8–9 OXFORD comes to WASHINGTON LETTER from THE VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR LOUISE RICHARDSON Dear Oxonians and Friends of Oxford, reetings from Oxford! On behalf of my colleagues 8–9 throughout the Collegiate University, I am delighted to G extend this invitation for you to join us at the 2016 Oxford North American Alumni Weekend. OXFORD comes to As you may have noticed, this year’s event will be held in Washington, DC, one of the largest and most dynamic Oxonian communities in the world. This will be the first time in its twenty-five year history © Janet Cairns Photo WASHINGTON that the Alumni Weekend will be held in a city other than New York. To celebrate this move, the Friday night gala, which is open to all alumni and friends of the FRIDAY 8 APRIL University, will be held in one of the iconic buildings within the Capital District: the Library of Congress. This spectacular venue promises to be the ideal setting in which to launch an LIBRARY OF CONGRESS engaging and enjoyable weekend. 10 FIRST STREET SE The ties that bind the US and the UK are famously close. Indeed, both the Chancellor and WASHINGTON, DC 20540 I have written books on the Special Relationship between the two allies. Oxford has long been very much a part of this bond between our countries. The extraordinary education we provide, from the nurturing environments of the Colleges, to the personalized instruction of the tutorials, to the cutting-edge research conducted across a staggeringly SATURDAY 9 APRIL broad spectrum of disciplines, serve as the very foundation for our great democracies, so OMNI SHOREHAM HOTEL we take particular pleasure in hosting this year’s event in the US capital. 2500 CALVERT STREET NW Presentations during Saturday’s academic program will range from the “Politics of the Extreme” to advancements in Cell Biology, to the exploration of the deepest reaches of WASHINGTON, DC 20008 the oceans. Each session promises to be informative, thought-provoking, and compelling— a chance to recapture your Oxford experience, if only for a day! Additionally, there will be a series of gatherings hosted by the Colleges and other groups, providing ample opportunities for reconnecting, networking, and socializing. And, with a bit of luck, the cherry blossoms will be in bloom! As this will be my first Alumni Weekend, I am especially looking forward to meeting as many Oxonians and friends as possible and hearing about your own Oxford experience. In the short time since I was installed as Vice-Chancellor, I have already become completely enamored with this marvelous University. Like all great institutions, the more you learn about Oxford, the more impressive it becomes. I hope you will join me for what promises to be an edifying and enjoyable weekend. Louise Richardson FRIDAY NIGHT THE CHANCELLOR, LORD PATTEN OF BARNES, CH REQUESTS THE PLEASURE OF YOUR COMPANY TO CELEBRATE THE 2016 UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD ALUMNI WEEKEND IN NORTH AMERICA AND WELCOME PROFESSOR LOUISE RICHARDSON AS VICE-CHANCELLOR FRIDAY 8 APRIL AT 7:00 PM LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 10 FIRST STREET SE THOMAS JEFFERSON BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 20540 BUSINESS ATTIRE TICKETS ARE AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS SATURDAY PROGRAM EVENTS WITH OXFORD UNIVERSITY’S CAREERS SERVICE Combining Business and Pleasure Registration n Jonathan Black, Director of Careers Service, will be in the Council 8:00 am – 3:00 pm n Palladian Foyer, Omni Shoreham Room throughout the day n Morning coffee break — with a 10 minute talk on 5 top tips for your résumé Continental Breakfast n Afternoon coffee break — with 10 minute talk on interviewing skills 8:30 am – 9:30 am n Diplomat Ballroom n Outside these sessions, Jonathan Black will be available for confidential Informal breakfast with open seating available to all registered attendees. 1:1 discussions on any career-related topic, as well as informally over lunch and at drinks Take advantage of these free and impartial career sessions, delivered Continental Breakfast featuring Jonathan Black, from one of the most innovative university career services programs. Director of Careers Service 8:30 am – 9:30 am n Congressional Room dominant in electoral campaigns? Are we entering a new age of extremes? In this Breakfast with a 15 minute talk/workshop on networking and interviewing — discussion, Professor Marc Stears, Tutorial Fellow in Politics at University College, brush up your skills and get ready for the day ahead. will chair a panel including the Chancellor of the University, Lord Patten of Barnes. Welcoming Remarks Coffee Break 9:45 am – 10:00 am n Palladian Ballroom 11:15 am – 11:45 am n Diplomat Foyer Politics of the Extremes A Hidden Revolution that Will Transform Medicine 10:00 am – 11:15 am n Palladian Ballroom 11:45 am – 12:45 pm n Diplomat Ballroom Many countries are currently seeing the rise of parties with non-compromising Tired of endless stories about medical breakthroughs? Cynical about yet another policies, extreme approaches to social problems, and rhetorical styles that reject one? Don’t be: this is different. We are on the brink of understanding the inner specific social groups. Why are these voices from the political edges becoming workings of the cell, the fundamental unit of all life. A recent extraordinary convergence of apparently unrelated breakthroughs across disciplines is driving a Lunch with a Presentation by the Vice-Chancellor, revolution in biomedical science. By learning how cells function, what goes wrong Professor Louise Richardson with them in disease, how we can fix them, and how drugs work (or sometimes n don’t), medicine will be transformed. Excitingly, this is not limited to a particular 12:45 pm – 2:15 pm Palladian Ballroom type of illness: all disease will eventually be affected. Professor Dame Carol Attendees will have the opportunity to sit with their College representatives, Robinson of the Chemistry Department and Professor Matthew Freeman, Head fellow alumni and guests at lunch. of the Dunn School of Pathology, will lead a discussion about the fundamental breakthroughs that underlie this medical revolution and explain why most people haven’t yet noticed it. Ocean Circulation and Climate: — or — Why the Oceans Matter! 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm n Diplomat Ballroom The State of American Politics The oceans are a key component of the climate system, storing roughly 1000 11:45 am – 12:45 pm n Empire Ballroom times as much heat and 50 times as much carbon as the atmosphere. In this talk, Professor David Marshall, Department of Physics and Professorial Fellow Moderated by Rothermere American Institute Director Professor Jay Sexton, this of St Hugh's College, will discuss the challenges of predicting the global ocean session will feature the Honorable Jim Himes (D-CT), United States Representative circulation, which allows scientists to better understand and model climate (St Edmund Hall, 1988) and Winant Chair of US Government Professor Lisa Miller patterns. One challenge of particular importance is to understand and model the in broad conversation on the current election cycle, the legislative challenges of effects of turbulent ocean eddies, the equivalent of weather systems in the ocean. the current era of polarization, and foreign affairs. By focusing on the fundamental physics — conservation of energy and momentum — we are able to reach some surprising conclusions about how the global ocean circulation works. UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSIONS — or — n Dr Eleanor Parker, Student Recruitment Officer (UK & North America) Enigmas of Arrival in the Undergraduate Admissions & Outreach Office, will be available 2:15 pm – 3:15 pm n Empire Ballroom throughout the day to answer questions about applying to Oxford for full-time undergraduate programs. There will also be information available Three versatile Oxford historians, all with connections to The Oxford Research on opportunities for graduate study at Oxford. Please stop by the Palladian Centre in the Humanities (TORCH), discuss the fascinating transcontinental Foyer for information, to volunteer to speak about your experience as an and cross-cultural pathways taken by colonial travelers to Britain, and Oxford undergraduate at one of her information sessions across the US and especially Oxford, in the late 19th and early 20th century. Elleke Boehmer Canada, or to register for the admissions presentation on Sunday 10 April. (Wolfson College), TORCH Director and Professor of World Literature in English, Dr Faisal Devji (St Antony's College), University Reader in Modern South Asian History, and Dr Imaobong Umoren (Pembroke College), Women in the Humanities Early Career Fellow, look at the rich contributions of these Indian, Caribbean and African students, writers, entrepreneurs, anthropologists and COLLEGE EVENTS activists to British cultural life, and take Professor Boehmer's exciting new cultural history Indian Arrivals 1870-1915 as a flashpoint for their conversation. Balliol College Saturday 9 April: Balliol alumni and their guests are invited to attend the Balliol North American Reunion and Pathfinders Anniversary Dinner at Coffee Break the Library of Congress, courtesy of Matthew Westerman (1983) and hosted by The Rt Hon the Lord Patten of Barnes (1962), Chancellor of the University of 3:15 pm – 3:45 pm n Diplomat Foyer Oxford. Invitations to follow. For more information and how to register, visit www.alumniweb.ox.ac.uk/balliol/events/balliol-reunion. Oxford and the Education of Leaders Brasenose College Saturday 9 April: Brasenose dinner, location TBC. Invitations will be sent in March. For more information, visit www.bnc.ox.ac.uk or 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm n Palladian Ballroom email [email protected]. Are the qualities necessary for leadership intrinsic in the genetic makeup of a Campion Hall Revd Dr James Hanvey, SJ, Master of Campion Hall would fortunate few, or can they be revealed and nurtured through education and be delighted to meet any Jesuit and Oxford alumni to talk about the future experience? The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Louise Richardson, will explore this development of the Hall and its research programmes, and the unique nature of question with a panel including leading Washingtonian Oxonians.