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C R O S S W O R DT H E S T C R O S S C O L L E G E M A G A Z I N E 2 0 1 4
A D Q U AT T U O R C A R D I N E S M U N D I(and beyond)
2 CROSSWORD | 2014
West Quad Campaign An update on the progress towards achieving this landmark project.
The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy – Mapping the Milky WaySt Cross Fellow Gavin Dalton explains his work with the Gaia project to create a three dimensional map of our solar system.
Tunisia’s Constitutional MomentSt Cross Alumnus Riddhi Dasgupta describes his experience with the Tunisian government drawing up a ground-breaking constitution.
Oxford CallingTales from the call room of the recent Telethon.
Supermarket SweepSt Cross Academic Administrator Ian Pugh explains how his family gave up shopping in supermarkets for a year and why they never went back.
St Cross College Photography Competition 2014
Cocaine, Membranes and BrainsDPhil student Andrew Johnston discusses his work discovering how the fast absorption of alkaloid drugs, such as cocaine, might improve drug delivery in serious illnesses.
Sports News
St Cross PeopleA look at the lives of fi ve current and former St Crossers.
Matriculation and College Photographs
Donor Roll
Alumni Updates
Past Events
Dates for your Diary - back cover
Contents
Crossword – Issue 22
Editor: Laura King
Contributors: Susan Berrington & Megan Palmer
Design: Broccoli Creative Design
Contact details: The Development & Alumni Relations Offi ceSt Cross College61, St GilesOxfordOX1 3LZ
Tel: +44 (0)1865 278480Email: [email protected]
Cover Image: The William Herschel telescope in La Palma, see page 6 for full story
Photo credit: Nik Szymanek and Ian King
This edition of Crossword is printed using an environmentally friendly, waterless printing process, on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certifi ed paper and to Eco Management Audit Scheme (EMAS) standards.
ST CROSS COLLEGEU N I V E R S I T Y O F O X F O R D
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3St Cross College Magazine | 2014
Welcome to Crossword 2014, where we � nd ourselves preparing for an exciting schedule of activities at College and around the world to celebrate our 2015 50th Anniversary.
The 2015 50th Anniversary Campaign for the West Quad is the largest campaign in the College’s history and I am delighted to report the College has raised over £5 million toward the £10 million needed for the West Quad. I hope with the help of our members we can reach this target in our Anniversary year. With 23 of the 53 student rooms and two rooms on the ground fl oor, the Douglas and Catherine Wigdor Room and the Sybil Dodd Room named by donations, we are signifi cantly further ahead than this time last year. I wish to thank again all our supporters and friends, I hope I see many of you over the coming year to thank you personally.
The College has produced St Cross at Fifty, a celebration of the College’s fi rst fi fty years. Written by three St Cross historians, Diarmaid MacCulloch, Jan-Georg Deutsch and Tim Pound, edited by Emilie Savage-Smith. The Volume is available through the College’s website. Do reserve your copy as a keepsake and memento in the College’s history.
This edition of Crossword sees contributions on the Gaia project and the diff erence this will make to our knowledge of the universe; how cocaine breaks through the blood-brain barrier and how this potentially informs drug delivery in medical treatments; and the vital work in communities around the world using architecture to alleviate the eff ects of poverty. This edition demonstrates the College’s inspiring intellectual diversity, and the contribution our members make to society.
From Michaelmas 2014, we will be visiting, Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East, along with events at College, including a series of intellectually stimulating lectures from our own stellar academic community and some special guests. Working with our Alumni Representatives, we are planning events in Zürich, Seattle, New Delhi, Bangalore, Vienna, Boston, Chicago, Dubai, Beijing, Taipei and Tokyo. Our celebrations culminate in the 50th Anniversary Gaudy on 3rd and 4th October 2015. A very special weekend is planned to celebrate with our Alumni and friends. Put this date in your diary and plan a visit to College to celebrate this special year with us. ■
College Fellow and BAFTA award-winning � lm producer Anthony Ge� en dazzled viewers with his latest extraordinary and innovative � lm “Natural History Museum Alive 3D”.
The project was written and presented by David Attenborough, who takes us on a journey through the world-famous Natural History Museum in London, revealing as never been seen before a compelling tale
of discovery, adventure and magic. This is a special collaboration of experts and curators from the Natural History Museum with 3D and ground-breaking CGI technology. Set within the spectacular Natural History Museum, this 90 minute fi lm fulfi ls the dreams of the nation’s favourite naturalist. Congratulations to Anthony and his team winning another BAFTA to add to his growing collection. ■
Message from the MasterContents
Natural History in 3D
GENERAL NEWS
▲ Sir Mark Jones
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4 CROSSWORD | 2014
Sir Mark Receives RCA FellowshipOn Friday 27th June in recognition of his signifi cant contribution to the arts, the Master was awarded the Royal College of Art Senior Fellowship. At the ceremony, three Honorary Doctorates were also presented to Alber Elbaz, the Artistic Director at Lanvin; Grayson Perry CBE, Fine Artist and Ceramisicist; and Paola Antonelli, the Senior Curator of Architecture & Design at MoMA. Eric Hagman CBE, Former Treasurer of the RCA was also awarded the Senior Fellowship along with Sir Mark. The fi ve awardees are pictured with Dr Paul Thompson, Rector of the Royal College of Art. ■
Rana Mitter Appointed Director Michaelmas Term 2013 saw the changing of the guard at the Oxford China Centre as Professor Rana Mitter began his tenure as Director. Professor Mitter was delighted to take up the position at the dawn of an exciting time for the centre as they prepare for the opening of the Dickson Poon Building in September 2014. He
thanked his predecessor, Professor Andrew Goudie, Fellow and Former Master of St Cross for his superb work. ■
Success for No Buts, Becky! Associate Member, José Patterson was thrilled that her debut novel “No Buts, Becky!” was voted the second runner up in the Children’s section of the People’s Book Prize Competition. José commented that this result was “not bad for an octogenarian’s fi rst attempt into fi ction!” Paying tribute to her supporters at St Cross, José off ered her heartfelt and sincere thanks for their encouragement. ■
Bostrom Top Thinker Professor Nick Bostrom has been ranked in the top 15 world thinkers in Prospect Magazine. Readers of this respected British politics, economics and current aff airs magazine were asked to select from a list of the world’s leading thinkers, and St Cross Fellow Professor Bostrom was ranked alongside Indian Economist and philosopher Amartya Sen, Chinese policy reform advocate Mao Yushi and Pope Francis. ■
Honorary Degree for Diarmaid University of St Andrews awarded an honorary degree to Professor Diarmaid MacCulloch in 2013 as part of the University’s 600th anniversary celebrations. Professor MacCulloch received the award alongside former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Archbishop of Canterbury the Right Revd Rowan Williams and inventor of the World Wide Web, Sir Tim Berners-Lee. In a touching account of his theological career, Scotland’s oldest university praised Professor MacCulloch for his “exceptional gifts, enviable facility with words, and outstanding learning” and commended him as “a public fi gure of great courage, wit and grace.” ■
Success for
“No Buts, Becky!” was
Pro-Vice-Chancellor Appointment Fellow of St Cross Professor Anne Trefethen was appointed a Pro-Vice-Chancellor without portfolio on the 19th March. She is Professor of Scientifi c Computing, Director of the Oxford e-Research Centre and Co-Director of the James Martin Institute for the Future of Computing. ■
4 CROSSWORD | 2014
5St Cross College Magazine | 2014
Thank you to all our supporters who have helped the College to raise over £5.5 million towards our £10 million goal. 23 student rooms out of 53 are named by donations as well as 2 rooms on the ground fl oor, the Library Garden Room becomes the Douglas and Catherine Wigdor Room and the small seminar room becomes the Sybil Dodd Room. Douglas and Catherine Wigdor fell in love as students in the libraries and gardens at Oxford, Douglas, Alumnus of the Year 2014, studied MLitt Social Studies in 1993 at St Cross, and Catherine MPhil Politics in 1993 at Lincoln College. James Dodd (DPhil Theoretical Physics, 1973), Alumnus of the Year 2013, has named the small seminar
room after his Mother, Sybil. We still have some rooms to be named, including the Library and Lecture Theatre. We hope over the course of our 50th Anniversary activities the building receives a name too.
Take a look at the 2015 50th Anniversary West Quad Campaign fi lm on our College website to see and hear more about the transformational diff erence this building will make to the College, our academic and our social lives. If you would like a confi dential conversation with no obligation about the Campaign and ways in which you can be involved, please do contact the Master, Sir Mark Jones or the Director of the Development, Susan Berrington directly. ■
2015 50th Anniversary Campaign for the West Quad
GENERAL NEWS
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6 CROSSWORD | 2014
picture of our Galaxy: accurate distances to the stars still forming in clusters across the whole Galactic disk will pin down a major uncertainty in current models for stellar evolution. Accurate positions and velocities will give orbits for individual stars, providing a high-resolution map of the gravitational potential within the Galaxy and revealing details of the distribution of Dark Matter in the galactic halo. The data will reveal coherent streams of stars, the straggling remnants of small satellite galaxies merging with the Milky Way. High resolution spectroscopy from WEAVE will allow us to identify the detailed ages and chemical compositions for around one million stars, which can in turn be grouped into stars which formed together in a single ‘event’, but which are now dynamically indistinguishable from the bulk population. The sum of these groups of stars in turn provides a complete archaeological history of the early formation of the Galaxy, and will provide a step-change in our understanding of the bigger picture of the formation and evolution of galaxies, and the wider cosmological question of the structure and evolution of the Universe. ■
The detailed mapping of the stars has its roots back in the ancient world, with Aristarchus using the armillary sphere devised by Eratosthenes (and beautifully illustrated in our own West Quad) to map the positions of nearly 1000 stars.
December 2013 began the most recent chapter of this history with the launch of the European Space Agency’s Gaia satellite mission. Now settled in its desired orbit around one million miles from Earth, Gaia scans space behind a single thermal shield that blocks both the Earth and Sun from view.
Gaia’s mission is simple: to carry out a complete census of the Milky Way. In detail, this means that Gaia’s 1.2m telescope and three instruments will, over a fi ve year survey, measure 3-dimensional positions, 2-dimensional motions (proper-motions),
and colours (photometry) for one billion stars down to a limit that is 1 million times fainter than the faintest stars visible to the eye.
Working in concert with this mission is the WEAVE project, which will place a new instrument, WEAVE, on the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope on the Canary island of La Palma. With observations commencing in 2017, this will provide spectroscopy of 1000 stars at a time, allowing us to observe 10 million stars, distributed over the whole Northern sky, by the time the fi nal Gaia data are released. WEAVE will provide velocity measurements matched to the proper-motion uncertainties at the full depth of the Gaia survey.
Putting all this together (with several hundred collaborators across Europe), will provide an astonishingly detailed
The Hitch-Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy – Mapping the Milky WayGavin Dalton, Professor of Astrophysics; Fellow by Special Election
▲ Artist’s impression of the Gaia telescope in orbit.
▶ The Gaia telescope during construction▼ Final preparations prior to launch
7St Cross College Magazine | 2014
MAPPING THE MILKY WAY
8 CROSSWORD | 2014
values inherent in faith. The tenuous balance is to invite economic investment without encouraging casual corruption. This remarkably progressive new Constitution owes its strength to a commitment to the rights of all and to learning from its past as a rational, mature actor rather than rejecting it wholesale. Almost as a harbinger of changes to come, this Constitution brings Tunisia into the community of nations and strengthens her (and perhaps eventually the entire Maghreb’s) relationship with the West. Being in the constitutional moment, however awe-inspiring, is not enough. Growing out of that moment and continuing the momentum will be the interesting part. ■
Tunisia’s Constitutional Moment: An Experience to Cherish
Some things that sound too good to be true are, happily, very good and very true. Three years ago, George Bangham, chairman and leader of The Wilberforce Society (endearingly known as “Team W”) sought to help the Tunisian National Constituent Assembly (NCA) in its eff ort to draft a new Constitution. The Arab Spring had sparked off a conversation in Tunisia and it was spreading powerfully across the Arab World. We were thus confronted with a tremendous responsibility to fulfi l this obligation fully. Our task was to recommend various courses of action with respect to human rights, equality, structural bulwarks, anti-corruption, presidential powers, and a secularism that respects religion. Team W’s patrons include several peers of the realm, politicians, journalists and economists in public life.
The chief duty of negotiating and drafting was upon the General Rapporteur of the Tunisian Constitution. The ensemble of our 35-expert-strong team consisted of Bangladeshi, British, German, and Spanish human rights and economic advocates, a US state assistant attorney general, and international law and policy experts. In this
role, Team W was committed to justifying the constitutional choices in keeping with the desires of ordinary Tunisians. This is not surprising since our team wanted to produce the charter from the comparative law standpoint, addressing the experiences of other Arab states including Egypt and Morocco, and also Canada, several Eastern European and Latin American constitutions, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the UK and the US. We were struck by the heartfelt cooperation and touching hospitality we received from Tunisians, both unsung citizens and well-known politicians.
This proposed Constitution places crucial principles on the Tunisian civic radar; human rights, equality, limits on an omnipotent executive strong-man, anti-corruption, and a secular spirit that is suff used with the ethical
Dr Riddhi Dasgupta (MSc Comparative Social Policy, 2007)
▲ Final preparations prior to launch Members of the Tunisian Parliament wave � ags after approving the new constitution.
▼ Scenes of jubilitation on the streets of Tunisia at the new constitution.
9St Cross College Magazine | 2014
“Oxford Calling” the 2014 Telethon
GENERAL NEWS
“Oxford Calling”
▼ Students in the call room chatting with Alumni.
▲ St Cross teddy keeping callers motivated.
We were delighted to make contact with Alumni and former members around the world and are most grateful for your support and encouragement to our student callers.
Our students thoroughly enjoyed their time in the call room and valued the opportunity to speak with those who fi lled the common room before them and compare notes, ask how life has changed and seek advice on how they might best use their time here in Oxford. We urge members of our community to become part of the telethon as it helps us to ensure we hold the correct data – in a way with which you are comfortable – whilst also providing you with an opportunity to off er feedback.
The Campaign was very successful raising £43,500 over fi ve years for the 2015 50th Anniversary Campaign for the West Quad. Thank you to all those who made a donation. ■
10 CROSSWORD | 2014
Fundraising in memory of departed friends St Cross College mourned the loss of distinguished members, two of whom are commemorated by a memorial fund in their names. In late 2013 the College was deeply saddened by the loss of Dr Godfrey Staff ord CBE FRS, Master of St Cross College from 1979 until 1987, and commemorates his legacy with the establishment of the Godfrey Staff ord Memorial Fund. The purpose of the Fund, which has been created with the permission and participation of the Staff ord family, is to support student accommodation in the West Quad and alleviate student hardship thereafter.
St Cross College mourned the loss in February 2014 of Professor Lorna Casselton CBE FRS, Honorary Fellow, and has established the Lorna Casselton Memorial in her memory with the support of her friends and family. The purpose of the Memorial is to establish an annual lecture in her name, and a memorial scholarship for a graduate student in the biological sciences. The
Inaugural Lorna Casselton Memorial Lecture will be held in our 50th Anniversary year bringing eminent scientist and Nobel Prize Winner Sir Paul Nurse to St Cross, on Friday 15th May 2015.
If you would like to make a donation in their honour, please contact [email protected] ■
Healthy lifestyle prompted by the SRCThe importance of exercise within a healthy lifestyle has been proven many times and the Student Representative Committee were keen to promote this to our students. As such, they undertook a trial period off ering free membership to the University Sports Club’s Iffl ey Road Gym for all junior members. The scheme has been so popular that, thanks to backing from the Common Room Committee, it has been rolled out to include Senior Members and Staff and there are plans afoot for the next academic year to include pool access for Students. ■
Moving onAt the end of September our Bursar, Maureen
Doherty, who has served the College diligently for 17 years, will be retiring. She has made a profound contribution to the success of the College and her able and eff ective management contributed signifi cantly to raising funds for the West Quad. We will miss Maureen and wish her well for her retirement.
This year we also say farewell to Laura King, who has worked at St Cross for 8 years in the Development & Alumni
Relations Offi ce. Laura has made a signifi cant contribution to the life of College working hard for the benefi t of current and former members, and particularly on the West Quad Campaign.
Chris Roberts, St Cross College’s long-serving Admissions and Academic Secretary retired at the start of Michaelmas term 2013. Chris has been the operational bedrock of the admissions process for 15 years, shepherding the college through growing student numbers. ■
Chef Whips up Charity Cash The annual UK fundraising drive, Sport Relief is an inspiring initiative. This year, the members of Team Honk,
comprising bloggers from across the UK and including St Cross College’s very own Head Chef, Robert Rudman, set themselves the mammoth challenge of completing a relay from Land’s End to John O’Groats. Representing Team Honk Oxfordshire, Rob took the baton on from the Reading team in the beautiful surroundings of Radcliff e Square. He undertook to run the 10 mile stretch from Oxford to Eynsham Toll Bridge before the relay continued by bike to Chipping Sodbury. A veteran of charity running events, Rob completed the challenge in a personal best time, raising over £1000 for Sport Relief. ■
Déjeuner or Mittagessen? Where better to learn a new language than one of the most international colleges in Oxford? That was the thinking behind a recent SRC initiative, Language Lunches, off ering members the chance to practice their skills with native speakers in an informal setting, over lunch in Hall once a month. This has been a great success, with Spanish, French, German and Mandarin just some of the languages on off er. ■
Students Dining OutBuilding on the last few years’ eff orts of the student Social Secretaries and External Representatives, St Cross has become one of the colleges involved with exchange dinners. Our ever strong internal reputation for the culinary prowess
of our catering team has now reached the wider collegiate community and colleges are chomping at the bit to enjoy joint events with us. St Cross is now off ering up to four exchange dinners a term, as well as additional social events with Christchurch, Magdalen and others, forging friendships across the colleges. ■ Ph
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11St Cross College Magazine | 2014
St Cross Academic Administrator and MCR Ian Pugh, talks about his family’s decision to move their consumer power away from supermarkets and the resulting paradigm shift.
Give up shopping in supermarkets for one year; that was the decision we made on a whim. Not only because supermarket shopping with a six month old baby was hugely inconvenient, but because we wanted to see if it was possible to eat great, locally produced food, support our local economy and yet save money.
However, supporting local producers was not as easy as avoiding supermarkets. We were now buying our milk very cheaply from the local newsagent, but questioned where was that milk produced. We started visiting dairy farms and talking to food producers to understand the provenance of our food and the economic issues impacting upon farmers and growers. It led to the realisation that if the consumer is getting a good deal, perhaps the producer or indeed the animal further up the supply chain isn’t so lucky.
As such, the food we have been buying from markets and independent shops can be slightly more expensive gram for gram than that which we could have bought in a supermarket. However, not only can we trace its provenance, but the quality also means we use less; bacon from the butcher’s doesn’t shrivel to nothing and a good sized chicken can feed us for 3-4 days in various guises. In addition, shopping supermarket-free has decreased our environmental impact as we have virtually no food or packaging waste, any scraps we do have go to our chickens to become eggs.
Not shopping in supermarkets was simple; I shopped at the market during my lunch break and we bought ingredients to make our food from scratch. We have achieved our goal of reducing our outgoings on food, but more than that, this new ethos has permeated into the rest of our lives, only buying what we need and shopping with the belief that cheapest doesn’t always off er the best value.
15 months on, we have still not crossed a supermarket threshold… ■
Supermarket Sweep
GENERAL NEWS
▶ Ian with his daughter Lizzy visiting a local farm.
12 CROSSWORD | 2014
‘Hometowns’ was the theme of this year’s annual photography competition, which now enters its �fth year. We received many exceptional entries with a wide range of interesting takes on the theme, from a vibrant Canadian flag fluttering against a blue sky, to the rain-soaked cobbles of one of Rome’s lesser known avenues. The winning entry was “His hometown is now the crumbling empire of his childhood dreams” by Héloïse Vande Wiele, who was awarded a bottle of Crémant de Bourgogne.
St Cross Photography Competition 2014
FIRSTHéloïse Vande Wiele“His hometown is now the crumbling empire of his childhood dreams”
SECONDAshley Townshend“A town on the long way home”, Sary-Tash, Kyrgyzstan
12 CROSSWORD | 2014
13St Cross College Magazine | 2014
FOURTHHéloïse Vande Wiele“After 8 years and a passport – the way back home”, Kirkuk, Iraq
THIRDEric Sor“Kids’ Pancake Race”, Wallingford, Oxon
FIFTHCarl Hildebrand“‘Withering Sphinx’, Sphinx glacier in Garibaldi Provincial Park, British Columbia, Canada”
13St Cross College Magazine | 2014
Alkaloids are a group of drugs comprising some of the most widespread and notorious compounds, such as ca� eine, nicotine and cocaine. Normally produced by plants their bitter taste is thought to provide protection against herbivores. Alkaloids aff ect the action of neurotransmitters in humans, thus explaining their prevalence as recreational drugs. However, alkaloids (including cocaine) are also medically valuable. Cocaine is derived from coca leaves which themselves have reputed medical benefi ts. The fi rst true medicalisation of cocaine came when Austrian ophthalmologist Karl Koller pioneered its use as a local anaesthetic for eye surgery in 1884.
Cocaine is of particular biochemical interest because of its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although the BBB successfully protects the brain against noxious agents, it also prohibits the delivery of therapeutics to the brain. In fact, around 98% of drugs fail at clinical trials due to inadequate BBB permeability.
There is currently no clear consensus regarding the mechanism by which
cocaine crosses the BBB. One popular theory relates the ability of cocaine to cross the BBB to conformational changes between
the salt form and the freebase form (‘crack’ cocaine), which is distinguished by having an extra hydrogen atom compared with the salt form of cocaine. By determining the atomic structure of cocaine in water, I hope to gain insight into exactly how cocaine is able cross the BBB.
Determining the structure of molecules in water is important because this is the physical milieu in which they must function in vivo. As the function of molecules is closely associated with their structure, without knowing the structure of molecules in physiologically relevant environments, namely water, a comprehensive understanding of their behaviour is precluded.
The principal technique I use to investigate the structure of molecules in solution is neutron diff raction. Neutron diff raction works by
measuring the change in momentum of neutrons that have passed through a sample. How much the momentum of these neutrons changes is related to the composition and structure of the sample and results from interaction with the nuclei of the atoms in the sample. This change in momentum can be plotted as what is known as a diff raction pattern. Thus, neutron diff raction measurements of cocaine dissolved in water can tell us about the relative spatial distribution of the atoms of cocaine and water molecules.
Through studying simpler molecules with analogous structures to cocaine using these methods, I have been able to
obtain information about molecular orientations and distributions. In the next stage of my work,
I plan to conduct a similar analysis to investigate the infl uence
of water on the structure of cocaine molecules. Complementary work studying structural changes that occur when cocaine is in solution with lipid, the substance that forms the BBB, will also be undertaken. This approach will help elucidate the atomic scale structural features of cocaine which enables it to cross the BBB. ■
Cracking the Structure of Cocaine Andrew Johnston DPhil Biochemistry
action of neurotransmitters in humans, thus explaining their prevalence as recreational drugs. However, alkaloids (including cocaine) are also medically valuable. Cocaine is derived from coca leaves which themselves have reputed medical benefi ts. The fi rst true medicalisation of cocaine came when Austrian ophthalmologist Karl Koller pioneered its use as a local anaesthetic for
atomic structure of cocaine in water, I hope to gain insight into exactly how cocaine is able cross the BBB.
Determining the structure of molecules in water is important because this is the physical milieu in which they must function in vivo. As the function of molecules is closely associated with their structure, without knowing the structure of molecules in physiologically relevant environments, namely water, a comprehensive understanding of
a sample. How much the momentum of these neutrons changes is related to the composition and structure of the sample and results from interaction with the nuclei of the atoms in the sample. This change in momentum can be plotted as what is known as a diff raction pattern. Thus, neutron diff raction measurements of cocaine dissolved in water can tell us about the relative spatial distribution of the atoms of cocaine and water molecules.
Through studying simpler molecules with analogous structures to cocaine
eye surgery in 1884.Cocaine is of particular biochemical
interest because of its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Although the BBB successfully protects the brain against noxious agents, it also prohibits the delivery of therapeutics to the brain. In fact, around 98% of drugs fail at clinical trials due to inadequate BBB permeability.
There is currently no clear consensus regarding the mechanism by which
cocaine crosses the BBB. One popular theory relates the ability of cocaine to cross the BBB to conformational changes between
their behaviour is precluded.
The principal technique I use to investigate the structure of molecules in solution is neutron diff raction. Neutron diff raction works by
using these methods, I have been able to obtain information about molecular
orientations and distributions. In the next stage of my work,
I plan to conduct a similar analysis to investigate the infl uence
of water on the structure of cocaine molecules. Complementary work studying structural changes that occur when cocaine is in solution with lipid, the substance that forms the BBB, will also be undertaken. This approach will help elucidate the atomic scale structural features of cocaine which enables it to cross the BBB. ■
DPhil student Andrew Johnston discusses his work discovering how the fast absorption of alkaloid drugs, such as cocaine, might improve drug delivery in serious illnesses.
14 CROSSWORD | 2014
Cracking the Structure of Cocaine
CRACKING THE STRUCTURE OF COCAINECRACKING THE STRUCTURE OF COCAINE
15St Cross College Magazine | 2014
Cocaine is derived
from coca leaves which
themselves have reputed
medical bene� ts. The
� rst true medicalisation
of cocaine came when
Austrian ophthalmologist
Karl Koller pioneered its use
as a local anaesthetic for
eye surgery in 1884.
16 CROSSWORD | 2014
GolfSt Cross � elded a small but carefully chosen team in this year’s Oxford University Inter-Collegiate Golf Tournament, held at Frilford Heath Golf Club on Friday 21st March 2014.
Bill Gott (PGCE, Physics, 1993), Doug Wigdor (MLitt Social Studies, 1993) and Graham Robertson (DPhil Geology, 1990) competed with spirit. After a convivial lunch of roast beef and red wine, competitors enjoyed nine holes in the afternoon.
It is quite a special event in which to compete and we would love to have more team members. Do get in touch if you fancy joining in next year. ■
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17St Cross College Magazine | 2014
Orienteering Orienteering is an extremely competitive sport which o� ers participants the opportunity to escape from the city to the wild, as well as the challenge of � nishing a course using � ne navigation techniques.
The Oxford University Blues team, including St Crosser Karin Sørlie, had a very good showing at the British University Orienteering Championships in Leeds this February. Karin achieved seventh place in the women’s individual race (out of fi fty participants), which contributed to an impressive third place overall for Oxford University (behind winners Sheffi eld and runners-up Edinburgh). Congratulations Karin. ■
RowingPotomac Boat Race – 21st September 2013The 2013 Oxford-Cambridge Alumni Boat Race on the Potomac saw North American Alumni compete from a host of di� erent colleges, including St Cross Alumna Rebecca Schneider (MPhil European Politics & Society, 2009), who was the coxswain for the women’s team. The races were followed by a wonderful reception hosted by the Cambridge Club at the Ritz-Carlton hotel.
The Oxford men’s VIII swept to a great victory by over 1.5 lengths. The Oxford women’s IV was defeated by just one length.
Congratulations to all of those who participated. To participate next year, or to connect with Alumni in the Washington area, please contact Alumni Representative Rebecca Schneider, further information on the College website.
Summer EightsThe Wolfson Boat Club enjoyed a successful Summer Eights regatta. Of the six boats entered, W1 and W2 did well bumping three times and twice respectively.
M3 had their most successful Eights yet, getting blades for only the third time, fi nishing at their highest place on the river and securing the boat into a fi xed division. Congratulations to St Crossers Giovanni Mezzano, Jan Ahrend, Duncan Palmer, Wybo Wiersma, João De Sousa Pinto and Alessandro Caputo.
For more information, including crew lists and day by day race reports by St Cross Alumnus Cliff ord Sofi eld, please see www.wolfsonrowing.org ■
Potomac Boat Race – 21st September 2013The 2013 Oxford-Cambridge Alumni Boat Race
Summer EightsThe Wolfson Boat Club enjoyed a successful
RowingPotomac Boat Race – 21st September 2013The 2013 Oxford-Cambridge Alumni Boat Race
▼ From the left: Aini Vuorinen; James Parkinson; Poitr Czaban; Karin Sørlie; Sophie Louth; Ben Stevens; Aiden Smith; Oliver Robshaw and Carl Bootland
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St Cross Alumnus, Peter Williams, is making a signi� cant contribution in developing countries combating disease, with his innovative architectural programme ARCHIVE Global.
Since graduating from St Cross, Peter has founded the international non-profi t organization ARCHIVE Global, under a mission to combat disease through architecture. Peter’s academic background, both in architecture from Columbia University and social sciences from St Cross, came together after graduating, when he took a position at the World Bank. His role was to oversee loan agreements in developing countries with a view to improving slums via infrastructure investment. It was during this time that he saw an opportunity to use architecture to combat disease in the developing world. ARCHIVE Global, is currently working in Cameroon to combat malaria, Haiti to combat tuberculosis, and Bangladesh to combat parasitic infections.
A snapshot of fi ve St Cross members and the impact their work has on the world.
Specifi cally, Peter cites ARCHIVE’s work in West Africa as benefi tting from his studies at St Cross. Where the organisation works in Cameroon, the spread of malaria is exacerbated by rapid urbanisation and growing immunities to vaccines; by installing cost eff ective, site-specifi c approaches to malaria prevention, such as modifying housing design with netting eaves, rates of infection can be dramatically reduced. The work of ARCHIVE Global has made such an impact, that is was recently named one of the world’s best sustainable ideas by Forbes.
Peter sees an undeniable link between housing and health, although these issues are most often seen in isolation. The mission of ARCHIVE is thus twofold – to provide healthy, site-specifi c housing designs to combat disease, and to spur dialogue between public health communities and designers, architects and urban planners alike to impact government and policy decisions. ■
ST CROSS PEOPLE
Peter Williams (MSc African Studies, 2008)
▲ Community members pose after an educational session.
▲ An educational session in Yaounde, Cameroon. Family heads learn about vector control strategies.
▼ One of the homes to be renovated. Basic housing interventions involving screening entry points and improving walls and roofs are proven vector control strategies.
19St Cross College Magazine | 2014
Current student Natasha Kidd talks about the
recent exhibition of her work at Modern Art Oxford.
Natasha’s ongoing Fine Art doctoral research looks into the nature of art production, praxis and an object’s relation to its surroundings. Her most recent piece Infl ate System Automated was exhibited as part of Modern Art Oxford’s “Test Run” and asked the question “what is revealed by exposing production in the site of the encounter?”
The work consisted of seven paintings which were installed in the gallery, each constructed from 2 skins of canvas. These paintings inflated with paint until they were filled to their maximum capacity. As they overflowed, paint seeped down the surface of the paintings, the paint was fed into the paintings through metal pipes inserted into their structure.
Each of the 7 paintings had a paint collection trough, which sat directly underneath the paintings and collected the residual paint as it flowed off the
surface of the painting. The troughs connect together via a returns pipe, thus feeding the paint back to start the journey again. Over time layer after layer of paint accumulates on the surface of the paintings, stalactites form (pictured) along the bottom edge.
The work filled the room with the sounds and smells of the production of paintings and offered the audience the opportunity to be “inside” production and have access to the creative process as it evolves live within the space. ■
ST CROSS PEOPLE Natasha Kidd (DPhil Fine Art)
ST CROSS PEOPLE
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20 CROSSWORD | 2014
Alumnae, Dr Katy Gearing and Dr Mary Morse, talk about their careers at the cutting edge of pharmaceutical research and development. Both have worked at GlaxoSmithKline for 20 years, Dr Gearing is Biological Sciences Department Head and Dr Morse is Biology Discovery Leader.
Dr Morse, please tell us about the focus of your work.I am primarily responsible for evaluating preclinical effi cacy of novel small molecule drugs to help guide dose selection for early Clinical Development. The projects I work on are for treating autoimmune and infl ammatory diseases and focussed on drugs which target epigenetic processes, which is a relatively novel and very exciting new area for drug discovery.
Dr Gearing, I understand your work focuses on a di� erent thread?My team designs and produces biological reagents and assays for drug discovery. This is a platform group that supports many disease areas including Mary’s.
You’re both extremely experienced in your � eld, have you found your careers rewarding?The drug discovery environment off ers the opportunity to continue to learn all the time by participating in multidisciplined research teams. Project teams are typically made up of chemists, biologists, pharmaceutical scientists and clinicians and this diversity is stimulating.
It is motivating and a privilege to be able to conduct really interesting science and apply this to delivering new treatments for patients.
We have heard much in the media of late regarding a drive to increase the number of women in science, does the working culture in drug research and development support those aims?The matrix team environment in this industry creates a strong network which is energising and supportive for personal development. There is the opportunity to develop to your strengths; apply scientifi c skills, develop as a line manager and project team leader.
What advice would you o� er to current students at St Cross who wish to follow in your footsteps?Think about what inspires you and be true to your passions; only work in subject areas that most interest you. Pro-actively obtain training and learn on the job from those around you.
Finally, what do you both remember most about our time at St Cross?The lunches, the wonderful sense of community and the interesting people we met along the way. ■
Dr Katy Gearing (DPhil Zoology, 1986) and Dr Mary Morse (DPhil Biochemistry, 1989)
Project teams are typically
made up of chemists,
biologists, pharmaceutical
scientists and clinicians and
this diversity is stimulating.
21St Cross College Magazine | 2014 21St Cross College Magazine | 2014
Dr Jim Williamson remembers the College’s progressive approach to the computer sciences and explains the importance of The Record.
I joined St Cross as a Fellow in 1970 in the days of the `Wooden Hut’. The College had been founded fi ve years earlier so it was still very small, but had plans to build a grand new building. A model of the building resided in the foyer by the main entrance for all to see but, alas, it never materialised.
One of the things that the College was particularly involved in was computing. We had a number of distinguished computing Fellows, one of whom was Jack Howlett, Director of the Atlas Laboratory. In those days the University possessed only one computer at the OU Computing Laboratory which served the whole University. The Atlas Laboratory was set up to provide the biggest and best computing facilities for universities and government establishments in the UK and they were just beginning to experiment with remote access. Through Jack Howlett, St Cross was fortunate to be given one of the early remote access
To celebrate the forthcoming landmark anniversary, the College has produced a commemorative book to record and remember the � rst � fty years. Written by three St Cross historians, Diarmaid MacCulloch, Jan-Georg Deutsch and Tim Pound, edited by Emilie Savage-Smith, and with a foreword by Sir Mark Jones, St Cross at Fifty will be available by subscription and is a very special way to remember the fi rst chapter of the College’s history.
The names of the fi rst 300 subscribers will be printed in the book; the closing date for this special hardback edition has now passed but a regular paperback edition is available for £20.00. Demand is high so please do order your copy as soon as possible by contacting the Development and Alumni Relations Offi ce. ■
To pre-order your copy or for information on giving to the Anniversary Campaign please call +44(0)1865 278480 oremail [email protected]
terminals which was set up in the College computer room. The then Vice-Master, Alan Jones, made heavy use of this in his study of the Koran, as did other Fellows and Students, including myself.
One of the jobs I have undertaken for the last ten years as Publications Offi cer is the production of the St Cross College Record. This publication, which is provided for all members of the College as well as Alumni, sets out to maintain a record of College membership and activities from year to year. It is an important document as it attempts to record information that might otherwise be lost. ■
Dr Jim Williamson, Emeritus Fellow and Publications O� cer
ST CROSS PEOPLE
In those days the University
possessed only one
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ST CROSS at Fifty
To pre-order your copy or for information on giving to the Anniversary Campaign please call +44(0)1865 278480 oremail [email protected]
22 CROSSWORD | 201422 CROSSWORD | 2014CROSSWORD | 2014
23St Cross College Magazine | 2014 23St Cross College Magazine | 2014
ST CROSS COLLEGE - MATRICULANDSST CROSS COLLEGE - MATRICULANDSST CROSS COLLEGE - MATRICULANDSST CROSS COLLEGE - MATRICULANDS
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24 CROSSWORD | 2014
St Cross College Donors 2012 – 2013
Once again this year, the generosity and support of Alumni, college members and friends has surpassed expectations.The College is very grateful for all gifts, large and small, particularly at a time of exceptional economic uncertainty for all of us. Every gift and donation to St Cross makes a diff erence to the quality of the experience we can off er to our students.
The list of names on these pages is based on all gifts received by St Cross College between 1 August 2012 and 31 July 2013 and includes individuals, companies and foundations.
Individual DonorsDr Raul G. Acosta Garcia, DPhil Social & Cultural Anthropology 2001
Mr Ayokunu B. Adedokun, MPhil Development Studies 2010
Mr Nibras Aldibbiat, MSc Comparative Social Policy 2009
Dr Susan J. Allen, DPhil Medieval History 1985
Mrs Jamie B. Aller, MSc Comparative Social Policy 2002
Mr Malcolm A. Allison, MSc Forestry 1993
Dr Jose Antonio Alvarez Tapia, DPhil Economics 2000
Mr Felix Arends, MSc Mathematics & Computer Science 2008
Dr Michael Athanson, DPhil Archaeology 2004
Dr James R. Aubry, MEng Engineering Science 2003
Professor Jere L. Bacharach, Former Fellow
Mr Steven J. Baker, MSc Computer Science 1999
Ms Judith Barr, MSt Classical Archaeology 2009
Mr Stephen M. Bass, MSc Forestry and Its Relation To Land Use 1976
Dr Eelco Batterink, DPhil Computer Science 2003
Dr Mariano Beguerisse-Diaz, MSc Math Mod & Scientifi c Computing 2007
Mr Peter Benton, Emeritus Fellow
Dr Joel Berkowitz, Former Fellow Mr Ian V. Bhugun, MSc Software Engineering 2002
Dr Thomas Birkett, DPhil English 2007
Ms Michel M. Bjerregaard, MSc Educational Studies 2010
Mr Nicholas J. Blinco, MSt Ethnology 1993
Dr Jennifer J. Bonsell, DPhil Theoretical Physics 1984
Mr Simon A. Bonvoisin, MSc Agriculture & Forest Sciences 1979
Dr Richard W. Branch, DPhil Life Sciences Interface DTC 2005
Mr Richard W. Briant, Fellow by Special Election Mr Dennis Britton, Emeritus Fellow Mr Vivian Brown, BPhil Philosophy 1963
Mr Rory Browne, MSt European Archaeology 2007
Ms Laura E. Burnes, MSc Pharmacology 2007
Dr Katarina K. Burnett, DPhil Atomic & Laser Physics 1997
Professor Lorna A. Casselton, Honorary Fellow
Dr Luis Cereceda, DPhil Mathematics and Computation 2002
Mr Samidh Chakrabarti, MSc History of Science 2003
Mr Konstantinos Chatzimichalis, MSc Mathematical Finance 2007
Mr Hung Cheng, Former Fellow
Dr Lanna Cheng Lewin, Friend
Mr John W. Clarke Jr., MSt Theology 1998
Ms Hilary Clauson, MSc African Studies 2009
Dr Roger J. Collins, DPhil History 1968
Dr Victor W. Cook, DPhil Philosophy 1990
Dr Catelijne Coopmans, MSc Economic & Social History 2000
Mrs Tonia Cope Bowley, Member of Common Room
Ms Joanna Craigwood, MPhil Development Studies 2003
Mr Alasdair Crawford, Friend
Mr Alan Cropper, Friend Dr Theresa De La Fuente, MSc Geology 1987
Mr Matthew F. Donmall, MPhil International Studies 2000
Dr Ralf M. Donner, DPhil Theoretical Physics 1997
Dr Michael K. Durkin, DPhil Earth Sciences 1988
Dr Vaughan M. Dutton, DPhil History of Science 2005
Ms Natasha Ebtehadj, MPhil Modern Chinese Studies 2006
Dr Mohamad R. El Ghonemy, Former Fellow Dr Maria G. Enriquez-Harris, DPhil Biochemistry 1984
Dr Bronwen E. Everill, MSt European Archaeology 2005
Mr Brian R. Fence, MSc Modern Japanese Studies 2008
Dr Daniel Forbes-Ford, DPhil Clinical Medicine 1996
Dr Philip P. Frampton, DPhil Inorganic Chemistry 2002
Mr Spencer Frasher, MBA 2002
Dr Margret G. Frenz, Former Fellow Dr Edward M. Furgol, DPhil Modern History 1977
Dr Rebecca Golbert, DPhil Social & Cultural Anthropology 1996
Mr Jonathan J. Gorrie, MPhil Modern Chinese Studies 2001
Mr William J. Gott, PGCE Physics 1993
Dr Grizelda J. Graham, MSc Psychological Research 1968
Dr Xiaonan Guo, DPhil Computer Science 2008
Dr Mathew Hamill, MSc(Res) Physiology 2005
The Revd Professor Wayne J. Hankey, DPhil Theology 1978
Mr Derek J. Harrison, MSt European Archaeology 1951
Ms Alice Haylock, Staff
Mrs Susan M. Hockey, Emeritus Fellow
Ms Suzy Hodge, Member of Common Room Professor Tony Hope, Emeritus Fellow Miss Esther M. Horowitz, MSc Applied Linguistics &
2nd Language Acquisition 2010
Ms Laura Hurst, MPhil in Modern Languages 2009
Dr Raphael Ingelbien, MPhil English Studies 1994
Professor Harold W. Jaff e, Former Fellow
Professor Wendy R. James, Emeritus Fellow Ms Patricia Jayne, Friend
Professor Alan Jones, Emeritus Fellow
Professor Martin K. Jones, DPhil Archaeology 1980
Ms Rebecca M. Jones, PGCE Biology 2008
Sir Mark E. Jones, Master
Mrs Karin Keeble, MPhil Theology 1989
Mr Anupum Khaitan, MSc Computer Science 2001
Ms Rachel G. King, MSt World Archaeology 2009
Ms Laura King, Member of Common Room
Sir John F. Kingman, Former Fellow
25St Cross College Magazine | 2014
Ms Ellen M. Kingsley, MSc Software Engineering 2000
Dr Pui Yan Lau, DPhil Sociology 2002
Mrs Judith Ledger, Member of Common Room Ms Chae Jeong Lee, MSc Comparative Social Policy 2007
Mrs Janine Lee, Associate Member
Mr Norman Leenhouts, Friend
Mr Adam J. Levin, MPhil English Studies 1996
Dr Stephen H. Lloyd, DPhil History of Art 1989
Dr Mary T. Lloyd, DPhil Biochemistry 1971
Ms Victoria Love, DPhil English 1969
Dr Simon MacDonald, Former Fellow Mr Johannes M. Machielsen, MSt Modern History 2006
Ms Lisa Maddigan, MSc Material Anth & Museum Ethnography 2002
Mr Vasnath Manickam, MSc Computer Science 2007
Mr Manuel Manrique Gil, MSc African Studies 2008
Dr Aruna G. Marasingha, DPhil Mathematics 2000
Dr Harvey Marcovitch, Former Member of Common Room Mr Peter A. Mathias, MSt US History 2010
Mr Nicholas J. Mayhew, Fellow by Special Election Mrs Jill McCleery, Friend Miss Caitlin McDonnell, MSc Biomedical Engineering 2009
Mr Michael A. McMahon, MSc Financial Economics 2003
Mr John McLaughlin, MSc Educational Studies 2008
Dr David A. Mitchell, DPhil Archaeology 2004
Dr Charles M. Mould, Emeritus Fellow
Mr Vladimir Mukanaev, MSc Financial Economics 2009
Mr Vahd N. Mulachela, Cert Diplomatic Studies 2008
Mr Ugyen Namgyel, Cert Diplomatic Studies 2009
Mr Robert A. Nathenson, MSc Sociology 2005
Dr Anastasia Natsina, DPhil Byzantine Studies 1998
Mr Robert Neely, MSc Computer Science 1982
Dr Norman D. Nicol, Visiting Fellow Dr Steven Niederer, Former Fellow
Mr Michael G. Noone, PGCE Biology 1998
Mr Frank Norman, Former Fellow Mr Jonathan P. Oakley, PGCE Science 1987
Miss Aoife A. O’Higgins, MSc Evidence Based Social Intervention 2011
Dr Ana R. Oliveira, MSc Computer Science 1994
Dr Joseph G. Olliver, Emeritus Fellow Mr Yogesh Patel, MPhil Economics 1998
Mrs Bronwen E. Percival, MSc Social Anthropology 2004
Dr Timothy B. Pound, DPhil Educational Studies 1990
Mr Alexander E. Rayner, MPhil Politics 2005
Mr Donald S. Richards, Emeritus Fellow
Professor Steven G. Roberts, Former Fellow
Mr Adrian D. Roberts, MLitt Oriental Studies 1958
Professor Derek A. Roe, Emeritus Fellow Ms Sarah E. Rubin, MSc African Studies 2005
Mr Richard Rushforth, MSc Water Science, Policy & Management 2010
Ms Rebecca Schneider, MPhil European Studies 2009
Ms Nadine M. Schoeneck, Exchange Student - Sociology 2001
Dr Mustapha Sheikh, DPhil Theology 2006
Dr Robert L. Simpson, DPhil Earth Sciences 1998
Ms Meagan Sinclair, MSt Classical Archaeology 2010
Ms Therese K. Skatun, MPhil Development Studies 2006
Dr Geoff rey Smith, Emeritus Fellow
Mr Kuotong Soo, MSc Economics for Development 2002
DONORS
Dr Thomas P. Soper, Member of Common Room Professor Garrison Sposito, Former Fellow Dr Keith Suter, Former Fellow Dr Glenn Swaff ord, Fellow by Special Election
Dr Alan Taylor, Member of Common Room Mr Clive A. Tee, MSc Software Engineering 2004
Dr Peter Teriete, DPhil Biochemistry 1998
Professor Ian Thompson, Former Member of Common Room
Miss Abigail E. Tompkins, DPhil Archaeology 2011
Ms Jessica S. Van Der Meer, MPhil Development Studies 2006
Dr Ruth E. van Heyningen, Emeritus Fellow
Ms Anne B. Vandenabeele, MPhil Economics 1998
Mr Mark Vastenavondt, MSc Integrated Immunology 2005
Professor Martin P. Vessey, Emeritus Fellow Professor Grace Wahba, Former Fellow
Mrs Jocelyn O. Watkins, MSc Evidence Based Social Intervention 2010
Mr Robin E. Wells, MSt Anthropology 1994
Mr Alexander J. West, MSc Social Anthropology 2010
Ms Nizie Whiddon, Friend
Ms Kathy L. Whitt, MPhil Modern Jewish Studies 1990
Dr Eric J. Whittaker, Emeritus Fellow Dr Edward J. Williamson, Emeritus Fellow
Mrs Rebecca S. Wilson, MPhil Social Anthropology 2001
Mr Emmett V. Wilson, MSc Educational Studies 2007
Professor Christopher R. Wilson, DPhil Music 1979
Mr Brian E. Woolnough, Emeritus Fellow
Dr Fu Ju Yang, MSc Applied Linguistics & 2nd Language Acquisition 2006
Dr Wang Y. Ying, DPhil Social & Cultural Anthropology 1997
Mr Arthur H. Zhou, MSc Sociology 2000
Dr Friedrich W. Zimmermann, Emeritus Fellow
Companies, Trusts & FoundationsThe Coral Samuel Charitable Trust Google LtdHeadley Trust Uehiro Foundation on Ethics and Education Legacy PledgesWe are very grateful for the 8 legacy pledges received this year, exceeding £1.6 million.
Legacy Noti� cationsDr Charles D. Walshaw, Emeritus Fellow
Anonymous Donors and Gifts in KindWe would also like to thank 8 anonymous donors and those who have given gifts in kind to the College. ■
26 CROSSWORD | 2014
Francesca Burke (DPhil Politics, 2012) was the joint recipient of the 2013 BRISMES Leigh Douglas Memorial Prize for her thesis “Students of Resistance: Palestinian student mobilization at home and in exile.” The Leigh Douglas memorial Prize is awarded annually to the writer of the best PhD dissertation on a Middle Eastern topic in the Social Sciences or Humanities. Francesca is now Research Fellow for the Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) based at the British Institute in Amman where she is conducting research for the British Academy funded research project “Higher Education and Political Change in the Arab World”. ■
Tom Birkett (DPhil English Language & Literature, 2007) has been awarded an Irish Research Council New Foundations Grant for his project ‘From Eald to New: Translating Early Medieval Poetry for the 21st Century’. This project aims to share best practice and foster collaboration between academics and poets working with Old English, Old Norse and Old Irish poetry. The project includes a conference and poetry event, which will create a multidisciplinary forum to advance scholarly understanding of the practical, theoretical and socio-cultural aspects of the translation process and lead to the establishment of a network for future research and collaboration. ■
Judit Simon (DPhil Economics, 2003) has been appointed Professor of Health Economics at the Medical University of Vienna, establishing a new department at this respected institution. The aim of the new Department of Health Economics at the MedUni Vienna (Centre for Public Health) is to become a distinct, independent academic research unit and to create interdisciplinary collaboration among clinicians and researchers not only within the MedUni Vienna, but also with other Austrian and international research institutions. ■
Ruthe Farmer (MBA, 2007) has been named a White House Champion of Change for Tech Inclusion and will be honoured at the White House on 31st July for her work to increase girls’ participation in technology fi elds. ■
BirthsHiroshi Onagi (EMBA, 2010). Nanami Onagi
Stuart Armstrong (DPhil Mathematics, 2002) & Miriam Sekki (MSc Educational Studies, 2004). Maia Athena Illysia Armstrong. ■
Michael Day (MPhil Greek and Latin Language and Literature, 2004) Penelope Olivia Day, on December 23, 2013. ■
Elisabeth Schroeder-Butter� ll (DPhil Social Intervention, 2000). Lucas Henry born in May 2013. He is much adored by his three sisters, Lily, Isabel and Hannah. Elisabeth will return to work as a Lecturer in Gerontology at the University of Southampton in September 2014. ■
Xiaoyang You (MSc Educational Studies, 2006) and Zhiyu Chen (MSc Biomedical Engineering, 2006). Orson Chen. ■
Sander Verboom (MPhil Politics: Political Theory, 2002). Sophie Christine Verboom. ■
Alumni News Michael Levenstein (MSc Comparative Social Policy, 2011) was elected one of the youngest-ever Fellows of the Royal Society of Arts for his contribution to moral philosophy. He has also recently published a book titled ‘The End of Knowledge: A Discourse on the Unification of Philosophy’, which presents a revised theory of ethics capable of integrating previously incompatible schools of thought within it, in the process spurring wide-ranging policy implications. ■
Bronwen Everill (MSt Archaeological Science, 2005) and Josiah Kaplan (DPhil International Relations, 2005) have co-authored a book called ‘The History and Practice of Humanitarian Intervention and Aid in Africa’ (Palgrave 2013)
This volume responds to a need for greater historical grounding in the study of humanitarian intervention, by bringing together a wide and interdisciplinary range of contributors who explore the history, theory, and practice of humanitarian intervention in Africa. ■
return to work as a Lecturer in Gerontology at the University of Southampton in September 2014.
(DPhil Mathematics, 2002)
27St Cross College Magazine | 2014
St Cross College is delighted to announce that the Alumnus of the Year 2014 is Douglas Wigdor (MLitt Social Studies, 1993).
This is the second occasion on which this award has been given to Doug and is in recognition of his support of the College; both to the West Quad campaign and in his work as an International Alumni Representative.
Doug is a highly respected attorney in the US and has worked on many high profi le cases. He recently gave a most interesting presentation at the inaugural US Founders’ Feast, details of which are on page 28.
We are extremely grateful to Doug for his ongoing support and look forward to presenting the award at the forthcoming Alumni Reunion in Seattle in November. ■
Dr Jerome Booth (DPhil Economics, 1987)
“Emerging Markets in an upside down world”
Reviewed by Richard Briant, International
Director and Associate Fellow at Saïd Business School, Fellow of St Cross College
“The world is upside down”, may not (yet) be a truth universally acknowledged, but it makes a challenging fi rst half sentence. Jerome Booth has been a highly successful investment manager specialising in emerging markets, and his specifi c claim is that they have been upturned. Yet most investors still regard such markets as inherently more risky than those in the developed world, a perception that helped protect them from the 2008 fi nancial crisis: the emerging world never had the opportunity to over-borrow to such a ruinous extent as in the West.
This book may be particularly directed to institutional investors, but much will be of more general interest: on the banking meltdown and on globalisation. This is “both a state and a process”; it has economic, technological and cultural aspects; it homogenises but also creates diversity of choice; complicates and simplifi es; brings benefi ts and confl icts and produces winners and losers”.
Jerome Booth is a noted philanthropist, particularly in the fi eld of music, and he is an investor in start-up businesses (many of which also suff er from lenders’ traditional caution about future returns, preferring to make asset-backed loans). He has written, as Nigel Lawson says in his Foreword: “an original, challenging, stimulating and largely convincing book”. ■
Alumnus of the Year 2014
Book Review In Crossword 2013 we inaccurately reported Aly Kassam-Remtulla’s gender in relation to his marriage to Dr Lee Phillip James in November 2012 at Princeton University Chapel. We apologise unreservedly for this error, and wish Aly and Lee our congratulations on their marriage. ■
Marriages Muzahir Degani (MSc Financial Economics, 2006) wed Danielle Yong (University College London 2005) in an intimate, cliff top ceremony on 16 November 2013 in Sri Panwa on Phuket, Thailand. The couple met through a mutual friend while working in London. In 2012, during a trip to the UK, Muzahir proposed at Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons in Oxfordshire. The couple now live in Singapore where Muzahir is working in equity sales. ■
ALUMNI NEWS
28 CROSSWORD | 2014
Washington DC Inaugural USA Founders’ Feast16th November 2013
The Inaugural USA Founders’ Feast was held at Georgetown University, Washington DC, bringing to the USA one of the College’s most special events, celebrating the work of the founding members.
Following a delicious buff et, St Cross Alumnus and Alumni Representative, Douglas Wigdor gave an informative talk about the eff ects of recent pro-employer legislation in the USA on employees. Douglas (MLitt Social Studies, 1993) is one of the most successful and distinguished employment attorneys in America and a founding partner of Thompson Wigdor LLP. This wonderful evening is set to be repeated on a biannual basis. Please see the back page events list for details of the 2015 Feast. ■
Singapore Reunion19th November 2013
St Cross’s South East Asia-based Alumni received a red carpet welcome when His Excellency Anthony Phillipson, British High Commissioner to Singapore, hosted an intimate reunion at his home, the elegant Edwardian Singapore residence, Eden Hall.
The Master and Director of Development joined His Excellency for a drinks and canapé reception. Mr Phillipson spoke about his time at Keble College in Oxford, and the importance that the University continues to hold throughout the world. He also spoke of the relationship that St Cross College and Oxford University has with the South East Asian region – and expressed his belief that this will continue to thrive. ■
Past Events
29St Cross College Magazine | 2014 29St Cross College Magazine | 2014
London Winter Drinks11th December 2013
One of its most popular annual events on the calendar, the London Winter Drinks at the Oxford and Cambridge Club, opened this year with the College’s 2015 50th Anniversary Campaign Film, produced by St Cross Fellow and BAFTA award winner Anthony Geff en. The fi lm was followed by a thought-provoking talk by Professor Stanley Ulijaszek, Fellow and outgoing Vice-Master of St Cross, on why we eat the food that we do, and how people’s dietary behaviour has changed over the course of human existence – which is the subject of his newly released book ‘Evolving Nutrition: Implications for Public Health’. ■
Edinburgh Winter Drinks9th December 2013
Held at the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh, the event was a fi rst for the Alumni Relations calendar in Scotland, as well as a welcome return for the Master, who oversaw the creation of the multi-award winning Museum of Scotland while Director of the National Museums of Scotland (1992–2001).
The Museum’s Director of Collections, Dr Jane Carmichael, opened proceedings with a warm welcome at a private drinks reception in the Bute and Board Room. The Museum’s Keeper for Scottish History and Archaeology collections, Dr George Dalgleish, then led a fascinating tour around the Museum to highlight some of their most impressive artefacts. ■
PAST EVENTS
30 CROSSWORD | 201430 CROSSWORD | 2014
Hong Kong Reunion21st March
St Cross College’s fi rst foray into Hong Kong was a wonderful success. Guests enjoyed a delicious buff et supper in the exclusive surroundings of the China Club. Professor Rana Mitter, star of the University of Oxford’s Meeting Minds weekend and St Cross Vice-Master, was on hand with Director of Development, Susan Berrington, to update Alumni on friends on the latest St Cross News. ■
1965 Club Dinner14th February The 1965 Club is an exclusive group of St Cross College’s most generous donors, and each year the College hosts a black tie dinner to show thanks and appreciation. The Master updated all those attending on progress of 2015 50th Anniversary Campaign for the West Quad, noting 21 (now 23!) student rooms in the West Quad have been named and two rooms on the ground fl oor named the Douglas and Catherine Wigdor Room and the Sybil Dodd Room respectively. The evening is always a highlight of the College calendar. ■
31St Cross College Magazine | 2014 31St Cross College Magazine | 2014
New York Reunion12th April
The 2014 North American reunion was a stylish black-tie aff air, held in the beautiful art nouveau surroundings of the National Arts Club on Gramercy Park. Held in collaboration with Lincoln, Exeter and Magdalen Colleges, the pre-dinner drinks reception was hosted by the Vice-Chancellor of the University, making it the place to be that evening. ■
Fred’s Lunch10th April
As we enter the build up to our 50th Anniversary year, Fred’s Lunch is an integral part of the annual calendar of Alumni reunions. Once again friends gathered from far and wide to enjoy lunch together in Hall in the company of the indomitable and incredible Fred Hodcroft. ■
Audrey Blackman Society Lunch9th April
The annual gathering of those who have pledged a legacy to St Cross College is always a very special occasion and this year was no diff erent. Now numbering 32 in membership, this Society grows larger each year. St Cross is immensely grateful to all those considering pledging a legacy to the College. ■
PAST EVENTS
32 CROSSWORD | 2014
St Cross College, European Alumni Reunion, Zürich, Saturday 13th September 2014 A delicious four course lunch at the Sorrel Hotel Zürichberg from 11.30, all welcome. £65.00 per head; casual dress code; booking essential.
Oxford Reunion,Saturday 20th September 2014 Open Common Room from 13.00–15:30 followed by Champagne High Tea from 17.00–19.00. Families welcome; free of charge; daily dress.
Seattle Alumni Reunion,Monday 3rd November 2014Early evening drinks with the Master and Development Director at the Seattle Art Museum, including a tour of the current exhibition.
Blenheim Christmas Market,Saturday 22nd November 2014
London Winter Drinks,Monday 8th December 2014The College’s annual drinks reception will be at the Oxford and Cambridge Club from 18.30; all welcome. Free of charge; formal dress code; booking essential.
Carol Service,Tuesday 9th December 2014A festive evening of carols performed by the St Cross College Choir, in the beautiful surroundings of Pusey Chapel. Drinks and mince pies will be served in the common room after the service. Free of charge; booking not required; daily dress. ■
New Delhi Reunion,Saturday 31st January 2015
Bangalore Reunion,Monday 2nd February 2015
50th Anniversary 1965 Club Dinner, Thursday 12th February 2015A special black-tie dinner, by invitation only.
50th Anniversary Hilary Term Lecture, Thursday 19th March 2015Presented by Susan Weber-Soros.
50th Anniversary Fred’s Lunch,Saturday 21st March 2015Join St Cross friends old and new at the annual Alumni Association lunch, this year taking place on a Saturday. St Cross Alumni and former members only; free of charge; booking essential; daily dress.
Audrey Blackman Society Lunch,Friday 27th March 2015Lunch for those who have pledged a legacy to St Cross College. Invitation only.
European Reunion, Vienna,Friday 24th to Sunday 26th April 2015
Lorna Casselton Memorial Lecture,Friday 15th May 2015 The inaugural lecture will be given by the President of the Royal Society, Sir Paul Nurse.
North American Reunion – Boston,Friday 15th May 2015The Harvard Club, Downtown.
Encaenia, Wednesday 24th June 2015
Beijing Reunion, Tuesday 7th July 2015
Taipei Reunion, Thursday 9th July 2015
2015 50th Anniversary Celebratory Gaudy Weekend, Saturday 3rd & Sunday 4th October 2015This landmark occasion in St Cross College’s history will be celebrated with a full weekend of events including lectures, a champagne buff et lunch, Evensong in Pusey Chapel, and a black tie gala dinner.
USA Founders’ Feast – Chicago, Saturday 7th November 2015at the University Club, Chicago
In addition, a range of informal reunion events take place throughout the year in various locations; please subscribe to our social media streams for information and updates. ■
To book a place for any of the above, please contact the Alumni Relations O� ce:
Alumni Relations O� ce, St Cross College, 61 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LZ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1865 278 480E: [email protected]
Dates for your Diary
2015 50th Anniversary Events
ST CROSS COLLEGEU N I V E R S I T Y O F O X F O R D
To book a place for any of the above, please contact the Alumni Relations O� ce:
Alumni Relations O� ce, St Cross College, 61 St Giles, Oxford, OX1 3LZ, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1865 278 480E: [email protected]
Published byThe Development & Alumni Relations Offi ce, St Cross College, 61, St Giles Oxford OX1 3LZ
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