/climate policy. But industrial actors, fiscal support, prices...). multidisciplinary research). national authorities must not forget that Now it is a game changer: huge new the problem we face is global. Different gas resources appear to be pushing far CONCLUSION solutions will have to be implemented in ahead the prospect of a gas peak. To answer the initial question, the three key domains: If gas substitutes for more emitting fossil technological lever is important, • Improve energy efficiency, certainly a fuels, it will contribute to moderating especially as diplomatic approaches to top priority global warming. address climate change seem to falter • Promote new supplies with limited or at least to be delayed. The costs of impact on the environment The electric car. The big stumbling existing technologies will go down, and • Reduce GHG emissions by stone is the battery to store energy. The new ones will emerge. The issue is to specific devices. problems of cost, weight, performances, prepare for those innovations but also Innovation will thus have many facets safety risks, modalities of charge, are to implement and market them. But and there is no “silver bullet” to meet still not resolved. And to generalise without two other enablers, it will be the challenges. the use of electricity for transport will hard to make progress: require costly infrastructures (charging Bruno Weymuller was a French sites, electrical roads...) So pure electrical A good pricing system Harkness Fellow 1971-2) and cars will be for a long time restricted Economic agents need to be guided by found his time at MIT changed his to limited markets, even if useful in prices: a general increase in the price relationship with the Americans. reducing pollution in cities. And the of energy, although not popular, is He has held senior positions in oil nature of the source used to produce necessary but not sufficient. The relative companies and takes a particular electricity is of course crucial for an prices of different energies have also to interest in the interface between appropriate answer to global warming. be coherent. Subsidies can introduce energy and the environment.

10 Harkness Report May 2012 May 2012 Harkness Report 11 Forthcoming Events:

Saturday 7 July 2012 its first steps on the road to recovery from 6.30pm for 7.00pm. Tickets: £20 (HFA King’s College, London decades of economic mismanagement and members) £23 (non-members) 11am Maughan Library, Chancery Lane, a long period of hyperinflation. Helped London WC2A 1LR. Tickets: £55 since 2002 by social reforms and the The Harkness Fellows Association and including lunch and wine growth of credit markets, average living the Harvard Club of the UK invite you to standards have risen sharply. The country’s a “Presidential debate” ahead of the US King’s College, London, have offered industry has made a mark in high-tech presidential election in November a fascinating Summer event. We meet sectors such as aerospace, and Brazilian Robert Carolina is chairman of Democrats at the Maughan Library in Chancery exports of minerals and agricultural Abroad UK (the official overseas arm of Lane at 11.00am sharp for a tour of the products have boomed. More recently, the US Democratic Party). A lawyer by library, which was formerly the Public off-shore oil discoveries have suggested profession, he is a Principal with Origin, Record Office. This will include the that Brazil may soon become one of the a London-based international technology current exhibition of rare books, likely world’s most significant oil producers and and intellectual property firm. to be related to Royalty and Sport, given exporters. Colleen Graffy is the former chairman of the Diamond Jubilee and the Olympics. But large parts of Brazilian industry Republicans Abroad, UK and served in the We will visit the Rare Books and Special are inefficient, standards in primary US State Department as Deputy Assistant Collections Area, and have a talk from one and secondary education lag behind Secretary of State from 2005-2009. She of the expert curators. those of the Far East, natural resource- is a law professor and Director of Global There will then be a short walk back to the based sectors are vulnerable to a future Programs for Pepperdine University School Strand Campus, with a tour of the newly downturn in Chinese demand, and of Law, and Academic Director of their refurbished Somerset House East Wing, many social problems remain to be fully London Program. followed by a visit to the College Chapel, addressed. The events starts with wine and crisps designed by George Gilbert Scott and at 6.30pm completed in 1831. We will finish with a Thursday 25 October 2012 buffet lunch in the River Room. We need US Presidential Election Debate a minimum of 20 so sign up early. Guests CANDIDATES: Robert Carolina For all three events RSVP Lizzie Clark will be welcome. (Democrats), Colleen Graffy (Republicans), [email protected] Tel: 0207 380 6704 MODERATOR: Professor Michael Cox Harkness Fellows Association c/o ACU, Monday 24 September 2012 Picture Room, Athenaeum Club, 107 Pall Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, Richard Lapper: Brazil’s Transformation Mall, SW1Y 5ER London WC1H 1HF Spencer Room, Brooks’s, St. James’s St, SW1 7.00pm for 7.30pm. Price £20 including drinks. William Plowden Fellowship update

Richard Lapper, a former Financial Times As reported in the last issue this ‘nest’ will be either the London correspondent on Latin America for 10 project, in memory of William School of Economics Department years, will speak to Fellows and their Plowden and his lifelong of Government or the Third Sector guests about ‘Brazil’s transformation’. He commitment to the Harkness Research Centre. The Fellowship will comment on Brazil’s sense of identity Fellowships, is designed to give will be launched early this summer, as one of the most talked-of emerging one outstanding mid-career with the successful candidate in powers, its ambitions to be a global professional per year time away post later in 2012 and the lecture political player, and the strengths and from the day job to develop an delivered early in 2013. Those on the weaknesses of its economic foundations. innovative idea on governance in Association’s mailing list will be sent Can Brazil fulfil its real potential? Nearly public policy. For the first year the information on the launch. twenty years have passed since Brazil took

Americana outside the US and is bound Calling HFs in the South West to stir old memories. Fellows, families William Wilson is helping Peter history from its early settlers to the 20th and friends all welcome. Jenkins to organise South West century. A succession of fascinating Harkness regional events. Two period rooms, illustrating the furniture Saturday September 8: Summer events are being planned. and fittings of different eras is A tour of the ancient Wells Cathedral supplemented by rich collections of followed by a French wine tasting in the Saturday June 16: quilts, paintings, silver and glass. There is nearby Sante Wines. A summer picnic and visit to the a separate Folk Art Gallery and a special American Museum set in beautiful exhibition, ‘The Compasionate Eye’, All fellows interested – you don’t have to grounds just outside Bath. The museum based on selections from the museum’s live in the South West – please contact is designed to provide visitors with a American print and Audubon print William Wilson via weawilson@gmail. journey through American collections. It is the only museum of com or mobile: 07970 577492

Harkness Fellows Association c/o The ACU Woburn House, 20-24 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9HF tel: 020 7380 6704, fax: 7387 2665 email: [email protected] website: www.harknessfellows.org.uk

12 Harkness Report May 2012 Newsletter design and layout by Mike Krage www.kragedesign.co.uk