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CONTENTSContentsMaster’s Report 2<strong>College</strong> Life The gardens <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s <strong>College</strong> 6Postcards to the Master 10Catz|fivezero – a campaign update 12OXIP 14Reflections <strong>of</strong> a recent Visiting Fellow 16Cameron Mackintosh inaugaral lecture 18Peter Mandelson 20The Centre for Vision in the Developing World 22Finals results & prizes 2009 24Graduate degrees and diplomas 27Sports review 29<strong>St</strong>udent Perspectives Nadiya Figueroa 31Tom Costello 32Colin Smith 34Dunlaith Bird 35Alumni News Alan Katritzky 37Hanna Sykulska 40Dave Rigg 42Richard Thomson 44News in brief 46Development Office contacts 47<strong>College</strong> events list 2010 and time capsule clue 48Catz Fellows Richard Parish 49Peter Battle 51Byron Byrne 53Kerry Walker 56Peter Dickson 58Gazette George Holmes 60Nibby Bullock 64Short obituaries 66Admissions 69ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/1


MESSAGESconstitute academe. Caroline Bird, shortlisted for theDylan Thomas Prize, was chosen by the BBC as the‘face’ <strong>of</strong> their website for their Poetry Season. <strong>College</strong>music has reached new levels <strong>of</strong> excellence, perhapscatalysed by the arrival <strong>of</strong> musicians Mark Simpson(BBC Young Musician <strong>of</strong> the Year 2006) and JonathonSwinard. In September I travelled to Singapore, wherethe Catz Wind Quintet performed at the National<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Singapore, to a full house <strong>of</strong> 600 people.We are very grateful indeed to Vee Meng Shaw (1953,Law) and his daughter Priscylla for their tremendoussupport. We also congratulate Peter Franklin, ourTutorial Fellow in Music, for being the maestro behindall this.Two <strong>of</strong> our students, Tom Costello and Aisha Mirza, took<strong>Oxford</strong> by storm with their musical Circle Line, whichthen transferred to London for a short run. Aisha playedone <strong>of</strong> the two leads and also wrote the music, whilstanother Catz student, Venetia Thorneycr<strong>of</strong>t, producedthe art work. This innovative new production, whichreceived impressive reviews, employed anunconventional range <strong>of</strong> media to tell the story <strong>of</strong> twoyoung people who meet by chance on the Undergroundon the day <strong>of</strong> the first 2005 London bombings.Our alumni too have played their part in enhancing the<strong>College</strong> pr<strong>of</strong>ile. Peter Mandelson (1973, PPE) hasbecome the Head <strong>of</strong> the newly created Department forBusiness, Innovation and Skills, whilst Pr<strong>of</strong>essor TimBrighouse (1958, Modern History) was knighted forservices to education. Andy Triggs Hodge (2004,Geography & the Environment), our Olympic goldmedallist, was awarded the MBE, as was Clive Maxwell(Geography, 1989) for public service. Clive, formerlyhead <strong>of</strong> financial stability at the Treasury, has beenparachuted into the Office <strong>of</strong> Fair Trading as part <strong>of</strong> anoverhaul <strong>of</strong> the consumer watchdog. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor ElmerRees (Tutor in Mathematics, 1971–1979) was awardedthe CBE. Adam Foulds (1994, English) had his latestnovel short-listed for the Man Booker Prize. The bookhas been praised for the beauty <strong>of</strong> its language and itssensitive portrayal <strong>of</strong> characters. In film, James Marsh(1982, English) has won both a BAFTA and an Oscar fordirecting Man on Wire, which uses interviews andarchive footage from 1974 to follow French wire-walkerPhilippe Petit’s realisation <strong>of</strong> his dream <strong>of</strong> walkingbetween the World Trade Center’s twin towers. HannaSykulska (2000, Engineering and Materials), was therecipient <strong>of</strong> the Institute <strong>of</strong> Engineering andTechnology’s Young Woman Engineer <strong>of</strong> the YearAward. She was the only female engineer in the UK toparticipate in NASA’s 2008 Phoenix mission to Mars, amission to explore the northern plains <strong>of</strong> the planet.Josh Silver (1964, Physics) brought his Centre for Visionin the Developing World to be housed in <strong>College</strong>. Therehas been much global interest in the innovative andpioneering work that Josh and his team are carryingout, and we are pleased to be able to assist with this.Chris Bishop (1977, Physics), now Chief ResearchScientist at Micros<strong>of</strong>t Research in Cambridge, and alsoPr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Computer Science at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Edinburgh, gave the Royal Institution’s ChristmasLectures on High-tech Trek: The Quest for the UltimateComputer. Amongst many other things, he exploredIn September Itravelled toSingapore,where the CatzWind Quintetperformed atthe National<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Singapore, to afull house <strong>of</strong>600 people.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/3


MESSAGESand explained the field <strong>of</strong> machine learning, and talkedabout the obstacles that are making it harder tocontinue the improvement in processor speed, and theideas being explored to overcome them. Continuing theEdinburgh connection, <strong>College</strong> greatly enjoyed thecompany <strong>of</strong> Richard Thomson (1971, History), WatsonGordon Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Fine Art at Edinburgh since 1996,who came to <strong>Oxford</strong> for Hilary Term 2009 as SladePr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Fine Art. Richard has also kindly agreed togive the second Katritzky lecture in May 2010. AlanKatritzky (1948, Chemistry and Honorary Fellow) hashimself recently received the Robert Robinson Award inrecognition <strong>of</strong> his contribution to organic chemistry.Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Ram Rao, Honorary Fellow, has been awardedthe Royal Society 2009 Royal Medal for ‘his highlyinnovative and diverse contributions to solid-state andmaterials chemistry’....as fine acatalogue <strong>of</strong>achievement inone year aswe have everhad, and Ihave only hadtime to paint asmall section<strong>of</strong> the canvas.their mammoth project on Jonathan Swift. Dr TomPizzari, Tutor in Zoology, was awarded the PhilipLeverhulme prize for his research. Tom is interested inthe evolutionary ecology <strong>of</strong> sexual behaviour, andfocuses on resolving different aspects <strong>of</strong> sexualselection and intersexual co-evolution, using the fowl,Gallus gallus.I must thank my colleagues for the great commitmentand support they give unstintingly to the ideals <strong>of</strong><strong>College</strong>. Great effort is required to run a smooth ship,and much <strong>of</strong> that takes place in the backgroundsupporting the more public pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>. Alsothe sterling work that Margaret and Derek Davies havecarried out over the years in the <strong>College</strong> archives isimpressive — their assiduous attention to detail is aprecious resource for the <strong>College</strong>.Perhaps one <strong>of</strong> the most unusual awards went toPr<strong>of</strong>essor Michael Sullivan, who was honoured by theBeijing Harmony Culture Foundation for his lifetime’swork promoting the knowledge and understanding <strong>of</strong>Chinese art abroad. Progress has been made too withacademy membership: Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Peter Edwardsbecomes a member <strong>of</strong> the distinguished GermanAcademy <strong>of</strong> Sciences Leopoldina in recognition <strong>of</strong> hisscientific achievements and personal standing, whilstPr<strong>of</strong>essor David Womersley has been made a Fellow <strong>of</strong>the British Academy for bringing to his work ‘anexceptionally subtle and acute critical mind’. It hasbeen a joy in <strong>College</strong> to hear the snippets <strong>of</strong>information that David and his colleague Paddy Bullardrelease to us now and again about the progress <strong>of</strong>In summary then, surely as fine a catalogue <strong>of</strong>achievement in one year as we have ever had, and Ihave only had time to paint a small section <strong>of</strong> thecanvas. I believe the theme throughout my description,the thread which binds the institution together, is therelationship between student and scholar. The tutorial,with all that goes on before it can take place —interviews, admissions, the formation <strong>of</strong> a contractbetween pupil and teacher — form the fundamentalbackbone <strong>of</strong> our institution. In a good number <strong>of</strong>subjects, our postgraduates rapidly become empoweredto research alongside the scholar in the quest for thetruth. To provide this proper environment is expensive;it undoubtedly costs more to deliver than we receive infee income. I believe there is a window <strong>of</strong> opportunity4 /A MESSAGE FROM THE MASTER


MESSAGEScoming, brought about by the politics <strong>of</strong> the moment,when we may be able to address this. This <strong>College</strong> hasbeen very much at the centre <strong>of</strong> <strong>University</strong>-wideinternal and external discussions on this, stimulatinganalysis and catalysing ideas for realising theseambitions. With your help we have made a good startthrough the Catz|fivezero Campaign — celebrating ourfiftieth anniversary in 2012 — to our fund-raising forthis goal which is very much at the heart <strong>of</strong> our plans.We depend, fundamentally, on your continuing supportfor our next half-century — financially, philosophically,politically, emotionally and practically — if this <strong>College</strong>is to continue to be the centre <strong>of</strong> activity in so manyfields, if we are to continue to address the problemsthe world faces, and if we are to produce the freethinkingstudents to meet these challenges.In a goodnumber <strong>of</strong>subjects, ourpostgraduatesrapidly becomeempowered toresearchalongside thescholar in thequest for thetruth.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/5


COLLEGE LIFEThe gardens <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>Emeritus Fellow, Barrie Juniper, writes on the beginnings <strong>of</strong> the<strong>College</strong> gardens and the struggles and triumphs that thedifficult ground and Jacobson’s design brought with them.Harry Bevan began planting the first trees on the site<strong>of</strong> what were to be the gardens <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s<strong>College</strong> late in the autumn <strong>of</strong> 1964. The first students,the ‘dirty thirty’, had already moved into staircases 1 &2, but the garden areas <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong> looked like theSomme on a bad day. There was not a blade <strong>of</strong> grasson the site. Harry planted into the ground compactedby the huge low loaders that had delivered the greatconcrete beams into the <strong>College</strong>. He dug, in the areaaround the newly-completed squash courts, into thickmud through a tangle <strong>of</strong> builder’s rubbish andtemporary telephone wires, and into the deep layer <strong>of</strong>bottles and ash that lies over the whole site and wellinto the Merton pavilion and playing field area. Thisurban rubbish had been dumped by the council roughly,we think, between 1920 and 1940.Tulip tree, or Liriodendron Tulipifera, that was planted in the quadredesign in the 1980s.Some <strong>of</strong> the trees at the southern end <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>that Harry planted, Liquidamber styraciflua with itsbrilliant autumn colour, the stately conifers, Libocedrusdecurrens, the dawn redwoods, Metasequoiaglyptostroboides, several Sorbus (rowan and whitebeamspecies) and the weeping lime Tilia petiolaris, with itswonderful spring scent, survive to this day. For therecord, the last tree Harry planted, just before hisretirement in 1978, was the fine specimen <strong>of</strong> the dawnredwood on the north-eastern corner <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>adjacent to the laundry. Harry planted trees well.Arne Jacobsen had intended the gardens to be anintegral part <strong>of</strong> his whole college design. He had, as thefrequent guest <strong>of</strong> Dr Bullock at New <strong>College</strong>, absorbedthe atmosphere <strong>of</strong> the place, and thus our round lawn,which is the centrepiece <strong>of</strong> both colleges, is thought tobe a reflection <strong>of</strong> that more ancient planting. But Arne’s<strong>of</strong>fice in Copenhagen was only a stone’s throw from the6 /THE GARDENS OF ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE


COLLEGE LIFECatherine’s <strong>College</strong>beautiful Copenhagen Botanical Garden. That gardenwas created on the sandy soil dug out when the city’sancient defences were levelled. It has a magnificentrhododendron collection. <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s <strong>College</strong> is builton what was the <strong>of</strong>ten flooded, calcium-saturated area<strong>of</strong> the lower Thames valley. A frequent refrain <strong>of</strong> thoseearly days was ‘if I cannot have that, what can I have?’<strong>St</strong> Catherine’s lies not between, as is frequently stated,two arms <strong>of</strong> the Cherwell, but rather between aneastern wriggly stream and a western straight ‘mill cut’,dug out, we think, in the early 1600s to drive the cityflour mill, which is now the site <strong>of</strong> Magdalen’s graduatehousing. This mill cut became the eastern defence line<strong>of</strong> the city in the civil war and it can clearly be seen inde Gomme’s military map <strong>of</strong> the town <strong>of</strong> 1642.Another almost lost feature <strong>of</strong> those defences is aravelin that juts out at a curious angle into oursouthern boundary and on which the captain <strong>of</strong>artillery would have mounted heavy guns to keepCromwell’s troops out <strong>of</strong> range <strong>of</strong> the vulnerable butintegral city flour mill. Charles’s gunners would havelooked out to the east over a broad damp meadow (aRunnymede) that no troops or artillery ever attemptedto cross. The name <strong>of</strong> the bridge over the mill cut,Garden fact:The moat holds 240,000 gallons <strong>of</strong> water when fullST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/7


COLLEGE LIFEGarden fact:There are some180 treeswithin the<strong>College</strong> groundsThe gardening team (left to right)Jim Mullard, Neil Holt andSimon Horwood.‘Napper’s Bridge’, is actually a corruption <strong>of</strong> ‘Napier’sBridge’, after the catholic family that held HolywellManor for many generations.Planting and replanting never ceases, and under thesuccessive directions <strong>of</strong> Harry Bevan, Tony Young, NeilHolt and now Simon Horwood, the <strong>College</strong> stays greenbut ever-changing. We are now removing specimentrees that Harry planted in the sixties, and that givesone a sense <strong>of</strong> mortality.Arne Jacobsen did not like flowers; he wanted tree form,leaf shape and texture, changing through the season.He came to understand the bimodal nature <strong>of</strong> thecollege year, concentrating, in its different disciplines, onMay/June and late September/October/November.He particularly disliked roses, but a few such and somediscrete but effective flower borders have crept in.Simon Horwood, Gardens and Grounds Manager, writes aboutthe developments made in the gardens since his arrival in 2005Following in the footsteps <strong>of</strong> prestigious gardeners such asHarry Bevan, Anthony Young and Neil Holt four years agowas going to be a challenge. They had defined andsculptured the gardens between them since the <strong>College</strong> wasopened in the 60s, keeping Jacobsen’s original design intact.I was appointed Gardens and Grounds Manager in 2005,having spent eight years at <strong>St</strong> Anne’s <strong>College</strong> as HeadGardener. With my appointment, Neil Holt retained hisposition as Head Gardener, a long-standing servant <strong>of</strong>the <strong>College</strong> for nearly 20 years. Also in the team is JimMullard, who is a conscientious gardener with a variedhorticultural background.With the backing <strong>of</strong> my garden team and the GardenCommittee we have made vast improvements over thepast four years. There was an urgent need to overhaulthe department when I took over, and new machineryand tools were acquired, and the garden area was8 /THE GARDENS OF ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE


COLLEGE LIFEPostcards to the MasterThis year over forty students who organisedexpeditions to different parts <strong>of</strong> the world, manyundertaking charitable work once they had reachedtheir destination, were supported by a range <strong>of</strong><strong>College</strong> Travel Awards. Postcards arrived on theMaster’s desk from, amongst other countries, China,Ethiopia, Yemen, India, Peru and Italy. Here is asmall selection from the many cards he received…10/POSTCARDS TO THE MASTER


Which brings me to life outside <strong>St</strong> Catz — <strong>Oxford</strong> <strong>of</strong>fersone <strong>of</strong> the richest academic experiences in the world.From its libraries and labs to its gifted teachers andresearchers it is simply astounding. I quickly foundmyself working on papers and research proposals withlively and stimulating colleagues — many <strong>of</strong> them newlymet. There was also a vast array <strong>of</strong> visiting scholars,politicians and musicians to command one’s attention.With my own work and all that was <strong>of</strong>fered by <strong>Oxford</strong>,my term flew by in the wink <strong>of</strong> an eye. Today, I stillhave my gown as a memento <strong>of</strong> a simply wonderfultime at <strong>St</strong> Catz and amongst the dreaming spires <strong>of</strong><strong>Oxford</strong>. To the Master, Fellows, students and staff Iextend my heartfelt gratitude. ■Above: Glen MacDonald outside the Institute <strong>of</strong> the Environment at UCLA.There was also avast array <strong>of</strong> visitingscholars, politiciansand musicians tocommand one’sattention.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/17


COLLEGE LIFEMichael Frayn takes questions from the audience after hisinaugural lecture.down badly brings him great pain. Frayn thentold humourously <strong>of</strong> his realisation <strong>of</strong> theimportance <strong>of</strong> an audience during his time as anundergraduate at Cambridge. He spoke fondly<strong>of</strong> doggedly attending a series <strong>of</strong> History <strong>of</strong>Philosophy lectures given by his tutor, despitethe audience dwindling away to just himself!<strong>of</strong> the award winning Copenhagen or NoisesOff: the desire to entertain.After setting this theory <strong>of</strong> plays as play, hethen turned, with his audience, to the muchdiscussed question <strong>of</strong> the differences betweenbeing a writer <strong>of</strong> plays and a writer <strong>of</strong> novels.Speaking as a renowned author <strong>of</strong> both genres,he observed that there are several fundamentaldifferences between the two. First he turnedhis attention to the most apparent: that,generally speaking, plays are short, and novelsare long. Plays, he expanded, must be compact;they must be kept on track from open to close,whereas a novel may deviate, stop, or evenchange tack entirely. To illustrate his example,he turned to the last four plays <strong>of</strong> a playwrighthe is famous for translating: Chekhov. ‘Everyline’, stated Frayn, ‘<strong>of</strong> those last four plays isdriving forward the business’.Second, in a novel, access to the characters,their mind, conscience and decision-makingprocesses, are elements entirely open to thenovel’s author and thus, their audience. Inthe play however, this is not so. All we mayknow <strong>of</strong> a character in theatre is what thecharacter chooses to tell us and even thenwhat they tell us may be, either intentionallyor through lack <strong>of</strong> self-understanding, untrue.This brought Frayn succinctly to the next majordifference between the two genres: therelevance <strong>of</strong> the audience. The play, he stated,needs an audience and in response, theaudience is very much a part <strong>of</strong> theperformance. Of course, it would be untrue tosay that the novel needs no such audience, asit too relies on a reader to bring it to life, butfor a play, each night <strong>of</strong> the same performancewill differ dramatically depending upon thosewho view it. Offering an insight into his ownexperience, he described how the playwrightsitting within the audience feels a wash <strong>of</strong>emotions in direct correspondence to theresponse <strong>of</strong> the audience themselves. A playthat is well received will bring the watchingcreator great satisfaction, whilst one that goesFrayn then moved on to the crucial role <strong>of</strong> thepresent tense in drama. ‘Things happen infront <strong>of</strong> your eyes’ he stated, naming this thevery essence <strong>of</strong> theatre. Again, he turned toChekhov for his explanation, describing howalthough a great deal <strong>of</strong> narration <strong>of</strong> the pasttakes place in his plays, what actually mattersis what happens on stage. It is the presentthat is the action, the crux and the life <strong>of</strong> thetheatre. Specifically Frayn focussed on theproposal scene in The Cherry Orchard, wherethe audience is intensely conscious <strong>of</strong> thepresent: every millisecond is painfully timeconsuming. Despite every attempt by theplaywright to delay the ever approachingpresent, it ‘has to come on to the stage insome form sooner or later’.In his conclusion, Frayn highlighted the magic<strong>of</strong> the theatre, that which all the elementsthat he spoke <strong>of</strong> contribute to. It can, he said,be all kinds <strong>of</strong> things to all kinds <strong>of</strong> people: itcan be high art, religious fervour or Dionysianfrenzy. And yet above all, ‘we should alwaysremember that plays are play’. ■ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/19


COLLEGE LIFEPeter Mandelson addressesThe <strong>Oxford</strong> <strong>University</strong> Labour ClubLord Mandelson, First Secretary <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>ate, Secretary <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>ate for Business,Innovation & Skills and Lord President <strong>of</strong> the Council, was greeted warmly bya large audience when he returned to <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s, his former college, toaddress the <strong>Oxford</strong> <strong>University</strong> Labour Club (OULC) early in Michaelmas Term.He was enthused to see such a vast audience beforehim, as he joked that there may be a ‘budding prince <strong>of</strong>darkness…or perhaps a princess <strong>of</strong> darkness’ amongstthe assembly.The body <strong>of</strong> Mandelson’s speech emphasized the vitalelements <strong>of</strong> party image, instincts, and ideology.Several times, the MP drew the audience back to thepast, in reminding them <strong>of</strong> 1997 and Labour’smomentous ‘election <strong>of</strong> change’, as he looked towardsthe forthcoming elections. He recognised the work thatLabour have still to do in order to be re-elected, butgave an optimistic forecast, stating his belief that theConservative’s have not yet endeared themselves tothe electorate. In fact, despite Labour’s current fragilestanding in the opinion polls, Mandelson presented asense <strong>of</strong> hope and opportunity for his party, saying‘the underlying picture is slightly different’.Lord Mandelson centred much <strong>of</strong> his speech on thesubject <strong>of</strong> the credit crunch, which he described as a‘once in a lifetime financial crisis’. Calling Labour agovernment which is ‘big and strong enough’ to bringabout a recovery, he made repeated reference to thestabilisation and support <strong>of</strong> the banks that his party hasmade throughout the recession. When questionedabout what Labour would <strong>of</strong>fer if re-elected for a fourthterm, he stated immediately: the economy — ‘it has tobe’, he said, as with increasing economic challenges,‘we’ve got to make sure we do more and better’Mandelson also tackled the topical issue <strong>of</strong> the state <strong>of</strong>British universities, which he described asestablishments <strong>of</strong> ‘innovation’. He set out his highregard for such places saying that, ‘universitiesgenerate knowledge, transfer knowledge, [and] helpapply knowledge’. One student asked about his‘The onusremains on us’,he said, as hestated Labour’sneed todemonstratetheircontinuingcompetence.20/PETER MANDELSON


COLLEGE LIFEperspective on the idea <strong>of</strong> privatisation <strong>of</strong> theseinstitutions, to which the MP answered that forcontinued high standards, they must continue withinthe framework <strong>of</strong> ‘the Public’.The concluding message was one <strong>of</strong> progression anddevelopment. While acknowledging the difficultiesfacing any party looking to be re-elected after 12 yearsin power, Mandelson underlined the possibility <strong>of</strong>success if the current government took the opportunityto move forward. ‘The onus remains on us’, he said, ashe stated Labour’s need to demonstrate theircontinuing competence. He focussed on his party’syouthful cabinet, now more tight-knit, high quality andinspirational than he has ever worked with, as thecatalyst for this demonstration. It is important, he said,that the cabinet does not tire, bore or age.Photo by Izzy Boggid-JonesAfter the talk, Mandelson was happy to mingle with thecrowd, chatting with aspirational student politicians andappreciating their enthusiasm. Second-year studentand co-chair <strong>of</strong> OULC, Ben Lyons, described the event asa great success, saying, ‘It was really exciting beingable to host Lord Mandelson at his old college. Heseemed excited to be back at Catz and gave a greatspeech, full <strong>of</strong> energy and enthusiasm. We had peoplefrom across the university queuing up to come in, andat the end he seemed surprised (although not unhappy)to receive the celebrity treatment, with plenty <strong>of</strong>requests for interviews and photos with students.’ ■Peter Mandelson speaking in the Bernard Sunley Lecture Theatre.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/21


COLLEGE LIFE‘WeJoshShouldSilver,AlwaysalumnusRemember<strong>of</strong> thethat<strong>College</strong>,Plays areonPlay’theCentre for Vision in the Developing WorldI found thatwhen I lookedthrough andadjusted thepower <strong>of</strong> thislens, I couldexactly correctmy myopiamyself —without theneed <strong>of</strong> anoptician.The Centre for Vision in the Developing World, based at<strong>St</strong> Catherine’s, became a reality in March 2009, threeyears after I first explored the possibility <strong>of</strong> setting upsuch an institute. As you will see in our missionstatement — ‘everyone should be able to see clearly —we aim to help over a billion people who can’t’ — thisCentre is devoted to research into improving methods <strong>of</strong>vision correction in the developing world.Although I can recall making my very first variable focusmirrors when I was about ten, my true interest in visionand vision correction came about rather serendipitously,in the mid 1980s. It was a chance remark made by acolleague when I was Fellow and Tutor in Physics at New<strong>College</strong> that inspired me to begin my research. So, inMarch 1985, I designed and made several very crudevariable-power lenses, before, in May <strong>of</strong> the same year,I succeeded in making one <strong>of</strong> rather higher quality. Ifound that when I looked through and adjusted thepower <strong>of</strong> this lens, I could exactly correct my myopiamyself — without the need <strong>of</strong> an optician. This set mewondering whether I might be able to provide a route tovision correction for many people in developingcountries who need, but do not have, correctiveeyewear or access to opticians.Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Josh Silver wearing his ‘Adspecs’.22/THE CENTRE FOR VISION IN THE DEVELOPING WORLD


COLLEGE LIFETwo questions then needed answering: how manypeople in the world need glasses, and could they solvetheir problem by creating their own prescriptioneyewear, as I had just demonstrated with my prototypelens. The simple answers to these questions, are thatbetween two and three billion people in the worldneed corrective eyewear, and that yes, most peoplecan ‘self-refract’ with good accuracy.Having established these answers, I took my selfrefractioneyewear into manufacture, and there arenow over 30,000 pairs <strong>of</strong> this first adaptive eyeweardevice, my ‘Adspecs’, in use in over 15 countries. The‘Adspecs’ are the first (and currently only) availableself-adjustable glasses that allow users to tune theirglasses to their eyes. To change the power <strong>of</strong> thelens, the user turns the wheels on the syringes on thearms to pump more or less silicone oil into the lenses(which are simply two flexible membranes, protectedby a hard plastic layer), changing their shape. Whenthis has been done, the user simply tightens thescrews on each side <strong>of</strong> the frame and cuts <strong>of</strong>f thesyringes and tubing.Our focus to begin with is quantifying the true globalneed for vision correction. This year, the Centre hasmade progress towards what we hope will be anauthoritative publication on that need. Secondly, we areinterested in precisely how refractive error is measured.Somewhat surprisingly, there do not appear to be anyactual standards for the measurement <strong>of</strong> refractive error.Some practitioners will refer to the ‘gold standard’ asbeing a refraction carried out by a qualified practitioner,but our research has already shown that there issignificant error associated with suchmeasurements — or, put simply, theagreementbetweenmeasurementsmade by differentpractitioners is simplynot very good.. Thirdly, we are interested in howwell a person can self-refract, and we have built newvision instruments to study this. We have also developeda training programme, with associated materials, toensure effective delivery <strong>of</strong> the new corrective eyewear,and tested this last Summer, with the delivery <strong>of</strong>corrective eyewear to 1000 people in Liberia. Finally, weare working on a study <strong>of</strong> child vision with support fromthe World Bank in Washington, DC. The eventual aim <strong>of</strong>this study is to try to find a strategy to deliver correctiveeyewear to many hundreds <strong>of</strong> millions <strong>of</strong> children in thedeveloping world. In the past year we have beencollecting field data to this end, in collaboration with ourinternational partners in China and the USA. At this earlystage in the study, we are comparing the accuracy <strong>of</strong>self-refraction with refraction by an eye-care pr<strong>of</strong>essionalfor 1800 children aged 13 to 16. We plan to extend theage range in a later, larger study. ■Josh Silver (1964, Physics)See the Centre for Vision in the Developing World’s newwebsite www.vdw.ox.ac.uk .The ‘Adspecs’ are currently ondisplay in Whitehall, and havealso been chosen by theSmithsonian for a DesignExhibition in the NationalDesign Museum in New Yorkfrom May — even GordonBrown has a pair!ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/23


COLLEGE LIFEFinals Results 2009Mathematics & <strong>St</strong>atistics(BA)Nikhil Shah II (i)Biological SciencesLinnea EkII (i)Nia HamerISarah Harvey II (i)Peter Jones II (i)So Yoon Lee II (ii)Hannah McCurrach II (i)Sean RenferIMichael Senior IRosalind Whiteley IChemistry (MChem)Angela Di Paolo II (i)Saul Moorhouse II (i)Aleks Reinhardt ITimothy Rooney II (i)Simon Shenton IAndrew Williams II (ii)Hanna Winiarska IComputer Science (BA)Zhen DaiIIIEconomics &ManagementMing QiuLai Hang WongII (i)II (i)Engineering Science(MEng)Alexander Burtenshaw IChristopher Chan II (i)Sean DeanIIIAlice Kelly II (ii)Ashley Wharton IEngineering, Economics &Management (MEng)Leo MassonIMandish Muker II (i)Fenix Wang II (ii)English Language &LiteratureAlexander BallCharlotte BayleySamuel ChurneyEleanor CitternMadeleine CorcoranThomas CostelloBenjamin DoehIII (i)III (i)II (i)III (i)Experimental PsychologyHanna Gillespie-Gallery ICaroline W<strong>of</strong>findale IFine Art (BFA)Thomas HoweyJasmine RobinsonII (i)II (i)GeographyAndrew Bremner II (i)Kimberley Harley II (i)Carly Leighton ITimothy Monger-GodfreyII(i)Jack Robinson II (i)Lucy RowlandITomo Sandeman IVictoria Sena II (i)Niall Westley II (i)HistoryTimothy BussAlice FreeJason HardmanSean MacKenzieCharlotte NolanEdward RichardsonDavid TolleyFiona WilksHistory & PoliticsEdward RamsayII (i)II (i)II (i)III (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)IHistory <strong>of</strong> ArtClaire BerthetSophie SiemHuman SciencesLaura BeckersonThomas CarpenterFelix DayLaura FeethamRichard KorgulAlexander KronKatie MurphyHenry TomsettII (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)III (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)LawNatalie Bryce II (i)Gerard Cole II (i)Emma Farrow II (i)Christopher Knowles IAlice McDonald II (i)David Nuttall II (i)Ryan Taylor II (i)Materials Science (MEng)April Dunham II (i)Wei Hao Gu II (ii)Tamara Ibrahim II (i)Lewys JonesIMathematics (MMath)Christopher Boedihardjo IAdrian Johnston II (i)Qian PuII (ii)Timothy WeirICindy Zhang II (ii)Yun Zhe Zhang II (i)Mathematics & ComputerScience (MMathCompSci)Nicholas Cowle IMedical SciencesVeronica ChanSophie FoxenRosemary HintonWei Ying JenMaria McPheeModern LanguagesJames BoltonGregory DeeleyAlexander IltchevKaterine JodoinAmelia JuppWilliam KilpatrickMary-Anne McEvillyTheresa PageIIII (i)IIII (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)Modern Languages &LinguisticsHeather Waldman II (i)Molecular & CellularBiochemistry (MBiochem)Sarah Bowe II (i)Robert Piggott II (i)Marcus Wilson IMusicHannah DavisThomas FosterMatthew HawkenDuncan <strong>St</strong>rachanOriental <strong>St</strong>udiesDewi GouldenII (i)III (ii)III (i)Philosophy & ModernLanguagesNatalie Katsarou II (i)Philosophy, Politics &EconomicsGavin Abbs II (i)24/FINAL RESULTS


COLLEGE LIFEHelene AlmasSamuel DonaldsonEfeosa EkhaeseDavid InnesNicholas SzmiginNada TarbushPhysics (BA)Robert HeatonDominic WilliamsPhysics (MPhys)James HindleElisa PapaVincent PlattBen WarnerII (i)III (i)III (i)II (i)III (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)II (i)Physiological SciencesRuth Holmes II (i)Mikhail Kuzmin II (i)SCHOLARSHIPS ANDEXHIBITIONSScholarsJoe Bennett (MaterialsScience), Ge<strong>of</strong>frey GriffithScholarHannah Buckley(Chemistry), <strong>College</strong> ScholarDavid Bull (History), PhilipFothergill ScholarTimothy Butler (MaterialsScience), <strong>College</strong> ScholarClaire Carpenter(Chemistry), <strong>College</strong> ScholarSimon Cassidy (Chemistry),ATV ScholarFelix Chan (Chemistry), ATVScholarTimothy Chu (Mathematics &<strong>St</strong>atistics), <strong>College</strong> ScholarLiam Dempsey(Mathematics), ClothworkersScholarGe<strong>of</strong>frey Evans (Physics),Goldsworthy ScholarJonathan Fee (MedicalSciences), Sembal ScholarAlice Gatland (Chemistry),ATV ScholarSebastian Gnan (BiologicalSciences), Rose ScholarMax Grandison (Geography),Baker ScholarRoss Hughes (History),Garret ScholarMary Intsiful (Economics &Management), <strong>College</strong>ScholarWojciech Kaluza(Chemistry), F M BrewerScholarMarta Krzeminska (Oriental<strong>St</strong>udies), <strong>College</strong> ScholarKwok Chung Lam(Mathematics), <strong>College</strong>ScholarJeremy Law (Chemistry),<strong>College</strong> ScholarMatthew Passman(Engineering, Economics &Management), ClothworkersScholarAlun Perkins (Physics),Goldsworthy ScholarTarik Saif (Materials,Economics & Management),<strong>College</strong> ScholarMichelle Savage(Chemistry), <strong>College</strong> ScholarRagav Sawhney (BiologicalSciences), Rose ScholarTsun Hang Shek (Economics& Management), ATVScholarZubin Siganporia(Mathematics), <strong>College</strong>ScholarGavin Sillitto (EngineeringScience), <strong>College</strong> ScholarJoshua Sutherland(Engineering Science),<strong>College</strong> ScholarJonathon Swinard (Music),Repetiteur ScholarEva Tausig (History <strong>of</strong> Art),Leask Music ScholarEmma Thorneycr<strong>of</strong>t (History<strong>of</strong> Art), Kaye ScholarGe<strong>of</strong>frey Tibbs (Fine Art),<strong>College</strong> ScholarMarcin Ulinski (ComputerScience), Brook ScholarExhibitionersCaroline Bird (EnglishLanguage & Literature),<strong>College</strong> ExhibitionerJack Davies (Molecular &Cellular Biochemistry),<strong>College</strong> ExhibitionerNicholas Denny (MedicalSciences), <strong>College</strong>ExhibitionerJonathan Fee (MedicalSciences), <strong>College</strong>ExhibitionerChristopher Greening(Molecular & CellularBiochemistry), <strong>College</strong>ExhibitionerOlga Kuznetsova (Molecular& Cellular Biochemistry),<strong>College</strong> ExhibitionerIsobel Neville (MedicalSciences), <strong>College</strong>ExhibitionerNikhal Shah (Mathematics &<strong>St</strong>atistics), <strong>College</strong>ExhibitionerPRIZES AND AWARDS<strong>University</strong> PrizesUndergraduatesArmourers andBrasiers/Rolls Royce PrizePhei Qi Sim (MaterialsScience)Association <strong>of</strong> PhysiciansPrize for an InnovativeProject Demonstratingthe Promotion <strong>of</strong>Academic MedicineVeronica Chan (MedicalSciences)BCS Prize in ComputerScienceWilliam Hackett (ComputerScience)Biogeography ResearchGroup UndergraduateDissertation PrizeNominationTomo Sandeman(Geography)Corus Prize for BestPerformance in Part IPracticalsHui Liang Wang (MaterialsScience)Duns Scotus MedievalPhilosophy PrizeSamuel Donaldson(Philosophy, Politics &Economics)Falcon Chambers Prize forLand LawChristopher Knowles (Law)Gibbs Book PrizeCarly Leighton (Geography)Gibbs Prize for BMBChPart IIJonathan Fee (MedicalSciences)Gibbs PrizeWei Ying Jen (MedicalSciences)Gibbs Prize for the BestPractical PortfolioCaroline W<strong>of</strong>findale(Experimental Psychology)H O Beckit Thesis PrizeTomo Sandeman(Geography)Heath Harrison TravelGrantTimothy Beyer (ModernLanguages)Heath Harrison TravelGrantEleanor Mortimer (ModernLanguages)HMGCC Project Prize inInformation EngineeringAshley Wharton(Engineering Science)Hoare Prize for the BestOverall PerformanceThomas Gibson-Robinson(Computer Science)Kolkhorst & ArteagaExhibitionGeorge Feld (ModernLanguages)Lonza Biologics Prize forthe Best Final YearPerformance in ChemicalEngineeringAlexander Burtenshaw(Engineering Science)Maurice Lubbock Prize forPerformance inEngineering, Economics &ManagementLeo Masson (Engineering,Economics & Management)Musgrave Fund GrantEleanor Mortimer (ModernLanguages)Part II Thesis PrizeProxime AccessitAleks Reinhardt (Chemistry)QinetiQ Prize for the BestThird-year Design ProjectOlufemi Fadugba (MaterialsScience)Ronald Victor Janson Prizefor Best Project inElectronic CommunicationsChristopher Chan(Engineering Science)GraduatesMonckton Chambers Prizein Competition LawMarco Corradi (Law)Peter Beaconsfield Prizein Physiological SciencesJustin Moore (MedicalSciences)Hobson/Mann MemorialScholarshipAndrew Page (MedicalSciences)<strong>College</strong> PrizesThe Bailey Prize forDebating was not awardedThe Burton Prize for thebest academic performanceduring the year in an areacovering Psychology,Sociology, Geography andHuman Sciences wasawarded to Laura Feetham(Human Sciences) andCaroline W<strong>of</strong>findale(Experimental Psychology)ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/25


COLLEGE LIFEThe Cochrane Evidence-Based Medicine Prize forthe best essay on anaspect <strong>of</strong> evidence-basedpractice or the criticalappraisal <strong>of</strong> a topic by agraduate student in clinicalmedicine was awarded toJennifer Mullin (MedicalSciences). Proxime AccessitImran Mahmud (MedicalSciences)The Frank Allen BullockPrize for the best piece <strong>of</strong>creative or critical writingwas awarded to ThomasCostello (English Language &Literature) and Aisha Mirza(Human Sciences)The Gardner Prize foroutstanding contribution tothe life <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong> wasawarded to JonathonSwinard (Music) and MarkSimpson (Music)The Harold Bailey Prize forAsian <strong>St</strong>udies was awardedto James Fowler (European& Middle Eastern Languages)The Hart Prize for the bestessay on an historicalsubject by a first or secondyear undergraduate wasawarded to Emma Mansell(History <strong>of</strong> Art). ProximeAccessit Alice Pooley(History)The Katritzky Prize for thebest performance inChemistry Part I wasawarded to Russell Woolley(Chemistry)The Katritzky Prize for thebest performance in theFinal Honour School inHistory <strong>of</strong> Art was awardedto Claire Berthet (History <strong>of</strong>Art)Leask Music Scholarshipswere awarded to LouiseMaltby (Music) and HallaMagnúsdóttir (HumanSciences)The Michael Atiyah Prizein Mathematics for thebest mathematics essay orproject written by a <strong>St</strong>Catherine’s undergraduatein his or her second yearreading for a degree inMathematics or jointschool with Mathematicswas awarded to ZubinSiganporia (Mathematics).Proxime Accessit Panu Yeoh(Mathematics)The Neville RobinsonPrize for the bestperformance in Physics PartB was awarded to FelixFlicker (Physics)The Neville RobinsonPrize for the bestperformance in Physics PartC was awarded to VincentPlatt (Physics)The Nick Young Awardwas awarded to ThomasCostello (English Language &Literature)The Rose Prize for the bestacademic performanceduring the year inBiological Sciences wasawarded to Michael Senior(Biological Sciences)The Rupert Katritzky Prizeis awarded for the bestperformance in the FinalHonour School in Historywas awarded to SeanMacKenzie (History)The Smith Award forServices to Drama withinthe <strong>College</strong> was awardedto Caroline Bird (EnglishLanguage & Literature)The Smith Award forServices to Music withinthe <strong>College</strong> was awardedto Duncan <strong>St</strong>rachan (Music)The <strong>St</strong>uart Craig Awardgiven to an outstandingstudent who has gaineddistinction in a university ornational sport, or culturalor musical activities wasawarded to Colin Smith(Management <strong>St</strong>udies)The Thomas JeffersonPrize given to the NorthAmerican student who hascontributed most to the<strong>College</strong> academically,socially or culturally ‘in thespirit <strong>of</strong> Thomas Jefferson’was awarded to ClaireBerthet (History <strong>of</strong> Art)<strong>College</strong> Travel AwardsWallace Watson AwardTimothy Motz (European &Middle Eastern Languages)Laura Nellums (Anthropology)Emilie Harris AwardKatarina PunovuoriPhilip Fothergill AwardJanek Seevaratnam (ModernLanguages)Lucy Hartley (EnglishLanguage & Literature)Bullock Travel AwardHannah Buckley (Chemistry)Bullock Career AwardHui Liang Wang (MaterialsScience)Raymond Hodgkin AwardMaximilian Bryant (EnglishLanguage & Literature)Pat Knapp Travel AwardNicholas Denny (MedicalSciences)Antony Edwards BursaryHarry Forman Hardy(Modern Languages)Mark Davys BursaryJekaterinaTchekourda (Lawwith Law <strong>St</strong>udies in Europe)Charles Wenden FundAlexander Ball (EnglishLanguage & Literature)Philippa Mullins (ModernLanguages)<strong>College</strong> Travel AwardsRachel Brettell (MedicalSciences)Amy Carr (Law)Jenny Casswell (Geography)Timothy Chu (Mathematics &<strong>St</strong>atistics)Karwan Eskerie (Law)Emma Farrow (Law)Max Grandison (Geography)Thomas Haynes (History &Politics)Mary Heath (ModernLanguages)Holly Jones (Geography)Kimberley Lake (Physics)Roland Lasius (EnglishLanguage & Literature)Imran Mahmud (MedicalSciences)Maxwell Minckler (Visiting<strong>St</strong>udent)Nicholas Moss (Geography &the Environment)Aisha Mirza (HumanSciences)Melba Mwanje (HumanSciences)Victoria O'Brien (History &Politics)David Park (Physics)Fiona Pitt (ModernLanguages)Jasmine Robinson (Fine Art)Tarik Saif (Materials,Economics & Management)Claudia Schurch (History)Ge<strong>of</strong>frey Tibbs (Fine Art)Timothy Weir (Mathematics)Alexandria Winstanley(Law)26/FINAL RESULTS


COLLEGE LIFEGraduate Degrees & DiplomasDuring 2008-2009 leave to supplicate for the DPhil was granted to the following:Dunlaith Bird (Modern Languages) *Travelling in Different Skins: Gender Identity in EuropeanWomen’s Oriental Travelogues, 1850-1950Sarah Boddy (Physiology, Anatomy & Genetics) *Development and Application <strong>of</strong> an RNA Interference-BasedSystem for Modelling Spinal Muscular Atrophy in Mouse CellsTimothy Carpenter (Biochemistry) *Simulation <strong>St</strong>udies <strong>of</strong> the Influenza A M2 Channel ProteinJoseph Crawford (English Language & Literature)The Curious Case <strong>of</strong> Milton’s C<strong>of</strong>fin: John Milton and thesublime <strong>of</strong> Terror in the Early Romantic PeriodRachele De Felice (Computing) *Automatic Error Detection in Non-native EnglishDavid Graham (Geography & the Environment)The Socio-Spatial Boundaries <strong>of</strong> an `Invisible’ Minority: Aquantitative (re)appraisal <strong>of</strong> Britain’s Jewish PopulationRichard Huzzey (History)‘A Nation <strong>of</strong> Abolitionists’: Aspects <strong>of</strong> the Politics and Culture<strong>of</strong> Anti-Slavery Britain, c.1838-1874Winifred Idigo (Medical Sciences) *Role <strong>of</strong> Neuronal Nitric Oxide Synthase in the Regulation <strong>of</strong>B3-Adrenergic Responses in the Healthy and RemodelledMurine MyocardiumYanyan Jiang (Pharmacology)The Role <strong>of</strong> Peripheral TNF in Acute Brain InflammationHyun Lee (Sociology) *The Development <strong>of</strong> Diversity in Japanese Social Welfare: ACase <strong>St</strong>udy <strong>of</strong> a Non-pr<strong>of</strong>it North Korean Social WelfareOrganisation in JapanApichart Limpichaipanit (Materials)Wear and Indentation <strong>of</strong> Al2O3/SiC NanocompositesAndrejs Novikovs (Mathematics)Some Problems in Gasdynamics and Shallo Water FlowEileen Nugent (Physics)Novel Traps for Bose-Einstein CondensatesTammy Pegg (Medical Sciences)Effects <strong>of</strong> Surgical Revascularisation on Myocardial Functionand InjuryRoland Ramsahai (<strong>St</strong>atistics)Causal Inference with Instruments and Other SupplementaryVariablesRoss Robinson (Medical Sciences)<strong>St</strong>ructural Biology <strong>of</strong> Protein – Protein InteractionsRalf Schneider (Biochemistry)Effects <strong>of</strong> Disease-Associated Mutations on the Fold andSecretion <strong>of</strong> Fibulin-5Sarah Snelling (Medical Sciences) *Genetic and Functional <strong>St</strong>udies <strong>of</strong> Osteoarthritis SusceptibilityDaniel <strong>St</strong>okeley (Life Science Interface)Multi-Scale Modelling <strong>of</strong> Long QT SyndromeChristian Toennesen (Management <strong>St</strong>udies)Ethicising: Towards an Understanding <strong>of</strong> Ethics as MaterialPractice* indicates previous graduate <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>The following were successful in otherexaminations:Nabeel Alsindi, BMBChPeetra Anderson-Figueroa, MSc (C) Financial EconomicsCelia Belk, BMBCh * †Vincent Benezech, MSc (C) Applied <strong>St</strong>atistics †Mohammed Bircharef, MSc (C) Mathematical Finance (parttime)Malcolm Birdling, MPhil Law *Jake Campbell, M<strong>St</strong> HistoryBo Cao, MSc (C) Mathematical & Computational FinanceJoseph Chedrawe, BCL †Chung Hyun Cho, MSc (C) Evidence-Based SocialInterventionMarine Clement, PGCEGertrude Cloyd, MSc (C) Science & Medicine AthleticPerformanceMarco Corradi, MJuris †Francisco Costela Sanchez, MSc (C) BiomedicalEngineeringAlessandra Durand, MPhil Latin American <strong>St</strong>udiesKarwan Eskerie, BCL †Rebecca Feddema, Executive MBA (part-time)Michael Ferguson, MBANadiya Figueroa, MPhil Development <strong>St</strong>udiesMario Fuentes, MSc (C) Financial EconomicsKenneth Garrett, MSc (C) Applied <strong>St</strong>atisticsKeith Geary, MSc (C) English Local History (part-time)Colin Groshong, MPhil Politics (Comparative Government)Rory Hamilton, BMBCh *Suzanne Ii, MSc (C) Visual AnthropologyUdoamaka Izuka, MSc (C) PharmacologyMandar Jadhav, MBAYoung-Jae Jang, Certificate in Diplomatic <strong>St</strong>udiesTeresa Kao, MPhil Migration <strong>St</strong>udiesFrank Kennedy, BCLWai Mun Lai, MBA †Denisse Lazo González, M<strong>St</strong> Women’s <strong>St</strong>udiesJudith Le, MSc (C) Comparative Social PolicyCraig Leaper, BMBCh (Graduate Entry)Jo Lennan, BCL †Yu-Hsin Liao, MSc (C) Management ResearchKevin Lorimer, MSc (R) *ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/27


COLLEGE LIFEChristopher Metcalf, MPhil Oriental <strong>St</strong>udies (Cuneiform<strong>St</strong>udies) †Zevic Mishor, MSc (C) NeuroscienceNicholas Moss, MSc (C) Nature, Society & EnvironmentalPolicyJennifer Mullin, BMBChRebecca Munro, M<strong>St</strong> History <strong>of</strong> Art & Visual CultureJulie Nataf, Diploma in Legal <strong>St</strong>udies †Laura Nellums, MSc (C) Medical AnthropologyDaniel O’Driscoll, BMBCh *Mallory Owen, MSc (C) Global Governance and DiplomacyAndrey Panov, MJuris †Alvaro Paul Diaz, MJurisDavid Payne, BMBCh (Graduate Entry) *Mariana Pote, MSc (C) Material Anthropology & MuseumEthnographyBrandon Roos, M<strong>St</strong> HistoryAmos Ruiz Richard, MSc (C) Mathematical Modelling &Scientific ComputingAna Saraiva, MSc (C) Psychological ResearchSarah Schumann, MSc (C) Nature, Society & EnvironmentalPolicy †Claudia Schurch, M<strong>St</strong> History <strong>of</strong> Art & Visual CultureJanelle Shandler, MSc (C) Financial EconomicsMatthew Sims, BMBChColin Smith, MBA * †Bansuri Swaraj, M<strong>St</strong> Film AestheticsBassel Tarbush, MPhil EconomicsS<strong>of</strong>ia Van Holle, M<strong>St</strong> Medieval & Modern LanguagesMartin Walsh, MSc (C) Science & Medicine AthleticPerformanceFelix Weidner, MBAJohanna Wiese, MPhil Migration <strong>St</strong>udiesSandeep Yeole, MBAToufik Zakaria, MSc (C) Biomedical Engineering* indicates previous graduate <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>† indicates candidates adjudged worthy <strong>of</strong> distinction by theExaminersGraduate ScholarsPhilippe Aeberhard (Chemistry), Leathersellers’ CompanyScholarAmitava Banerjee (Medical Sciences), <strong>College</strong> ScholarAnisha Bhagwanani (Medical Sciences), Glaxo ScholarMalcolm Birdling (Law), Overseas ScholarFarid Boussaid (Oriental <strong>St</strong>udies), <strong>College</strong> ScholarMeabh Brennan (Chemistry), Light Senior ScholarBenjamin Britton (Materials), Leathersellers’ CompanyScholarJoseph Chedrawe (Law), Light Senior ScholarNicholas Douglas (Medical Sciences), Light Senior ScholarScott Draper (Engineering Science), <strong>College</strong> ScholarJulie Farguson (History), James Harris – Alan Bullock ScholarNathan Flis (History <strong>of</strong> Art), Overseas ScholarChristina Fuhr (Sociology), Random House ScholarDaniel Hudson (Materials), Poole ScholarDarren Jeffers (Geography & the Environment), C C ReevesScholarYu Ping Luk (History), Light Senior ScholarImran Mahmud (Medical Sciences), Glaxo ScholarErica Marcus (Social & Cultural Anthropology), Light SeniorScholarLisa McNally (English Language & Literature), <strong>College</strong> ScholarSandra Modh (Social & Cultural Anthropology), <strong>College</strong> ScholarRohan Paul (Engineering Science), Overseas ScholarPedro Raposo (History). Magellan ScholarRuth Schuldiner (English Language & Literature), LightSenior ScholarTohru Seraku (Linguistics, Philology & Phonetics), <strong>Oxford</strong>Kobe ScholarClare Shakespeare (Medical Sciences), Glaxo ScholarDong Myung Shin (Chemistry), Light Senior ScholarHenry Shum (Mathematics), Alan Tayler ScholarAnn <strong>St</strong>eele (Experimental Psychology), Leathersellers’Company ScholarAmrit Virk (Social Policy & Social Work), Great Eastern ScholarAlasdair Walker (Engineering Science), Light Senior ScholarKeiko Watanabe (Pharmacology), <strong>Oxford</strong> Kobe ScholarClaire Waters (English Language & Literature), <strong>College</strong>ScholarChristian Yates (MPLS Doctoral Training Centre),Leathersellers’ Company Scholar28/GRADUATE DEGREES & DIPLOMAS / GRADUATE SCHOLARS


COLLEGE LIFESports ReviewThe 2008/2009 season has been an exceptionallysuccessful one for <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s athletes, who haveachieved much at both college and university level in awide variety <strong>of</strong> sports. Rowing has again been one <strong>of</strong>the <strong>College</strong>’s big successes and, as has come to beexpected, several <strong>St</strong> Catz students were involved in theBoat Race. Colin Smith, <strong>Oxford</strong> <strong>University</strong> Boat Clubpresident who rows at 2, and cox Colin Groshong, werewinners in the strong Blue Boat, and Martin Walshrowed at stroke in the Isis boat. At <strong>College</strong> level, boththe men’s and the women’s teams were also successful,with the men climbing from 5 th to 4 th (the highest theyhave ever finished!) in Torpids and the women makingimpressively light work <strong>of</strong> retaining their headship.In rugby, the Catz side made it to the quarter-finals <strong>of</strong>Cuppers before succumbing to a strong Worcester teamin a tight match. In the colleges’ XV Varsity Game SamDonaldson and Matthew Perrins were on the victoriousside, and for the second year running Sam was named‘man <strong>of</strong> the match’. At Twickenham, Sean Mackenzieonce again represented the U21s.Catz student Sean Renfer has been awarded a Full Bluefor his win in the individual event at the Varsitytriathlon and his role in leading <strong>Oxford</strong>’s men to ahistoric victory in the team event. The win, in thecompetition held at Blenheim Palace, broke a nine-yearspell <strong>of</strong> Cambridge dominance.The <strong>College</strong> men’s tennis team once again showedtheir prowess in their sixth consecutive Cuppers win,led by their captain Zubin Signaporia. Tim Weircaptained this year’s Blues Tennis team, which alsoincluded Zubin, whilst Ryan Taylor represented the<strong>University</strong> seconds squad and Charlie Hardwick thethirds.In hockey, the men’s team reached the semi-final <strong>of</strong>Cuppers whilst the women won their final overUniv/Hertford in a crushing 6-0 victory. Four playersfrom the winning team also represented the <strong>University</strong>,with the Varsity-winning second team featuringMiranda Walters, Katie Lark and Zoë Thomas (who wasnamed ‘player <strong>of</strong> the season’). Kirsty Bell played for theMembers <strong>of</strong> the Catz hockeyteam with their Cuppers trophy:Back row: Becky Taylor,Zoë <strong>St</strong>anyon, Mim Walters.Front row: Abigail Millward,Kirsty Bell, Zoë Thomas,Katie Lark.Photo by Zoë ThomasST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/29


COLLEGE LIFEthirds. A fifth member <strong>of</strong> the victorious <strong>College</strong> side,Ruth Holmes, has been elected to a sabbatical year asthe 2009/2010 <strong>University</strong>’s Sports Federation President.Catz basketball team, who play jointly with Balliol, wonevery game in the top college league this season bydouble digits, alas to be beaten in the play<strong>of</strong>f final. <strong>St</strong>Catz was also this year’s most represented college atbasketball Varsity, where Joseph <strong>St</strong>ieb, Mathias Rufino andAnthony Sokora all played for the winning second team.In cricket, Alex Ball captained the Blues to Varsityvictory at Lord’s, leading a team that also includedMark Weston, whilst Sam Phillips and Matthew Evansplayed for the second team. The <strong>College</strong> second teamnarrowly missed out on winning the 2nds league, losingonly one game all season. Meghan Hardmanrepresented the women’s Blues at Lord’s and is also thewomen’s club president for the 2009/2010 season.Sean Renfer, who led <strong>Oxford</strong> toVarsity victory in the triathlonteam event.The Blues win the 2009 Boat Race.The JCR football team, captained by Rossa O’KeeffeO’Donovan, finished second in this year’s premierleague, the joint highest position in <strong>College</strong> history.The second team finished second in the top reserves’league and made the semi-final <strong>of</strong> reserves Cuppers,whilst the thirds, promoted for the second yearrunning, made it into the top reserves’ league also.Ryan Taylor played for the Centaurs, the universitysecond team, and Jack Robinson in the <strong>College</strong>s’Varsity. In the women’s game Caroline Barker and BeckyTaylor played for the <strong>University</strong> 2nds alongside CarlyLeighton, who scored the winning goal in Varsity.Meanwhile, the <strong>College</strong> netball team achieved twopromotions this season, and the women’s badmintonside remained undefeated all season, winning the topleague. Charlotte Heads played for the badmintonBlues squad.30/SPORTS REVIEW


STUDENT PERSPECTIVESPhoto by Colin SmithNadia Figueroa(2007, MPhil, Development <strong>St</strong>udies)As Jamaica’s 2007 Rhodes Scholar, I was requiredto articulate how my plans for <strong>Oxford</strong> related tomaking a meaningful contribution in Jamaica. Havingchosen to return to Jamaica after six years <strong>of</strong> studyin the United <strong>St</strong>ates, and having worked in thedevelopment sector and in violence prevention andwomen’s initiatives, I was more concerned about finding acommunity and meaningful opportunities for holisticgrowth at <strong>Oxford</strong> than my commitment to my island home.Catz has surpassed my expectations in supporting andchallenging me in multiple aspects <strong>of</strong> my academic andpersonal development. My experiences have varied fromspeaking about the <strong>College</strong> on a BBC programme, toworking with the Development Office, serving as a JuniorDean, and being awarded grants for research travel.A Catz travel grant supported my MPhil research into therise and fall <strong>of</strong> a pyramid scheme in Jamaica. For myDPhil, I am focusing on the social construction andexploitation <strong>of</strong> trust and the mechanisms through whichinformal and criminal activity is legitimated in modernJamaican society. How and why do fraudsters and drugdons command the authority that they do? Are formalinstitutions and leaders complicit or ineffectual, andhow best do we respond? The insights I gain now willserve me well in a career <strong>of</strong> public service in Jamaica.There is a strong legacy <strong>of</strong> Caribbean academics andleaders at Catz including Eric Williams, noted scholar onthe economics <strong>of</strong> the slave trade and first Prime Minister<strong>of</strong> Trinidad and Tobago, and Sir Grantley Adams, firstPremier <strong>of</strong> Barbados and first Prime Minister <strong>of</strong> the WestIndies Federation, both members <strong>of</strong> the <strong>St</strong>. Catherine’sCollegiate Society. Their time at <strong>Oxford</strong> and at Catzprovided opportunities for character development andan understanding <strong>of</strong> the world that facilitatedsensitivity, maturity and integrity in political leadership.<strong>St</strong> Catz has provided opportunities for me to interactwith students, staff and alumni from differentgeographical, social and disciplinary backgrounds andtherefore to challenge my assumptions <strong>of</strong> the world. Atthe 2008 Telephone Campaign, the conversations I hadwith alumni were informative, enlightening and <strong>of</strong>tenhilarious. One <strong>of</strong> the first female students at Catzrecounted taking turns standing guard at the showerstalls, to prevent male counterparts from barging in.With the humour and resilience typical <strong>of</strong> Catz studentstoday, she stated that she couldn’t remember any undueharassment at the hands <strong>of</strong> Catz boys; and, if there wasany, it was good preparation for her career as anindependent consultant in what could <strong>of</strong>ten be a harshand challenging world!!Then and now, an <strong>Oxford</strong> education and belonging to acommunity as rich and diverse as Catz prepares usexceptionally well for the realities we will face beyond ourstudies, from London to Kingston, Jamaica; and equips uswith the skills, understanding and mindset required toeffect some positive changes in the real world. ■Catz hassurpassed myexpectations insupporting andchallenging mein multipleaspects <strong>of</strong> myacademic andpersonaldevelopment.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/31


STUDENT PERSPECTIVESIt’s amazingwhat can beachieved whenthere are somanyenergeticpeople around.Tom Costello(2006, English Language and Literature) on his 2009 musical, Circle LineWhen I put down my pen in the last <strong>of</strong> my Finalsexams, knowing I never had to look at Middle Englishhistories <strong>of</strong> Troy ever again, the stress should havebeen over. The only problem to think about shouldhave been what pub to go to. But I wasn’t heading tothe pub; I was heading to the theatre to see theopening night <strong>of</strong> a musical I had written six monthsearlier. The stress was only just beginning.A few hours later I was sitting in the audience terrified.Since delivering the script to the director and castmonths earlier I had had nothing to do with therehearsal process, and so didn’t have the first ideawhat the show looked like. My friends, some family,even my Tutor was there and I was starting to wish Iwas back in the exam schools. Worst <strong>of</strong> all, the in-theroundstaging meant I was sitting directly facing mytutor, making the whole experience feel strangely,horribly like a tutorial at the same time. Not only was Iabout to be judged by my peers, but by an expert onRenaissance literature too.The whole process had started the previous year when Imet Aisha Mirza, the composer <strong>of</strong> all the songs in theshow. We first met when she sneaked into a Master’sdrinks event with Tim Rice and we quickly bonded overour shared love <strong>of</strong> Jesus Christ Superstar. We decidedthen to write our own musical.It was a stupid idea. Her music, although beautiful, isfolky, lyrically challenging, spare and quiet. The plays Ihad written before at <strong>Oxford</strong> had always been wordy,worthy and politically indulgent. This was not therecipe for a hit musical. Added to this, I lack anymusical ability whatsoever. For me, clapping along atconcerts is always a traumatic display <strong>of</strong> incompetence.32/TOM COSTELLO


STUDENT PERSPECTIVESLeft: Tom Costello.Eventually, though, I wrote a script and Aisha wrote somebeautiful music. But it was only when we pressed a group<strong>of</strong> fantastically talented Catz students into helping usthat the project really came alive. Vicky O’Brien directed itaudaciously, Binky Thorneycr<strong>of</strong>t created beautifulanimated projections, Nathan Letore put togetherstunning film-segments and Theo Whitworth led anincredibly talented and dedicated band.So six months later, sitting waiting to watch the play forthe first time, I needn’t have been worried. It was great.Tim Rice would have been impressed. It’s amazing whatcan be achieved when there are so many energetic peoplearound. In the whole three years I spent at <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s<strong>College</strong> it always seemed like there was, whether intheatrical, activist, or academic activity, a limitless supply<strong>of</strong> embarrassingly talented people to learn from, competeagainst and collaborate with. I’ll miss it. ■We first metwhen shesneaked into aMaster’s drinksevent withTim Rice andwe quicklybonded overour shared love<strong>of</strong> Jesus ChristSuperstar.Photo: Sophia SaldanhaAbove: Aisha Mirza (left) and Chris Greenwood (right) inCircle Line.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/33


STUDENT PERSPECTIVESColin Smith(2003, Geography; 2008, MBA)to an ever-more gruelling schedule: one in which earlymornings on the water and long hours <strong>of</strong> circuittrainingwould be counter-balanced by lectures,seminars and candle-burning nights in the library.Colin Smith at the 2008 HenleyRegatta....earlymornings onthe water andlong hours <strong>of</strong>circuit trainingwould becounterbalancedbylectures,seminars andcandle-burningnights in thelibrary.Photo: Henry Bennet-ClarkOnly weeks after competing in the 2008 BeijingOlympics, Colin Smith, silver-medal-winning member <strong>of</strong>the British Men’s Eights crew, returned to <strong>Oxford</strong> totake up new challenges — both on and <strong>of</strong>f the water.While studying for an MBA at the Saïd Business School,he would also lead <strong>Oxford</strong>’s quest to repeat the BoatRace victory <strong>of</strong> the previous academic year.When an undergraduate at Catz, Colin had helped theDark Blues secure victory in the 2006 Boat Race. Now,returning to embark upon a notoriously demandingcourse — one he would later describe as both ‘amazing’and ‘incredibly challenging’ — his thoughts would bedrawn again to a stretch <strong>of</strong> water between Putney andMortlake which, for over 150 years, has been the site<strong>of</strong> one <strong>of</strong> sport’s most fiercely contested races. Thiswas a race about which he had first learned when, as ayoung boy in Zimbabwe (whose first training sessionhad involved running by the perimeter <strong>of</strong> a dried-uplake), he had looked up ‘rowing’ in an encyclopaedia.As newly-elected President <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oxford</strong> <strong>University</strong> BoatClub (OUBC), and the first President to be elected whilenot a current student at <strong>Oxford</strong>, ultimate responsibilityfor preparing the best crew possible with which to faceCambridge would rest on his shoulders. The comingmonths saw Colin and all members <strong>of</strong> OUBC committingThe role <strong>of</strong> OUBC President is an executive one whichrequires an aptitude for decisive leadership and clearheadeddecision-making. From the first moments <strong>of</strong> hisappointment, when he was asked if he would like toretain the services <strong>of</strong> the Club’s world-class coaches,Colin was actively involved with every aspect <strong>of</strong> theClub’s operation — from discussing strategy to dealingwith the press and sponsors. It was also his job toshape his crew, using skills acquired over many years <strong>of</strong>his own training to know just when to apply morepressure, when to encourage, and, crucially, how toensure that the men who would take to the water on29 March 2009 would be in peak mental and physicalcondition.When the day <strong>of</strong> the 155th <strong>Oxford</strong> and Cambridge BoatRace arrived, an international audience watched as theDark Blues secured a decisive victory, finishing animpressive three-and-a-half lengths ahead <strong>of</strong> theCambridge crew. Such an outstanding result wasachieved through the hard work, skill anddetermination <strong>of</strong> all members <strong>of</strong> Blue Boat, and thededication and inspired leadership <strong>of</strong> an OUBCPresident for whom the next challenge is alwaysbeckoning irresistibly. ■34/COLIN SMITH


STUDENT PERSPECTIVESDunlaith Bird(2000, English and Modern Languages; 2004, MPhil, ModernLanguages; 2006, DPhil, Modern Languages), winner <strong>of</strong> the 2008Wallace Watson Award, writes about her experiences in Japan.From Tokyo to Shiretoko:Retracing Isabella Bird’sUnbeaten Tracks in JapanTravel is the opportunity to experience theworld from another angle. I chose in myresearch for my Master’s and DPhil at <strong>St</strong>Catherine’s to work on constructions <strong>of</strong>gender in European women’s travel writing,the interweaving <strong>of</strong> text and identity. Itherefore proposed to the Wallace WatsonAward interview panel to travel to Japan inorder to retrace the journey made by theVictorian traveller, Isabella Bird (1831-1904).Like Bird I would travel alone through theinterior <strong>of</strong> Japan, from Tokyo, Nikko, Niigata,Akita, Aomori, to Shiretoko in the northernHokkaido province. I’d like to share a few <strong>of</strong>the moments in Japan that still resonate, ayear on.On my first night in Tokyo I went up to the top<strong>of</strong> the Tokyo Tower, the immense, ear-poppingheight <strong>of</strong> it, the setting sun drawing aluminous path out towards Mount Fuji. Thenext day I met Iona, a La Leche League coordinator,in Asakusa. We wandered beneaththe beautiful painted canvas along the avenuethat led to the shrine, lined with stalls sellingpeanut snacks and Pokemon, Uncle Eyeball thecartoon character and kimonos, fans andfeathers and wigs and masks. At the shrinethere were dragon fountains, incense, prayers,golden buddhas and bodavistas, koi carpgliding under still water, with symbols paintedin black ink on their backs. The monks werewriting the temple name in fluid calligraphyinto the prayerbooks <strong>of</strong> the pilgrims, theirgleaming wet brushes flowing with a sinuousgrace I would only fully appreciate when I triedtheir art for myself in Kyoto.One <strong>of</strong> the enduring images I have <strong>of</strong> Japan isNikko, the location <strong>of</strong> the Futarasan Shrine,constructed in 767 AD and now designated aWorld Heritage Site. The red samurai bridge,with the roiling river almost lost in mist, thedeep, almost oppressive green <strong>of</strong> the forests,the feeling <strong>of</strong> something pr<strong>of</strong>ound, magical,the mists rising, water which reflects the lightin strange ways. In the shrine complex itselfthere are carvings everywhere; harvest moonrabbits play on the gatehouse ro<strong>of</strong>, longwhite clawed dragons leap out from underthe eaves. All around me towered the misty,wide-branched trees, the same trees visible inIsabella Bird’s sketches, over a hundred yearsearlier: ‘when the broad road passed into thecolossal avenue <strong>of</strong> cryptomeria whichovershadows the way to the sacred shrines <strong>of</strong>Nikko, and tremulous sunbeams and shadowsflecked the grass, I felt that Japan wasbeautiful’.From Sado Island and animatronic Noh toShiretoko and black bears, I saw areas andaspects <strong>of</strong> Japan that stunned me. Everyone Ispoke to was so impressed that Wallace’sparents had chosen to do this wonderfulthing, to send others out in the world,following paths Wallace might have loved totake, walking in his footsteps in a way, butalso taking him with them. Continuing myjourney towards Aomori, I arrived at theSamurai village <strong>of</strong> Kakunodate, an old feudaltown established around 1603. Isabella Birdwas particularly interested in these samuraiST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/35


STUDENT PERSPECTIVESDunlaith Bird wearing a kimono.villages, with their ‘deep-ro<strong>of</strong>ed gateways,grass and stone-faced terraces.’ I found themjust as beautiful, Odono Samurai House, andKarawada House with the carved shapes <strong>of</strong>wooden butterflies which seem to fly in thecandlelight. Out in the corridor a craftsman Ihad been talking to <strong>of</strong>fered me a cherry barkbookmark he had just carved as a gift. I heldthe bookmark against my cheek, itsincredible smoothness contrasting with theinitial roughness <strong>of</strong> the bark. I bowed as lowand <strong>of</strong>ten as I could, and thanked him againas I left. In the garden I wondered again atthe surprising proximity <strong>of</strong> art and nature inJapan, cherry bark carved in the shadow <strong>of</strong>the garden trees, haikus that capture cherryblossom in mid-flight.Having spent four days in Shiretoko, bathingin onsen, or hot springs, watching deer andavoiding bears, on 18 July I moved back toSapporo and the Ainu village <strong>of</strong> Shiraoi.Isabella Bird was one <strong>of</strong> the first Europeantravellers to spend time with the indigenousAinu, studying their culture and customs. Attimes Shiraoi felt a little like an Ainu themepark, with speakers suspended from thethatch in the long house, and fake smokedfish hanging from the rafters. The Ainuworking there were incredibly helpful,comparing Bird’s sketches with the layout <strong>of</strong>the houses, teaching me some Ainu words,and even arranging a meeting with thedirector <strong>of</strong> the museum,who turned out to bean expert on Bird’s visitto Shiraoi. He told methat because Ainuculture is oral, historicalrecords can havelacunae. In Bird’s shortsentences he saidthat, despite theimperialist tinge, helearned so much about his ownculture, from fertilisers to clothing, thatmight otherwise be lost.In Kyoto I visited the shrines and the fan shops,took a class in calligraphy and kimono wearing,and experienced the joy that is a night in atraditional Japanese ryokan or guest house.Tea is brought up on three lacquerwear trays,with a whole fish, sashimi for when you’refeeling brave, sushi, miso soup and tempurawith dipping sauce, red and green watermelonin a glass dish, sweet red beans and tadpoles<strong>of</strong> some kind in a grey pot <strong>of</strong> jelly with thebeginnings <strong>of</strong> little black eyes. Since Japan I’vedeveloped a basic rule <strong>of</strong> thumb regarding theamount <strong>of</strong> eyes a meal should contain. Afterbathing in the onsen, I returned to find thebedroom fairies had come, the trays weregone, my bedding laid out and a tiny pinkpaper crane with a note for good sleep andsweet dreams lay on my pillow.I caught a series <strong>of</strong> final shotsfrom the train on the way toTokyo Narita airport, withshrines, blue tiled ro<strong>of</strong>s, perfectfresh green fields <strong>of</strong> rice, thetips gleaming gold, fishermentrailing silver curves on thesurface <strong>of</strong> the river. I’m alreadyplanning on going back to Japan,and I’d like to thank the Awardorganisers for giving me theopportunity to make my owntracks in Japan. It was only last month,looking at cherry blossom in Paris, where Inow live, that I realised what my journeythrough Japan had taught me. Each <strong>of</strong> theexperiences I had were lessons inephemerality, mono no aware, the absolutebeauty in the moment, with part <strong>of</strong> thatbeauty being that the moment you lookaway, it is gone. ■In the garden I wondered againat the surprising proximity <strong>of</strong>art and nature in Japan, cherrybark carved in the shadow <strong>of</strong>the garden trees, haikus thatcapture cherry blossom in midflight.36/DUNLAITH BIRD


ALUMNI NEWSAlan Katritzky (1948, Chemistry)<strong>of</strong> exceptional promise, and should go very far’. Alan’sacademic achievements over the following decades haveshown that this confidence was not misplaced.After graduating with first-class honours, Alan embarkedupon doctoral research in heterocyclic chemistry underthe supervision <strong>of</strong> Sir Robert Robinson, OM. After hissuccessful viva in 1954, he continued independentresearch at <strong>Oxford</strong>, as an ICI Fellow, a Senior Demy <strong>of</strong>Magdalen and a lecturer at Pembroke <strong>College</strong>. At theend <strong>of</strong> 1957, he left <strong>Oxford</strong>, becoming a <strong>University</strong>Demonstrator/Lecturer at Cambridge and a SeniorMember <strong>of</strong> Trinity Hall....the ‘excellentprogress’ hehad madeduring his firstyear at <strong>Oxford</strong>was nowpromising tobear fruit...Alan Katritzky matriculated at <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s Society inMichaelmas 1948 after two years <strong>of</strong> National Service.His academic potential was noticed almost immediately,with one tutor, the organic chemist Sidney Plant,observing in Trinity Term 1949 that he ‘has anexceptionally good knowledge <strong>of</strong> organic chemistry fora man at the end <strong>of</strong> his first year.’ The same tutor,writing at the end <strong>of</strong> Alan’s undergraduate career, hadno doubt that the ‘excellent progress’ he had madeduring his first year at <strong>Oxford</strong> was now promising tobear fruit, describing Alan as ‘one <strong>of</strong> the best researchmen I have ever had working with me. He is a chemistHe now embarked upon major new research projects: N-oxides, heteroaromatic tautomerism, electrophilicsubstitution and conformational analysis. In 1960, Alanbecame a Founder Fellow <strong>of</strong> Churchill <strong>College</strong> where,guided by Churchill’s first Master, the Nobel Prizewinner Sir John Cockr<strong>of</strong>t, he learned the art <strong>of</strong> politicalmanoeuvring. These lessons stood him in good steadwhen he moved to Norwich and the new <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>East Anglia (UEA) in 1962 as Dean <strong>of</strong> the School <strong>of</strong>Chemical Sciences.At UEA, Alan devoted two decades to building up hisSchool’s international reputation as a global focal-pointfor research in two major areas: spectroscopy (for whichhe attracted Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Norman Sheppard, FRS from hisfellowship at Trinity <strong>College</strong>, Cambridge) and, notunexpectedly, heterocyclic chemistry. Heterocycles (ringsST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/37


ALUMNI NEWSAlan Katritzky (third from right) with the Queen at theopening <strong>of</strong> UEA’s School <strong>of</strong> Chemical Sciences in 1962.containing elements other than carbon) comprise thelargest <strong>of</strong> the traditional derivatives <strong>of</strong> organicchemistry and are <strong>of</strong> seminal importance in all lifeprocesses. Nevertheless, the study <strong>of</strong> theirfundamentals had been delayed relative to aliphaticand aromatic organic chemistry. As Alan pointed outyears later in his 1993 International Society <strong>of</strong>Heterocyclic Chemistry Award Lecture, his years inNorwich were years spent ‘writing and spreading theGospel’. In particular, his 1961 monograph, Principles<strong>of</strong> Heterocyclic Chemistry, which was translated intoseven languages, had had a significant impact uponraising the pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> heterocyclic chemistry.Alan was elected a Fellow <strong>of</strong> the Royal Society in 1980,and shortly after moved to America as the first KenanPr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Chemistry at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Florida.Using the experience that he had gained during hisyears at UEA, he immediately set about establishing theFlorida Center for Heterocyclic Compounds, becomingits inaugural director in 1985. Under Alan’s watchfuleye, the Center, which since its inception has played akey role in raising the international pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong>heterocyclic chemistry, has grown from strength tostrength. In addition to the important researchundertaken on its premises, it has provided training toacademics and industrial research chemists, and hasalso consolidated and expanded its collection <strong>of</strong>secondary literature reviews. There have also beenmany successful collaborations with US governmentinstitutions and multinational companies and the Centeris now widely acknowledged to be the foremostresearch institution for heterocyclic chemistry.38/ALAN KATRITZKY


ALUMNI NEWSIn 1999, Alan and his wife, Linde, establishedARKAT-USA, a not-for-pr<strong>of</strong>it organisationwhose aim is ‘to enhance chemical researchworldwide and hence to benefit researchers,students, commercial and non-commercialenterprises by increasing opportunity andefficiency and reducing waste <strong>of</strong> materials,time and effort’. Since 2000, the FloridaCenter for Heterocyclic Compounds hasAlan waselected aFellow <strong>of</strong> theRoyal Societyin 1980....undergraduate prizes – for the bestperformance in Chemistry Part I and inthe Final Honours Schools <strong>of</strong> History andArt History – and established theKatritzky Lectures, annual public lecturesto be given by a distinguished chemist,historian or art-historian. The inauguralKatritzky Lecture was given by Pr<strong>of</strong>essorSir John Meurig Thomas, one <strong>of</strong> Britain’shosted an annual conference during Spring Break, leading research chemists and educators, in Februarymanaged by ARKAT. All pr<strong>of</strong>its from the three-day event 2009.are ploughed back into ARKAT’s flagship project, Arkivoc,an open-access online journal that was established in Throughout the course <strong>of</strong> his long and distinguished2000 in partnership with the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Florida’s career, Alan’s research has been published in over 2000Department <strong>of</strong> Chemistry. Arkivoc publishes reviews, papers, making him one <strong>of</strong> today’s most frequentlyaccounts, and full papers. It provides key resources for cited research chemists. Graduate students have gainedscientists around the world – free access to papers and 274 degrees under his supervision and he has traineda platform for the publication <strong>of</strong> their own work. The over 500 postdoctorals and visiting scientists. He hasresources <strong>of</strong>fered by Arkivoc are <strong>of</strong> especial benefit to travelled extensively to lecture, attend conferences,scientists working in developing countries, whose teach and examine, and to collaborate with colleaguesfinancial resources are <strong>of</strong>ten limited. Arkivoc has made in Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Australasia. Inremarkable progress: in 2008 it published some 371 recognition <strong>of</strong> his achievements, Alan has been awardedmanuscripts, totalling 4320 pages. The reputation <strong>of</strong> a twenty-three medals and prizes, and fourteen honoraryscientific journal is measured by its ‘impact factor’ (IF), doctorates from 11 European and Asian countries; he iswhich reflects the extent to which its papers are cited by a Foreign Fellow <strong>of</strong> the National Academies <strong>of</strong>other scientists around the world: the IF for Arkivoc has Catalonia, India, Poland, Russia and Slovenia.risen steadily from 0.43 in 2004 to 1.37 in 2008, and itnow ranks thirty-fifth among fifty-six journals <strong>of</strong> organic In 2005, Alan Katritzky was elected to an Honorarychemistry worldwide.Fellowship at <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s in recognition <strong>of</strong> hisdistinguished academic career. ■Alan has always maintained close links with theinstitutions at which he has studied and worked. At <strong>St</strong>Catherine’s, he has generously endowed threeST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/39


ALUMNI NEWSHanna Sykulska (2000, Engineering & Materials Science)...it was adream cometrue when Iwas invited tobe anInstrumentDownlinkEngineer forthe mission.Space is something I have always been interested in —a childhood dream that I never grew out <strong>of</strong>. For me itrepresents real exploration and science and all I wantedto do was find a way to get there.On graduating from Catz, I found a promising projectfor a PhD at Imperial <strong>College</strong>, developing hardware forNASA’s Phoenix Mars mission. The lander was to go tothe North Pole <strong>of</strong> Mars and investigate both the history<strong>of</strong> water and habitability potential.To help characterize the surface soil, I manufacturedmicromachined substrates to catch Martian dust to beexamined by the microscopes. Moreover, I helped planfor remote operations for the mission itself byassembling and testing a flight copy <strong>of</strong> the hardwareand s<strong>of</strong>tware <strong>of</strong> the microscopy station.So it was a dream come true when I was invited to bean Instrument Downlink Engineer for the mission. I wasthe youngest female on the instrument team, but thisdidn’t stop me making the most <strong>of</strong> my time there. InAugust 2007 I went to Cape Canaveral to see theperfect launch <strong>of</strong> the Delta II rocket carrying Phoenix;the night-time launch was breathtakingly spectacularas it lit up the sky going towards Mars.Last year I headed out to Arizona to mission controland prepared for landing. What NASA describes as the‘six minutes <strong>of</strong> terror’ — and I now understand why —as a spacecraft comes down on the surface <strong>of</strong> a planet,was in Phoenix’s case a flawless descent to the MartianArctic. It was the first occasion <strong>of</strong> many when thechampagne was brought out.Shortly we were also celebrating the first imagesreturning. It was tremendously exciting to be the first tosee new images from Mars, and to see hardware that Ihad designed and made working on the surface <strong>of</strong>another planet 150 million miles away. We were lookingat the first surface samples since the Viking missionsover 30 years ago! I had particular responsibility forchecking the health <strong>of</strong> the instruments from thetelemetry, inspecting the data and making decisions onengineering parameters for the next day’s operations,as well as long-term planning and strategy.Working on Phoenix meant working shifts on Mars time.We worked during the Martian night preparingcommands to be uplinked while the spacecraft woke upevery day. One Sol — a Martian day — is 24 hours and39 minutes, so every day we turned up to work 40minutes later, slowly slipping in and out <strong>of</strong> sync withEarth time. Experts from Harvard <strong>University</strong> helped usovercome ‘Mars lag’ and keep our bodies to themission schedule.At mission control, the hype was so intense that evenon our days <strong>of</strong>f we would check to see what washappening on Mars. At times it felt as if we were reallythere on the surface <strong>of</strong> the planet. After five months <strong>of</strong>hard work, the arctic winter set in and we said goodbye40/HANNA SYKULSKA


ALUMNI NEW<strong>St</strong>o the instruments that gave us over 25,000 imagesand the closest look we have ever had at anotherplanet. We picked up several awards for the work wedid on Phoenix, including NASA group achievementawards. Independently, last March I was selected as theIET Young Woman Engineer <strong>of</strong> the Year — a greathonour and an opportunity to challenge people’sperceptions about what it means to be an engineer andhopefully to encourage other young people to becomeenthusiastic about such a career.I now look forward to my next challenge. ■Hanna Sykulska with othermembers <strong>of</strong> the Phoenixmicroscopy team.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/41


ALUMNI NEWSDave Rigg (1995, Engineering Science)I was working as the military engineer advisor to theBattle Group and our Headquarters had been responsiblefor planning and directing the battle. The missing marinewas eventually spotted by studying video from anunmanned aerial vehicle and, with his whereaboutsestablished, a rescue plan was quickly put together.Between us and the fort was the 300-metre-wideHelmand River, and the decision was taken to use twoApache gunship helicopters to move four soldiers (two toeach helicopter) into the area rapidly to recover LCpl Ford.When the Commanding Officer asked for volunteers, anumber <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>ficers and marines stepped forward. Themajority were needed at headquarters to direct thebattle, leaving the Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM),Marine Gary Robertson, Marine Chris Fraser-Perry and mein the spot light.Our chances <strong>of</strong>survival, Ireckoned,were about50/50.Dave Rigg was a Captain in the Royal Engineers when, in2007, in Helmand Province, Afghanistan, he joined amission to recover a missing Lance Corporal.In the early hours <strong>of</strong> the 15 January 2007, Z Company <strong>of</strong>45 Commando had been forced to make a hastywithdrawal from the walls <strong>of</strong> a Taliban fort in the south <strong>of</strong>Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Their dawn attack hadmet a ferocious level <strong>of</strong> resistance — far beyond anythingsuggested by recent intelligence reports — and they hadtaken four casualties almost immediately. Now, havingescaped the killing area, they were missing LanceCorporal (LCpl) Mathew Ford.While I waited outside the command tent for my fellowvolunteers, I spent a moment contemplating the taskahead. I suspected that the enemy would expect ourreturn and lie in wait for us, growing in numbers as theminutes passed. Our chances <strong>of</strong> survival, I reckoned, wereabout 50/50. I tried to put my concerns to one side andbriefed the other three; they stared back at me wideeyedbefore the RSM said, ‘Is this a wind up?’Moments later the Apaches swept overhead, landingaround 90 metres away. I found that I could just aboutperch on the ledge that ran along the side <strong>of</strong> thefuselage: my left hand gripped a grab hold, my right handheld my weapon, and I had my right foot on the hellfire42/DAVE RIGG


An Apache gunship helicopter.rocket rails. Unbeknown to me, Marine Fraser-Perry had afar more precarious perch than mine — he was literallyhugging the engine air intake. If I had not been so scaredI might have laughed at the absurdity <strong>of</strong> the situation.As we flew across the desert I remember thinking whata beautiful sunny morning it was; the temperature wasjust right and below us the camels and their herdsmenwere quietly going about their business, oblivious toour unfolding drama. It was a stark contrast to thescene that awaited us beyond the river, where the airwas thick with smoke and dust from the bombs andartillery that were being used to suppress the enemy.As we approached the fort the lead Apache descendedand disappeared into the murk while we held back,hovering fifty feet <strong>of</strong>f the ground. Below was a ruinedbuilding, and a small copse <strong>of</strong> trees that smoulderedfrom the earlier bombardment. I could see flashes <strong>of</strong>gun fire coming from the copse, and hoped thatwhoever was down there had not spotted me perchedon the side <strong>of</strong> the helicopter.As the Apache touched down I leapt forward and sprintedto where I thought LCpl Ford was; the ground was s<strong>of</strong>t anduneven as though it had recently been ploughed. With thevarious attachments, my body armour weighed about 15kilos and by the time I had got to the injured marine I washeavily out <strong>of</strong> breath. I found him slumped over with hisback to me. I knelt down beside him and rolled him over.His face was grey and there was a neat hole in hisforehead; he was clearly dead. I tried to pick him up butcould not lift him — he was a big man and with all his kitprobably weighed 120 kilos. I started to drag him, but eventhat was extremely difficult. Gunfire, sounding perilouslyclose, was all around. I felt extremely vulnerable, wasphysically exhausted, and was struggling to subdue a risingfeeling <strong>of</strong> panic. At that moment, Chris Fraser-Perry turnedup and together we made — marginally — better progress.One <strong>of</strong> the pilots saw us struggling and jumped down fromhis Apache to give us a hand. With his help we soonrecovered the body to the helicopter, and then, to ourgreat relief, took <strong>of</strong>f and flew back across the river.I have a huge amount <strong>of</strong> admiration for the two youngmarines who accompanied me on that day. They wereasked to take part in a plan over which they had nocontrol, and which was fraught with danger anduncertainty. They did so without question or a moment <strong>of</strong>hesitation and I doubt that I will ever again witness suchselfless actions, and such commitment to friends and duty.Dave,was awarded the Military Cross for his actions. Heleft the army in November 2008 and, after working asan engineer consultant for a year, has now set up hisown renewable-energy consultancy. ■I felt extremelyvulnerable, wasphysicallyexhausted, andwas strugglingto subdue arising feeling<strong>of</strong> panic.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/43


ALUMNI NEWSRichard Thomson (1971, History <strong>of</strong> Art)Reflections<strong>of</strong> a SladePr<strong>of</strong>essorThe invitation to return to <strong>Oxford</strong> in Hilary Term 2009as Slade Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Fine Art was a great honour. CraigClunas pointed out in his introduction at my first lecturethat, given my permanent role as Watson GordonPr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Fine Art at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Edinburgh, Iwas in the unusual position <strong>of</strong> holding two chairs <strong>of</strong>Fine Art concurrently. Giving the Slade Lectures gavethe welcome opportunity to spend a term back in<strong>Oxford</strong>, where my career in the History <strong>of</strong> Art beganthirty-five years ago, and where my career-longspecialism in late nineteenth-century French visualculture also began.On my first day at Catz, in October 1971, I remembersitting in my new room and looking through theExamination Decrees at the options for Modern History. Iimmediately decided to take the third-year Special Subjecton Baudelaire and the Artists <strong>of</strong> his Time. In my final yearI had the good fortune to be tutored by T. J. Clark, justemerging as an art historian <strong>of</strong> major importance in thenineteenth-century field. I also followed the coursedocumentation’s advice to use the Ashmolean print-room.There one could look very closely at — even handle —drawings made by Daumier, Degas, Monet and Pissarro.The excitement <strong>of</strong> new scholarship and the discovery <strong>of</strong>attentive looking at works <strong>of</strong> art went hand-in-hand.Encouraged by my college tutor George Holmes, I tookthe postgraduate Diploma in the History <strong>of</strong> Art underPr<strong>of</strong>essor Francis Haskell as a one-year test to see if itwas the right direction. For my dissertation I worked onthe Ashmolean’s sketchbooks <strong>of</strong> Robert Bevan, one <strong>of</strong>the few British artists to have known Gauguin, andlearnt the discipline <strong>of</strong> analysing visual material asone’s primary evidence.Having decided that the history <strong>of</strong> art was my path, itseemed necessary to extend my range in the field, so I44/RICHARD THOMSON


ALUMNI NEWSwent to the Courtauld Institute, where in 1976 I took anMA studying Abstract Expressionism and Pop Art. TheCourtauld was extremely adept at getting people jobs;within a year I had a lectureship at Manchester<strong>University</strong>. The links with <strong>Oxford</strong> remained. Comingdown to hear one <strong>of</strong> Robert Herbert’s Slade Lectures inthe late 1970s I saw George again, who was delightedthat I had found my niche. In 1986 Christopher Lloydand I staged an exhibition <strong>of</strong> Impressionist Drawings atthe Ashmolean, and six years later I was asked to helpwith an exhibition <strong>of</strong> the Museum’s nineteenth-centuryFrench drawings which would tour in Japan, returning tothe works on which I cut my teeth.My academic career has been fairly straightforward,leaving Manchester as a Reader after nineteen years totake up the Watson Gordon Chair at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Edinburgh, where I have now been for a furtherthirteen. My main monographs — Seurat (1985), Degas:The Nudes (1988), The Troubled Republic. VisualCulture and Social Change in France, 1850-1900(2004) — have followed broadly the social history <strong>of</strong> artwhich Haskell and Clark opened up for me at <strong>Oxford</strong>.This is the understanding that the production <strong>of</strong> artmust be understood within the dynamic <strong>of</strong> social,economic and cultural change, rather than studied assome elite, canonical practice. Where my work has takena different dimension has been in the curating <strong>of</strong>exhibitions. Over the last twenty-five years I have beeninvolved with a dozen international loan exhibitions,including Seurat and the Bathers at the National Gallery(1997) and two Toulouse-Lautrec shows (London/Paris,1991-2 and Washington/Chicago, 2005). I amcurrently working with a French team on a major Monetretrospective for Paris in 2010. Exhibitions give achallenging new dimension to one’s work, and lead tocollaboration with museum curators, direct engagementwith the objects, and the articulation <strong>of</strong> one’s researchfor the wider public.Giving the Slade Lectures was also about pitching one’sresearch. I chose to look at French art during the 1880sand 1890s: the period <strong>of</strong> Impressionism that peoplethink they know well. But my aim was to rattle that easyassumption, by arguing that France’s Third Republicfavoured art which was populist and legible, consistentwith the regime’s commitment to égalité and fraternité,as well as exact and documentary, in line with itsprogressive allegiance to science and technology. Thismeant showing some fairly obscure pictures, such as one<strong>of</strong> a woman having a blood transfusion from a goat,commissioned by a doctor! The History <strong>of</strong> Art can takeone down some strange and fascinating paths. Myjourney with it took form at <strong>Oxford</strong>, from that initialglimpse <strong>of</strong> an enticing cross-disciplinary course in theExamination Decrees to stimulating teaching and hourslooking at objects in the Ashmolean. Giving the SladeLectures was a way to repay the debt. ■Richard ThomsonWatson Gordon Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Fine Art,<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Edinburgh...one couldlook veryclosely at –even handle –drawings madeby Daumier,Degas, Monetand Pissarro.The excitement<strong>of</strong> newscholarship andthe discovery<strong>of</strong> attentivelooking atworks <strong>of</strong> artwent hand-inhand.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/45


ALUMNI NEWSNews in briefDavid Mabberley (1967, Botany)On 12 August 2009, the InternationalAssociation for Plant Taxonomy (IAPT)presented its prestigious Engler Medal in Silverto Pr<strong>of</strong>essor David Mabberley <strong>of</strong> the RoyalBotanic Gardens, Kew. The medal, for the mostoutstanding publication in monographic orfloristic systematic botany published in 2007or 2008, was awarded for the third edition <strong>of</strong>David’s Plantbook, published in 2008 byCambridge <strong>University</strong> Press.Timothy Brighouse (1958, Modern History)In the 2009 New Year Honours List, Tim wasawarded a knighthood for services toeducation.Jake Brunner (1980, Geography)After completing an MSc in remote sensing atImperial <strong>College</strong> in 1984, Jake returned to <strong>Oxford</strong>as a demonstrator at the School <strong>of</strong> Geographyand tutor at <strong>St</strong> John’s from 1986 to 1989. Hemoved to New York in 1990, before joining theWorld Resources Institute, an environmentalthink-tank, and moving to Washington DC in1992. In 2000 Jake joined ConservationInternational (CI) where he managed wildlifeprotection projects in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laosand Burma, and in 2003 moved to Phnom Penh.In 2008 he left CI and joined the InternationalUnion for Conservation <strong>of</strong> Nature, to run theirVietnam programme. In 2008 Jake also set up aUK charity, Indo-Myanmar Conservation(www.indo myanmar.org), dedicated to wildlifeprotection in Burma. He married Binh, a publichealth physician, in 2004 and they had adaughter, Ada, in 2008. Jake now lives in Hanoi,and apart from work, baby care, and staying intouch with his two sons from his first marriage(now at college in the US), he enjoys practisinghis Vietnamese and making assorted jams andchutneys.Adam Foulds (1994, English)Adam Foulds’s second novel The QuickeningMaze was short-listed for the Man Booker Prize2009. Set in High Beach Asylum in the 1840s,the book tells <strong>of</strong> how poets John Clare andAlfred Tennyson briefly crossed paths at theasylum in Epping Forest. The Quickening Maze,which is in part an historical reconstruction, hasbeen widely praised for the portrayal <strong>of</strong> itscharacters, and its lyrical language.After graduating from <strong>St</strong> Catz, Adam studied acreative writing MA at the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> EastAnglia. His first novel The Truth About These<strong>St</strong>range Times was published in 2007 and hisbook length narrative poem ‘The BrokenWord’, the following year. In 2008, he wasnamed Sunday Times Young Writer <strong>of</strong> theYear.Andy Triggs HodgeAndy Triggs Hodge (2004, Water SciencePolicy)Andy, who won a gold medal in the coxless fourrowing event at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, hasbeen made a Member <strong>of</strong> the Order <strong>of</strong> theBritish Empire for services to sport.Photo: John Batty, johnbatty_66@hotmail.com46/NEWS IN BRIEF


ALUMNI NEWSJames Marsh (1982, English)Man on Wire, a documentary directed byJames Marsh, has won both an Oscar andBAFTA in 2009. The film, which tells theincredible story <strong>of</strong> Philippe Petit’s high-wirewalk between the Twin Towers <strong>of</strong> the WorldTrade Center in New York in 1974, hasachieved international acclaim since it wasfirst released in 2008. Man on Wire won theGrand Jury Prize: World Cinema Documentary,and the World Cinema Audience Award:Documentary, at the 2008 Sundance FilmFestival. In 2009, the film won the BAFTAaward for Outstanding British Film and theAcademy Award for Best Documentary.Peter Raina (1960, Modern History)Dr Peter Raina has had two new bookspublished in 2009, both by Peter LangPublishing Group, <strong>Oxford</strong>. The first, A.V. Dicey:General Characteristics <strong>of</strong> EnglishConstitutionalism: Six Unpublished Lectureswith a Foreword by Lord Plant <strong>of</strong> Highfield, isa collection <strong>of</strong> previously unpublished lecturesthat Dicey first delivered in the late 1890s.These lectures centred around his thoughtson the sovereignty <strong>of</strong> Parliament, therelationship between Parliament and thepeople, and the role <strong>of</strong> constitutionalconventions. Peter’s second publication isBishop George Bell: House <strong>of</strong> LordsSpeeches and Correspondence with RudolfHess, which contains the complete texts <strong>of</strong> allBell’s House <strong>of</strong> Lords speeches —published for the first time in one volume— and also previously unpublishedcorrespondence between George Bell andRudolf Hess.Clive Maxwell (1989, Geography)Clive has been made a Commander <strong>of</strong> theOrder <strong>of</strong> the British Empire for publicservice.Matthea Marquart (1995, Visiting<strong>St</strong>udent)Matthea, who works for the Americaneducational organisation WirelessGeneration (www.wirelessgeneration.com),has done much work over the past year inthe field <strong>of</strong> e-learning, and has severalrecent publications on the topic. Publishedin June, Conference Proceedings <strong>of</strong> theInternational Conference on E-learning inthe Workplace 2009, includes her ‘Case<strong>St</strong>udy <strong>of</strong> BELL E-learning: Award winning,Interactive E-learning on a Nonpr<strong>of</strong>itBudget’. An updated version <strong>of</strong> this casestudy article was also published in theInternational Journal <strong>of</strong> AdvancedCorporate Learning. Matthea was alsointerviewed as a guest expert on designingand implementing award-winning e-learning for The Accidental Trainer(http://theaccidentaltrainer.com/interviews.htm).DevelopmentOfficeContact details:Email: alumni@stcatz.ox.ac.ukFranca PottsAlumni Relations and Events OfficerTelephone: 01865 281596Email: franca.potts@stcatz.ox.ac.ukJess HughesCommunications OfficerTelephone: 01865 271760Email: jessica.hughes@stcatz.ox.ac.ukMegan ParryMaster’s Executive AssistantTelephone: 01865 271762Email: megan.parry@stcatz.ox.ac.ukPlease visit www.stcatz.ox.ac.ukto update your contact details.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/47


COLLEGE EVENTS<strong>College</strong> events 2010Wednesday 3 MarchWednesday 3 March to Saturday 6 MarchSaturday 6 MarchSaturday 13 MarchSaturday 3 AprilFriday 9 AprilFriday 16 April to Sunday 18 AprilMonday 26 AprilWednesday 5 MayWednesday 12 MaySaturday 22 MayWednesday 26 May to Saturday 29 MaySaturday 12 JuneSaturday 19 JuneSaturday 26 JuneSaturday 17 JulyFriday 24 September to Sunday 26 SeptemberSaturday 23 OctoberSaturday 6 NovemberSaturday 27 November<strong>St</strong> Catz musicians in concert with <strong>Oxford</strong>PhilomusicaTorpidsDegree dayLunch for first-year students and theirparents<strong>Oxford</strong> and Cambridge Boat RaceInter-collegiate golf tournament<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oxford</strong> North American reunionLondon Party, House <strong>of</strong> LordsFoundation Scholars DinnerWallace Watson Award LectureDegree dayEights WeekDegree dayGarden party for second year studentsand their parentsGaudy for matriculands from the 1980sDegree dayAlumni WeekendDegree dayDegree dayDegree dayThe <strong>College</strong> time capsuleThe <strong>College</strong> Enigmatist <strong>of</strong>fers the next clue (in aseries <strong>of</strong> 50) to the contents <strong>of</strong> the time capsuleburied under <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s <strong>College</strong>:Initially he found like an insect…Previous Clues:1. Two thirds <strong>of</strong> my number is one and a half timeswhat I am.2. Pooh in 1927, true <strong>of</strong> us today?3. Do they belong to longevity?4. The first 6 000 flowers.5. A good hiding...6. Six <strong>of</strong> one and half a dozen <strong>of</strong> the other.7. Initially he found like an insect…London Party 2010Monday 26 April 2010, 6.30-8.30pmTHE HOUSE OF LORDSThis year the London Party will take place at theHouse <strong>of</strong> Lords, a venue that has become a firmfavourite for this event over the years. This eventis for all our London alumni and any other alumniwho would like to attend. Invitations will only besent out to those who live in London and theHome Counties. If you live outside this area, butwould still like to attend this event, please contactthe Development Office directly.For more details about <strong>College</strong> events, please visit our website, www.stcatz.ox.ac.uk, or contactour Alumni Relations and Events Officer, Franca Potts (01865 281596).48/COLLEGE EVENTS 2010


CATZ FELLOWSPr<strong>of</strong>essor Richard ParishTutor in FrenchThe Bampton Lectures were founded in 1780,and have been given either annually orbiennially ever since. For the greater part <strong>of</strong>the time that they have existed, they havehad to be delivered by an ordained member<strong>of</strong> the Church <strong>of</strong> England, but in recent yearshave been opened to laymen and laywomen<strong>of</strong> other Christian denominations (or, intheory at least, none). The list <strong>of</strong> previouslecturers is forbidding; and my owndistinguished predecessor was Raymond Plant,a former Master and Honorary Fellow <strong>of</strong> the<strong>College</strong>. The purposes for which they have tobe delivered are unambiguously described asbeing ‘to confirm and establish the ChristianFaith, and to confute all heretics andschismatics’; and the topics on which theymust concentrate are equally clearly specifiedas being ‘the authority <strong>of</strong> the writings <strong>of</strong> theprimitive Fathers, the faith and practice <strong>of</strong> theprimitive Church, the Divinity <strong>of</strong> our Lord andSaviour Jesus Christ, the divinity <strong>of</strong> the HolyGhost, and the articles <strong>of</strong> the Christian faith,as comprehended in the Creeds’.I teach French. So it might not seem that Iwas the most obviously qualified person toapply. On the other hand, I have beenworking for a long time now on writers <strong>of</strong> theFrench Counter-Reformation, in all <strong>of</strong> itscomplex and indeed <strong>of</strong>ten conflictingmanifestations; and it was therefore temptingto see whether some <strong>of</strong> this material could betransformed into a lecture series within theconstraints imposed. Most people would haveheard <strong>of</strong> Pascal, I assumed; but did they wantto know more about the major exponent <strong>of</strong>Christian humanism, <strong>St</strong> François de Sales,about the great orator Bossuet, or hisepiscopal enemy Fénelon; or about thespiritual autobiographies written in theperiod? Was there a public for devotionalpoetry, or for martyr tragedies, perhaps? Andwhat about the polemical disputes thatscarred the century, in the guise <strong>of</strong> Jansenismand Quietism? The simple fact <strong>of</strong> asking theserhetorical questions makes a negative replyprobable, and yet these are only a part <strong>of</strong> anextraordinary range <strong>of</strong> topics that throw somuch light on the central concerns <strong>of</strong> thegrand siècle. But they also throw light, as thebrief demands, on what Christianity is. Andthat should not read ‘was’; because all <strong>of</strong>these issues are entirely pertinent to howreligious belief is accepted, understood orindeed rejected by later believers and nonbelievers.I was trying to address some <strong>of</strong>that continuity.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/49


CATZ FELLOWSThe title I took (and this again was a risk) wasa simple but astonishing assertion by Pascal,whose great unfinished apologetic projectthat posterity knows as the Pensées providedthe only universally familiar text <strong>of</strong> the series:‘Le christianisme est étrange’. I did not reallythink I would be allowed to keep it, since thelectures are obviously aimed at an audiencewithout any guaranteed knowledge <strong>of</strong> French,and since, to put it bluntly, it sounds a bitpretentious. But I got away with it; and I thinkthe subtitle <strong>of</strong> ‘Christian particularity’, whichmade explicit that I was going to talk aboutwhat was surprising, unexpected and indeeddisconcerting about Christianity, helped theseries to have some coherence. So I talkedabout apologetics, language, discernment,polemics, and redemption. But I also talkedabout the sheer oddness <strong>of</strong> religious belief,and <strong>of</strong> Christian dogma in particular.The venue is laid down as being the<strong>University</strong> Church <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong> Mary the Virgin, andthe time at which they were to be giveninvolved a good deal <strong>of</strong> negotiation. Wefinally settled on Tuesday eveningsthroughout the Hilary Term. The weather inthe late winter proved particularlyintemperate. On several occasions the Churchwas bitterly cold, and my faithful audiencetramped through slush and ice, wrapped up inseveral layers <strong>of</strong> clothing, to listen. Thechurch’s acoustic is unusual as well, to saythe least, and the heating is especially noisy.There had therefore to be some trade-<strong>of</strong>fbetween warmth and audibility, and I felt it tobe in the spirit <strong>of</strong> the series to opt for thelatter. But perhaps the sheer architecturaldistinction <strong>of</strong> the venue made up for at leastsome <strong>of</strong> the discomfort.I was generously supported by a range <strong>of</strong>colleagues — the Warden <strong>of</strong> Keble (my formercollege), in her capacity as Chairman <strong>of</strong>Electors, the Chairman <strong>of</strong> the TheologyFaculty, the Vicar <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong> Mary’s, and manyfriends and colleagues from ModernLanguages and from <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s. On theother hand, in true <strong>Oxford</strong> style, nobodyreally ever tells you what to do, and both theformality <strong>of</strong> the occasion and the splendour<strong>of</strong> the setting only add to the sense <strong>of</strong>historical continuity and to the responsibilitiesit brings. On a lighter note, in equally true<strong>Oxford</strong> style, both the post-lecture receptionsin the Old Hall <strong>of</strong> Teddy Hall and the moreinformal gatherings in the King’s Arms willremain as a happy postscript. Thankfully,there is a convention that questions are notasked publicly (which, given some <strong>of</strong> thequestions that were asked privately, turnedout indeed to be a blessing). And now I willlook for the chance to publish them. Nobodytells you about that either. ■I greatly enjoyed deliveringthe series, even if I feltnervous on every singleoccasion. And to those <strong>of</strong>you who came, even ifonly once or twice,thank you.50/RICHARD PARISH


CATZ FELLOWSPeter BattleTutor in Inorganic ChemistryWhat form does your research take?I engage in fundamental research whichattempts to make new compounds withinteresting or useful properties. Thecompounds are created by using the periodictable <strong>of</strong> the elements to build up crystalstructures which contain the features thatmight lead to such properties. During termtime, teaching commitments and variousother duties mean that I am not able tospend extended periods <strong>of</strong> time in the lab, soa good deal <strong>of</strong> the hands-on work isundertaken by ‘The Battle Group’, members <strong>of</strong>which are either DPhil students, post-doctoralresearchers or Part II undergraduate Chemistrystudents. I retain an involvement with thepractical side <strong>of</strong> research by taking part in theexperiments to characterise the compoundsthat they produce: the group has regularallocations <strong>of</strong> beamtime at the Institut Laue-Langevin, an international research centre atGrenoble, where a nuclear reactor producesthe beams <strong>of</strong> neutrons that we need.You have said that you undertake‘fundamental research’ as opposed toresearch with a clear commercial end insight. Are there any practical applicationsfor your research?While the nature <strong>of</strong> my research is such thatthere is <strong>of</strong>ten a real chance that a desired endresult may not be achieved, I am always aware<strong>of</strong> what could come out <strong>of</strong> my work. One area<strong>of</strong> particular interest concerns the use <strong>of</strong>materials whose electrical resistance changeswhen put in a magnetic field. We are able tocreate compounds with what is known ascolossal magnetoresistance, where resistancedrops by over 90%. Since computer disks storeinformation magnetically, these compoundsmay have important practical applications inthe development <strong>of</strong> computer technology; bymeasuring the resistance <strong>of</strong> a suitablemagnetoresistive material placed next to adisk, we could read out what information thedisk contains. We are also working on thebasic development <strong>of</strong> magnetic materials andon compounds that could be used in fuel cells.A glance at your CV reveals that your firstdegree was actually in Physics, notChemistry. What brought about a transferfrom the former to the latter?I opted to read Physics at university ratherthan Chemistry to avoid having to continuewrestling with organic chemistry — somethingI had not enjoyed at school. I was then ableto return to Chemistry as a postgraduate,which was rather fortunate since, at the time,reading for a DPhil in Physics involved buildingone’s own equipment (requiring acorresponding love and deep understanding<strong>of</strong> electronics which I did not possess). In1980, I was appointed CEGB Research Fellowat <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s and <strong>Oxford</strong>’s InorganicChemistry Laboratory and, while my researchis still very much towards the physics end <strong>of</strong>chemistry, I have been a chemist ever since.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/51


CATZ FELLOWSSo you have been here at Catz since 1980?No, in 1984 I moved to the <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Leeds to be a Lecturer in Inorganic and<strong>St</strong>ructural Chemistry. Five years later, when asuitable opportunity arose, I was delighted tobe able to return to <strong>Oxford</strong>, and <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s,as a Tutor in Inorganic Chemistry.What are the most rewarding aspects <strong>of</strong>your job?Problem-solving is something that has alwaysinterested me, and one <strong>of</strong> the most rewardingaspects <strong>of</strong> my job is when a research studentcomes to me with data that they can’tunderstand and I find the time to sit downand work out what they mean. Since 2005, Ihave been an editor <strong>of</strong> the AmericanChemical Society’s journal, Chemistry <strong>of</strong>Materials, and I enjoy the opportunities thatthis role gives me to engage with a widerange<strong>of</strong> recent advances in my field.By way <strong>of</strong> contrast, what areas do youfind most challenging?I am actively involved in the ongoing quest tosecure research funding from grant-awardingbodies such as the Engineering and PhysicalSciences Research Council. This is becomingincreasingly difficult, as the funding situationat present is worse than it has been for along time. Our projects can find themselves ata disadvantage when compared to those putforward by other departments because,although they involve fundamental research,they are neither headline-grabbing, like theparticle-collision research currently takingplace at CERN in Switzerland, nor, incontrast with – for example – research intothe development <strong>of</strong> H1N1 vaccine and otherpharmaceuticals, are they seen to be <strong>of</strong>immediate practical benefit to society.What effect will a lack <strong>of</strong> funding haveon research in your field?The difficulties caused by a shortage <strong>of</strong>funding could pose a serious threat to thefuture development <strong>of</strong> research in importantareas. Even in straitened economic times, weneed to ensure a sustained investment inknowledge since, when cuts are made,expertise is quickly lost in affected areas andprojects can not then simply be ‘picked-up’at a future date. Today, for example, even asdiscussions take place over the possibility <strong>of</strong>building a second generation <strong>of</strong> nuclearpower stations, there are very few Britishpeople left in active research who actuallyknow how to build one.On a brighter note, applications to studyChemistry at <strong>Oxford</strong> have risensignificantly in the past five years. Whatis it about the subject that prospectivestudents are finding so appealing?Chemistry is the central science; it hasborders with physics, biology and materialsscience, and a student with a first degree inChemistry can move into research in a widerange <strong>of</strong> disciplines. Of course, not everybodywants a career in research. Chemistrygraduates also go on to pursue careers inpr<strong>of</strong>essions that do not require them to usetheir scientific knowledge on a daily basis,but which make full use <strong>of</strong> the transferrableskills that they have acquired while students;in addition to an ability to think logically andsolve problems, they possess a high level <strong>of</strong>both numeracy and literacy.Finally, what are we most likely to findyou doing away from the lab?In addition to being a life-long SheffieldWednesday supporter, I also enjoy exploringruined castles and abbeys. I have alwaysenjoyed travelling and am fortunate thatattending conferences over the years hasgiven me a wonderful opportunity to exploremany different countries. ■Crystal structure52/PETER BATTLE


CATZ FELLOWSEnergy: Are the answersblowing in the wind …?Byron ByrneTutor in Engineering ScienceThe UK renewable energy targets areambitious, and much work is to be done justto approach the ‘10% <strong>of</strong> UK electricity by2010’ target, let alone the later target <strong>of</strong>15% <strong>of</strong> all UK energy by 2020. Offshorerenewable energy, and particularly <strong>of</strong>fshorewind power, is expected to be a major playerin the UK renewables drive. The Secretary <strong>of</strong><strong>St</strong>ate announced that by 2020 theGovernment wants 33 gigawatts (GW) <strong>of</strong>installed <strong>of</strong>fshore wind capacity. This equatesto about 6600 five megawatt (MW) turbines,which at present costs would require a totalinvestment <strong>of</strong> at least £66 billion and morelike £100 billion over ten years.The scale <strong>of</strong> the construction activity andcapital investment required should not beunderestimated, particularly given the currenteconomic climate worldwide. As <strong>of</strong> late 2009the British Wind Energy Association reportonly four GW <strong>of</strong> installed wind power in UK,including about 230 (mostly smaller)operational <strong>of</strong>fshore turbines installed in thepast eight years. A more than ten-foldincrease in yearly activity is required if thetargets are to be even remotely approached.The engineering is complex: <strong>of</strong>fshore windturbines are extremely large structures, withturbine towers being more than 120 metreshigh (almost the height <strong>of</strong> London’s‘Gherkin’) and blade lengths greater than 60metres (nearly the wingspan <strong>of</strong> a jumbo jet).The <strong>of</strong>fshore environment is harsh, with manylarge waves, sometimes as high as a fivestoreybuilding (about 15 metres), poundingagainst the structure. These extreme waves,coupled with wind loading, lead to very highloads, which the structure and foundationmust be designed to resist. In addition thetower, structure and foundation can be quiteflexible, meaning that vibration under windand wave loading can be problematic. If theyare not properly designed, excessivevibrations can lead to fatigue failure andcatastrophic structural collapse.One <strong>of</strong> the main barriers to more rapiddeployment is that current designs dependLoading rig for testing model <strong>of</strong>fshore foundations in thelaboratory.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/53


CATZ FELLOWSon bespoke construction vessels carrying outpiecemeal operations <strong>of</strong>fshore. These cantake many months to complete and areprohibitively expensive. A key area wheresavings are possible is the construction andinstallation <strong>of</strong> the foundation, as this is alarge part <strong>of</strong> the installed cost (up to 25%).Innovations in this area could lead to billions<strong>of</strong> pounds <strong>of</strong> savings over the next ten yearsas the wind farms are developed. However,the foundation is also the structuralcomponent that determines the vibration,fatigue and extreme loading response <strong>of</strong> theturbine structure, so any change to currenttechnology must be reliable and based onrigorous research.The range <strong>of</strong> structural and foundationsolutions for <strong>of</strong>fshore turbines are shown inthe diagram below. Gravity base foundations(which rely on weight for stability) have beenused at Nysted wind farm and more recentlyat Thornton Bank, though the currentsolution around the UK coastline is themonopile. This is a large-diameter (greaterthan four metres) hollow steel tube that isusually installed by driving it into the groundupon which the turbine is sited. These pilesare larger in diameter than those used for oiland gas structures, which typically usemultiple smaller-diameter piles located ateach corner <strong>of</strong> a steel lattice structure.Therefore, whilst some technology transferhas been possible, new technology andprocesses need to be developed. Withincreasing water depths, or turbine size, acontinuation <strong>of</strong> the current approach willrequire even larger piles that will beinfeasible to install (or be unrealisticallyexpensive). These are unlikely to be the longtermsolution for 6600 or more turbines.A newer and more novel idea is to usesuction-installed skirted foundations in place<strong>St</strong>ructural and foundation designs for <strong>of</strong>fshorewind turbines (a) gravity base, (b) monopile,(c) suction installed foundation, (d)(e) multifoundationstructure, (f)(g) floating structures.54/BYRON BYRNE


CATZ FELLOWS<strong>of</strong> the piles. Essentially the foundations,similar to upturned buckets, are “sucked”into the ground using light pumpingequipment which means a reducedrequirement for expensive heavy-lift vessels.This could lead to the development <strong>of</strong> selfinstallingstructures that would significantlyreduce costs and installation times. Researchon this type <strong>of</strong> foundation has formed alarge part <strong>of</strong> activity in <strong>Oxford</strong> over the pastten years. This has included a wide range <strong>of</strong>laboratory testing (for example usingbespoke equipment as shown in the photo),theoretical development, mathematical modelbuilding, numerical analysis and also smallscalefield trials. The results <strong>of</strong> the researchhave led to many publications that outlinedesign and calculation approaches that canbe used by the industry to exploit thisfoundation in their designs.At the time <strong>of</strong> writing this type <strong>of</strong> foundationhas yet to be proven at full scale for an<strong>of</strong>fshore wind turbine, however earlier in theyear a smaller structure was installed for ameteorological mast application <strong>of</strong>f the coast<strong>of</strong> Denmark. Success <strong>of</strong> this trial could leadto many more applications <strong>of</strong> this technologyto <strong>of</strong>fshore wind in the future. In contrast,suction installed foundations have been usedin the past for oil and gas structures and arenow routinely used for anchoring <strong>of</strong> floating<strong>of</strong>fshore structures.Looking further into the future, seesdevelopment moving further <strong>of</strong>fshore and intodeeper water. This will see multi-foundationstructures and even floating structures, both<strong>of</strong> which could take advantage <strong>of</strong> suctioninstalledfoundations as well as the moretraditional foundation-types. Research at<strong>Oxford</strong> is now exploring design options forthese new scenarios including pilefoundations, gravity bases, suction-installedfoundations as well as more innovative ideassuch as helical screw piles. Much <strong>of</strong> thisresearch also transfers across to the marinerenewable-energy sector which include tidalenergydevices (many <strong>of</strong> which look likeunderwater wind turbines) and wave-energydevices. The research at <strong>Oxford</strong> is thereforehelping to underpin the use <strong>of</strong> newtechnology in this rapidly expanding sectorand should be exploited in the coming yearsas the UK strives to meet its very ambitiousrenewable-energy targets. ■Wind turbines creating clean energy in WestYorkshire


CATZ FELLOWSDr Kerry Walkerrecently joined <strong>St</strong> Catz as a Junior Research Fellow in Medical SciencesOur ears detect sound as minute changes in airpressure over time, yet we would notsubjectively describe our experience <strong>of</strong> hearingas one <strong>of</strong> ‘perceiving pressure waves’. Rather,we hear a familiar voice over the telephone, aBach Prelude, or rustling leaves. In 1990,Bregman <strong>of</strong>fered an analogy to help usappreciate the process through which the brainconstructs such ‘auditory objects’ from soundwaves. Imagine you are standing on the shore<strong>of</strong> a lake, and I challenge you to a game. I digtwo narrow, parallel channels, runningperpendicular to the shoreline. Waves reach theshoreline and cause disturbances within thewater in each channel. The challenge is for youto answer my questions by observing only thewaves within the two channels.How many boats are in the lake? Which aresmall fishing boats, and which are large ships?How fast is the swimmer on your right moving?This may seem an impossibly difficult task, but itis essentially the same one that your auditorysystem solves effortlessly.In my research as a Junior Research Fellow at<strong>St</strong> Catherine’s <strong>College</strong>, I aim to discover how thebrain accomplishes this feat.One <strong>of</strong> the most important tasks <strong>of</strong> theauditory nervous system is to allow animals tocommunicate with each other using vocal calls.The brain forms a number <strong>of</strong> subjective features<strong>of</strong> a vocal call, such as pitch (i.e. is it a high orlow note?), timbre (is it more ‘aah’-like or‘ooo’-like?), and location (where is thespeaker?). It is still largely unclear how ourbrain creates these perceptual features fromacoustic properties, but a structure known asauditory cortex seems to have an essential partto play. Nerve cells in this area <strong>of</strong> the brainproduce spikes <strong>of</strong> electrical potentials when welisten to sounds. These cells produce differentpatterns <strong>of</strong> spikes for different sounds.Therefore, in much the same way as we candecipher a message from a sequence <strong>of</strong> Morsecode, we can similarly understand how thebrain represents sound by decrypting the ‘spikecode’ <strong>of</strong> auditory cortical cells.In order to interpret a vocalization, listeners are<strong>of</strong>ten required to make fine judgements in thequality <strong>of</strong> a sound feature. For instance, a smallchange in pitch could define the differencebetween a mating call and a warning call. Toinvestigate the neural underpinnings <strong>of</strong> suchdistinctions, I train ferrets in a variety <strong>of</strong>listening tasks requiring them to distinguishcommunication sounds that vary in their pitch,or in their identity. I also measure the spikesproduced by auditory cortical cells while ferretsare listening to these sounds. I determine howthe cells encode sound features by designingcomputational algorithms that ‘guess’ whichsound the animal is listening to based on thecell’s spike output. My research has shown thatwe can account for ferrets’ decisions on a pitchtask using the spike rates <strong>of</strong> a small subset <strong>of</strong>cells in auditory cortex.There are also times when it is important for alistener to generalize sounds. For example, wemust recognize the word ‘fire’ when it isspoken by different speakers. I have foundthat while the number <strong>of</strong> spikes that someauditory cortical cells produce in response to avowel sound depends on both the pitch andlocation <strong>of</strong> the speaker, the spiking activity <strong>of</strong>other cells provides a more reliable code for56/KERRY WALKER


CATZ FELLOWSvowel identity across these variations.Therefore, there are physiological explanations<strong>of</strong> our ability to both distinguish andgeneralize sounds, and the cells that give riseto these functions are distributed somewhatdistinctively across regions <strong>of</strong> auditory cortex.Speech sounds are characterized by incrediblyrapid events (in the order <strong>of</strong> milliseconds), sothe brain must provide a temporally preciserepresentation <strong>of</strong> the sequence <strong>of</strong> sounds inorder for us to recognize spoken words. As anMSc student at Dalhousie <strong>University</strong> in Canada,I studied how impairments in this type <strong>of</strong>‘temporal processing’ in young children canlead to developmental language and readingdisorders. My doctoral work at Brasenose<strong>College</strong> expanded on this line <strong>of</strong> research byexamining how patterns <strong>of</strong> spikes, rather thansimple spike rates, in auditory cortical cellsrepresent the dynamics <strong>of</strong> vocal calls....there arephysiologicalexplanations<strong>of</strong> our abilityto bothdistinguishand generalizesounds...My studies into how we ‘hear with our brain’continue. Next, I plan to investigate howresponses <strong>of</strong> auditory cortical cells changewhen ferrets switch between differentlistening tasks. My work will ultimately guidethe design <strong>of</strong> behavioural therapies and manmachineinterfaces that remediate hearingdisorders. But for now, it helps us appreciatehow the mental world that defines us arisesfrom common, albeit astonishingly complex,physiological processes. ■ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/57


Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dickson presentedwith his FestschriftIn June 2009, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Peter Dickson, EmeritusFellow <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s, returned to the <strong>College</strong>to be presented with his Festschrift, a book <strong>of</strong>essays on the fiscal-military state <strong>of</strong> EighteenthCentury Europe, written and collated in hishonour. Several <strong>of</strong> Peter’s pupils from acrossthe years attended the event, which was held inthe Senior Common Room. The book’s editor, DrChristopher <strong>St</strong>orrs, a past student <strong>of</strong> PeterDickson, presented the Festschrift on the day.Here Dr <strong>St</strong>orrs writes on the tutor who providedhim with so much inspiration.While we Catzmen knew we were being taughtby some <strong>of</strong> the best scholars in our field,sometimes the full realization <strong>of</strong> what thatmeant only occurred later. That is certainly howI have come to appreciate the enormousachievement <strong>of</strong> my former tutor, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Peter(‘P.G.M’). Dickson. His pioneering worktransformed our understanding <strong>of</strong> one subject,British public credit in the early eighteenthcentury, and then revolutionized our grasp <strong>of</strong> avery different one, the finances <strong>of</strong> the AustrianLeft (l to r): Peter Dickson and Christopher <strong>St</strong>orrs.Habsburgs <strong>of</strong> the later eighteenth century.Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dickson’s engagement with financialhistory began with the Sun Fire Insurance Officeand its place in the formative period <strong>of</strong> Britishinsurance, commencing in 1680. But Dickson’sfirst really groundbreaking work was his TheFinancial Revolution in England: A <strong>St</strong>udy <strong>of</strong> theDevelopment <strong>of</strong> Public Credit 1688-1756(1967), which transformed our understanding<strong>of</strong> public finance in the eighteenth century. Thiswork was founded on rigorous and detailedstudy <strong>of</strong> British financial records, including those<strong>of</strong> the Bank <strong>of</strong> England, and demonstrated hismeticulous research. Like George Holmes, PeterDickson then shifted his attention from Britain toEurope – in Peter’s case to the AustrianHabsburg Monarchy in the eighteenth century,astonishing fellow-historians with his twovolumeFinance and Government under MariaTheresia, 1740-1780 (1987). This, founded inpart upon mastering sources in a bewilderingvariety <strong>of</strong> languages, was equally painstakinglyscholarly and also widely hailed as definitive. Inretirement, Peter Dickson continues to exploreand publish on this subject, casting new light onthe eighteenth century Austrian HabsburgMonarchy. Dickson is typically modest about hiswork but his fellow historians recognize itsenormous importance. This has been a brilliantperformance on the part <strong>of</strong> somebody who formost <strong>of</strong> his pr<strong>of</strong>essional life was a Fellow <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>Catherine’s, where he bore the usual heavyteaching load, tutoring and inspiringgenerations <strong>of</strong> Modern History students. Farmore <strong>of</strong> Peter Dickson’s former colleagues andpupils, undergraduate and postgraduate, inBritain and abroad, wished to contribute to theFestschrift than could be accommodated; thatso many wanted to salute his achievement istestimony to the high regard in which he is heldas a scholar and teacher <strong>of</strong> British andEuropean history. – Chris <strong>St</strong>orrsOn the presentation <strong>of</strong> the book, Pr<strong>of</strong>essorDickson thanked Dr <strong>St</strong>orrs warmly for hiscreation <strong>of</strong> the Festschrift and continued asfollows.‘I am fully aware <strong>of</strong> the constraints whichhamper university historians today. I have nodoubt that its author encountered them againwhen preparing the present volume. If youapply for a grant (or for research leave) you areasked ‘is it relevant?’ When you try to find apublisher, you are asked ‘is it marketable?’Chaucer’s Clerk <strong>of</strong> Oxenford declared that58/PETER DICKSON


CATZ FELLOWS‘gladly would he learn and gladly teach.’ Todayhe would be asked ‘is it relevant?’ and ‘is itmarketable?’ Yet a strong historiographicalpr<strong>of</strong>ession, studying both national history andthe history <strong>of</strong> other countries, is, in my view, animportant condition <strong>of</strong> national identity, andnational self-confidence. The existence <strong>of</strong> such apr<strong>of</strong>ession perhaps only really dates, in America,England and Germany, as examples, from thesecond half <strong>of</strong> the nineteenth century. It is tothe great credit <strong>of</strong> Germany that, after a terribleperiod in its history, it re-established itspowerful tradition <strong>of</strong> historiography after 1945.A weak historical pr<strong>of</strong>ession, in contrast, cans<strong>of</strong>ten standards and tolerate inaccuracy, and itis extremely difficult to raise it to a higher level.This is not the place for a disquisition on theimportance <strong>of</strong> historical studies. But perhaps Imight just mention two things I have recentlyreflected on. The first is the relevance <strong>of</strong> much<strong>of</strong> our present-day experiences to ourunderstanding <strong>of</strong> past times: the presentthrowing light on the past. It seems to me thatover my lifetime I have received a crash-courseon the influence <strong>of</strong> ideology on political action;the psychology <strong>of</strong> crowds; the old distinctionbetween public opinion and popular opinion;the role <strong>of</strong> the individual in politics; and muchmore. Sometimes the parallels leap out in oneepisode. The recent obituary in The Times <strong>of</strong>the Captain <strong>of</strong> Red Guards who led the quest <strong>of</strong>Right: Former students and colleagues celebrate with PeterDixon in the Fellows’ Garden at <strong>St</strong> Catz.China’s Gang <strong>of</strong> Four in 1974 set out thepolitical and psychological uncertaintiesinvolved, and in doing so inevitably called tomind the arrest <strong>of</strong> Maximilien and AugustinRobespierre on 27 July 1794, ‘Thermidor’, theend <strong>of</strong> one revolutionary phase and the start <strong>of</strong>another. My second reflection is that manysettled views <strong>of</strong> the past are just wrong. KarlMarx insists that the past weighs like an Alp onthe mind <strong>of</strong> the living. But it is <strong>of</strong>ten the wrongAlp. We know that autocratic regimes havealways imposed on their subjects an <strong>of</strong>ficial view<strong>of</strong> the past, which it is unwise to contradict.What is <strong>of</strong>ten overlooked is that even in freesocieties a distorted and inaccurate view <strong>of</strong> pastevents, informed by modern prejudices, tends tosettle on them like a shroud soon after they areover. That view becomes fixed in the publicmind, and influences present perceptions andactions. I <strong>of</strong>fer the Italian Risorgimento, orBritish rule in India, as examples. Pr<strong>of</strong>essionalhistoriography, re-examining and re-assessingthe past, is an indispensable corrective to thisphenomenon.Utility, practicality and relevance apart however,historical studies conform to Aristotle’s category<strong>of</strong> activities worthwhile in themselves, whosecontinuance is to be encouraged, and whoseproductions should be honoured. It is thisphilosophy which you have applied to metoday.’ ■ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/59


George Holmes1926–2009Pr<strong>of</strong>essor George Holmes, who died inJanuary 2009, was a history tutor for theformer <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s Society from 1954, anda tutorial fellow <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s <strong>College</strong>from its foundation in 1962 until his electionto <strong>Oxford</strong>’s Chichele Chair <strong>of</strong> MedievalHistory, together with a fellowship at AllSouls, in 1989. He had been educated atArdwyn County School, one <strong>of</strong> those small,rigorous, Welsh grammar schools thatproduced so many outstanding historical andclassical scholars during the post-wardecades. At sixteen he went for two years to<strong>University</strong> <strong>College</strong>, Aberystwyth, and thenceto Cambridge <strong>University</strong>, where he gained adouble first in the History Tripos and thenworked for his doctorate on fourteenthcenturyeconomic and legal history. He held aresearch fellowship at <strong>St</strong> John’s <strong>College</strong>,Cambridge, 1951-4. Over the course <strong>of</strong> along career he held visiting research posts inPrague, Göttingen, Princeton, Florence, Parisand Rome, and became a Fellow <strong>of</strong> theBritish Academy in 1985.George Holmes was a man who was liked andadmired by colleagues in many disciplines forhis geniality, generosity, and passionatecommitment to the world <strong>of</strong> ideas. He had avery patient, attentive and gentle manner,even towards people with whom he stronglydisagreed (only by a slight hooding <strong>of</strong> hiseyelids was it possible to detect whenGeorge thought that someone was talkingnonsense). Quite apart from his pr<strong>of</strong>essionalinterest in history he was formidably wellreadin the poetry and literature <strong>of</strong> manylanguages. In addition to Latin, French,German and Italian, which he read fluently,he taught himself to read Greek, and learntCzech under a tutor for his study <strong>of</strong> CardinalBeaufort and the Hussite wars. Thereappeared to be no major novel that hehadn’t read, no philosopher, painter orsculptor on whom he did not have aninformed and <strong>of</strong>ten original opinion. Indeed,in the humane disciplines he <strong>of</strong>ten appearedto know more about other people’sintellectual interests than they knewthemselves, though this fact was neverobtrusive.For more than thirty years (in partnershipfrom 1956 with Peter Dickson) much <strong>of</strong>George’s pr<strong>of</strong>essional life was devoted tobuilding up the standards <strong>of</strong> undergraduatehistory teaching at <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s college.This was in its early days a herculean task,


GAZETTEnot simply because Modern History (as it wasthen called) was such a powerful and longestablisheddiscipline in the more ancient<strong>Oxford</strong> colleges, but because <strong>St</strong> Catherine’shad only two tutors to cover the wholesyllabus from the Roman withdrawal fromBritain through to 1914, whereas many oldercolleges had four or more history fellows.Nevertheless his relationship withundergraduates, both clever and weakerones, was warm and mutually rewarding,though he could be quite stern withoccasional miscreants who appeared to haveno interest in their subject: the whole point<strong>of</strong> studying history, in George’s view, wasthat it was so endlessly fascinating andexciting, and ‘if you don’t feel that, youshould be doing something else’. Manyformer students recall him with some degree<strong>of</strong> intellectual awe, but also great respectand affection. He was ‘an immenselycourteous man’, wrote one, ‘alwayswelcoming and respectful <strong>of</strong> myundergraduate opinions’, whilst anothercommented on ‘his great warmth andkindness...which bolstered my confidenceimmeasurably’. ‘His tutorials masqueraded asfireside chats’, remarked another, ‘but at theend <strong>of</strong> the hour you knew you had beenthrough a real intellectual experience’.Another remembers George as becoming onoccasion so wrapped up in intellectualquestions that he would lose all sense <strong>of</strong>time and place; while others recall theemphasis that he continued to lay on thetechnical sub-structures <strong>of</strong> economic, legal,and demographic history, even when hisprimary interests had shifted towards morecultural and intellectual themes....the whole point <strong>of</strong>studying history, inGeorge’s view, was thatit was so endlesslyfascinating and exciting,and ‘if you don’t feel that,you should be doingsomething else’.Perhaps surprisingly for someone who was sointellectually absorbed in his subject, Georgewas also a very speedy and efficientadministrator. In this he was helped by amaxim which he claimed to have borrowedfrom the church historian Brian Heeney; that‘no piece <strong>of</strong> paper should ever be allowed tocross one’s desk twice’. He was ActingMaster <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s for two years duringAlan Bullock’s Vice-Chancellorship — a periodnot just <strong>of</strong> routine administration, but <strong>of</strong>major changes in national higher educationpolicies and <strong>of</strong> the notorious ‘studentunrest’, the latter not least in <strong>St</strong> Catherine’sitself. One <strong>of</strong> his major achievements wasvirtually to create the college library, notmerely by ordering new books, but bybuilding up an indispensable core <strong>of</strong> classicscholarly works acquired from second-handand antiquarian sources. He servedsuccessively as an assistant editor <strong>of</strong> theEconomic History Review (1960 to 1966),editor <strong>of</strong> the English Historical Review (1974to 1980), as a delegate <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oxford</strong> <strong>University</strong>Press, and as chairman <strong>of</strong> the Victoria CountyHistory series. In the early 1990s he becamechairman <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Oxford</strong> Modern HistoryFaculty; a role in which he unexpectedlygenerated much controversy by an article inthe <strong>Oxford</strong> Magazine in 1991.In this hecriticised <strong>Oxford</strong> arts faculties in general andthe History Faculty in particular, for beingenslaved to the essay-based college tutorialsystem and far too little concerned at alllevels with ‘new ideas’, ‘novel speculation’,‘imagination and experiment’, and originalhistorical research. This article almostcertainly reflected George’s feelings about hisown prolonged experience as a collegetutorial fellow <strong>of</strong> thirty-one years’ standing;and it may also have reflected some degree<strong>of</strong> disappointment with his role as Chichelepr<strong>of</strong>essor, at a time when both university andgovernment funding for the support <strong>of</strong>research students and for research leave forST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/61


GAZETTEestablished scholars was extremely scarce.This critique provoked some degree <strong>of</strong>indignation among colleagues at the time,but was seen by others as a welcome breath<strong>of</strong> sanity. It remains unclear just how far thiscontroversy exerted a direct influence on themajor changes in the teaching and practice<strong>of</strong> history in <strong>Oxford</strong> — at undergraduate,post-graduate, and doctoral levels — thatwere to occur over the next decade and ahalf. Certainly many <strong>of</strong> those changes (whichincluded the introduction <strong>of</strong> undergraduatedissertations, more formal research trainingfor graduates, and more extensiveopportunities for research leave forpostholders and tutorial fellows) appeared toreflect the tenor <strong>of</strong> George’s <strong>Oxford</strong>Magazine article (though how far theyresolved the tension between teaching andresearch in arts subjects remains a matter <strong>of</strong>continuing debate).Nevertheless, George Holmes‘s ultimateacademic reputation will rest not on hisencouragement <strong>of</strong> the work <strong>of</strong> others,important as that was, but on his own output<strong>of</strong> scholarly writing and research. In thissphere, George very aptly illustrated afamous dictum <strong>of</strong> the great R.H.Tawney. Thiswas that, whereas natural scientists usuallydid their best and most original work in theiryouth, historians (if they stuck to it) <strong>of</strong>tenbecame better and more interesting as they...natural scientists usuallydid their best and mostoriginal work in theiryouth, historians (if theystuck to it) <strong>of</strong>ten becamebetter and more interestingas they grew older andolder.grew older and older. George’s first work, TheEstates <strong>of</strong> the Higher Nobility in Fourteenth-Century England, based on his Cambridgedoctoral thesis, was an exercise in what wassometimes known at the time as ‘Tory-Marxism’ (meaning not ‘Tory’ or ‘Marxist’ inany specifically ideological sense, but basedon meticulous empirical analysis <strong>of</strong> how legalinstitutions and material forces actuallyworked, as opposed to intangible movements<strong>of</strong> ‘ideas’). Influenced by the great doyen <strong>of</strong>this school, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Michael Postan, GeorgeHolmes’s monograph was written with greatlucidity and analytical power, particularly in itsdissection <strong>of</strong> property law, economic relations,and legal theory; but no reader <strong>of</strong> this volumecould have predicted that its author wouldeventually blossom as a major historian <strong>of</strong>European philosophy, culture, art and religion.Nor could it have been inferred that theperiod <strong>of</strong> English history with which it dealtwas also the age <strong>of</strong> William <strong>of</strong> Ockham,Ge<strong>of</strong>frey Chaucer, and the anonymous author<strong>of</strong> The Cloud <strong>of</strong> Unknowing (all <strong>of</strong> themmuch more closely akin in their thought andwritings to the interests <strong>of</strong> George’s latercareer).Nevertheless, George’s subsequentemergence as an intellectual and culturalhistorian did not involve a total repudiation <strong>of</strong>his earlier interest in more concrete andinstitutional themes. Indeed, his growinginterest in late-medieval Florence centredupon the material culture <strong>of</strong> cities, and inparticular upon the key role <strong>of</strong> merchants andentrepreneurs, as transmitters not just <strong>of</strong>goods and services but <strong>of</strong> religious,philosophical, artistic, and political ideas — instark contrast perhaps to the stolidphilistinism <strong>of</strong> the Anglo-Norman highernobility? This emphasis upon the closeinteraction between intellectual and materialforces – not as a species <strong>of</strong> crude‘reductionism’ but as different sides <strong>of</strong> thesame coin — was to characterise much <strong>of</strong> hislater writing on the Florentine‘enlightenment’, on the political and religiousthought <strong>of</strong> Dante Aligheri, on the Greek aswell as Roman roots <strong>of</strong> late-medieval Italianthought, and on the wider history <strong>of</strong> the artand culture <strong>of</strong> the Italian renaissance in62/GEORGE HOLMES


GAZETTEdifferent cities and periods. And similarly hislater, copiously illustrated works on the arthistory <strong>of</strong> the period strongly emphasised thelinks between spirituality and its tangibleembodiment in different styles <strong>of</strong> materialculture. One <strong>of</strong> his most influential books washis collected edition <strong>of</strong> eleven British Academylectures, delivered by a variety <strong>of</strong>distinguished scholars between 1942 and1989, on the theme <strong>of</strong> Art and Politics inRenaissance Italy. Several contributions to thisvolume (including George’s own) emphasisedan ongoing clash in fifteenth-century Italybetween the Roman republican ideal <strong>of</strong> acollective and objective ‘civic culture’ and thesordid contemporary reality <strong>of</strong> private factionsand families all feathering their own nests.Another theme, emphasised in George’seditorial introduction, was the immensecontribution made to Renaissance studies inmid-twentieth century Britain by recentrefugees and emigrés from fascist-occupiedEurope. This impact, George hinted, might wellprove comparable to that <strong>of</strong> Orthodox scholarsescaping to Italy from Byzantium in 1453(though with characteristic modesty heglossed over the fact that his own study <strong>of</strong>Florence had uncovered an Italian revival <strong>of</strong>interest in Greek thought at least half acentury earlier).George was married to Anne Klein, a specialiston the literature <strong>of</strong> nineteenth-century Franceand fellow <strong>of</strong> Hertford <strong>College</strong>, with whom heshared many intellectual, artistic and religiousinterests. They had four children, one <strong>of</strong> whomtragically died as a schoolboy. <strong>St</strong> Catherine’sstudents over several generations recall theliveliness, warmth and intellectual vitality <strong>of</strong>the Holmes’s hospitable household. After hisretirement from the Chichele pr<strong>of</strong>essorship,George frequently lunched in <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s,and appeared to be as active as ever (if notmore so) in new fields <strong>of</strong> speculation andresearch. However, in his late-60s and early70s he suffered a prolonged period <strong>of</strong> illhealth, which involved several heart andintestinal operations and many months inhospital. After what appeared to be an almostmiraculous recovery, he developed active plansfor carrying forward his research interests incities, political ideas, and civic culture into amuch more modern era. Always a man <strong>of</strong> deepreligious identity, though <strong>of</strong> varying andevolving religious beliefs, George was receivedinto the Roman Catholic Church in 2002, andbecame a regular worshipper at the Catholicchurch in Burford, <strong>Oxford</strong>shire. He diedunexpectedly on 29 January 2009. He isremembered by many colleagues, friends, andformer students as a quiet, generous andunassuming man, who was nevertheless full <strong>of</strong>robust, provocative — at times even subversive— intellectual vitality. ■ Jose HarrisDrawing <strong>of</strong> George Holmes by Trevor <strong>St</strong>ubley. Drawn in 1982,this portrait hangs in the <strong>College</strong> library today.<strong>St</strong> Catherine’s studentsover several generationsrecall the liveliness,warmth and intellectualvitality <strong>of</strong> the Holmes’shospitable household.ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/63


GAZETTEHilda ‘Nibby’ Bullock1915-2009Little did Nibby realise that when her sisterfell in love with the organist <strong>of</strong> Chapel LaneChapel in Bradford, it would change thecourse <strong>of</strong> her own life. When, as a schoolgirl,she accompanied her sister to the chapel, notonly was she to hear some <strong>of</strong> the greatsermons <strong>of</strong> the day preached by FrankBullock, for whom she retained a life-longadmiration, but she sat behind the minister’sson, and quickly fell in love with the broadshoulderedschoolboy, Alan. Her life wasabout to set out in a new direction.Nibby, whose mother was a seamstress, wasborn in Bradford in August 1915. In 1933,encouraged by his father (who had never hada college education), Alan came up toWadham. He told me that he rushed home inthe vacation, and suggested to Nibby thatshe should come too, with the result that thefollowing year she was admitted, as a homestudent, to read English at <strong>St</strong> Anne’s <strong>College</strong>.On graduating, she took a post teachingEnglish in Crewe, while Alan was awarded aJunior Research Fellowship at Merton.In the dark early days <strong>of</strong> the Second WorldWar, Alan, who had been turned down formilitary service because <strong>of</strong> his asthma, wasdrafted into the BBC to help the war effort. Itlooked as if he was to be posted to Canada,so on 1 June 1940, in the middle <strong>of</strong> theDunkirk evacuation, Alan and Nibby weremarried. Life was not easy in London, so Nibbyreturned to Bradford, where Adrian was born.With the end <strong>of</strong> the War, Alan was appointedDean <strong>of</strong> New <strong>College</strong>, and the young familywas reunited. These were happy years.Nibby was a wonderful wife, who provided ahappy and stable home for Alan, andencouraged him in his writing. She washeavily involved with Alan’s work at <strong>St</strong>Catherine’s, supporting him through all thevicissitudes <strong>of</strong> fundraising for the newcollege, and taking a keen and genuine...there on the stepsappeared Lady Bullock andLady Wear sitting in deckchairs,reading to thestudents from KennethClark’s Civilisation.interest in the life <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>, its staff,students and guests. In later years, whenAlan became ill, she showed equal devotion,doing all that she could to look after him.Nibby was also a wonderful mother, alwaysmaking life fun for her children andorganizing games, bike-rides and outings.Agatha Christie once said, ‘One <strong>of</strong> the bestthings anyone can have is a happy childhood– it can carry you through the ups anddowns <strong>of</strong> later life.’ Nibby did her best toprovide that for her children, as Adrian, Nickand Matt would testify.Nibby was hugely public-spirited and, in1964, she was appointed a magistrate in<strong>Oxford</strong>. Her wisdom, sense <strong>of</strong> justice,compassion, common sense, and fairnesswere widely recognised, and it was not longbefore she became Chairman <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Oxford</strong>bench. However, her civic duty was notconfined to just an establishment role; shecould also be a rebel, and campaignedwholeheartedly against a dual carriagewaybeing driven thought the lovely valley <strong>of</strong>Forest Hill, <strong>St</strong>anton <strong>St</strong> John, Noke and Islip.The scheme was dropped largely as a result<strong>of</strong> her energetic efforts.64/HILDA ‘NIBBY’ BULLOCK


GAZETTEAlan and Nibby BullockWe are waiting in the wingsYou and I, companion <strong>of</strong> my life,For a call to some other stage.We do not know our linesOr even the language we shall speakBut stand, unrehearsed, as we wereWhen we came hereA life ago.She was a woman <strong>of</strong> great courage. In thelate 1960s, when students were riotingacross the world, and protests against thewar in Vietnam were at their height, therewere sit-ins at the Sorbonne, Berkeley and<strong>Oxford</strong>. On one <strong>of</strong> these occasions, a hugeangry demonstration had formed on thesteps <strong>of</strong> the Clarendon Building. While<strong>University</strong> Officers were barricaded inside,and the police were advising that no oneshould venture out into this hostile crowd,there on the steps appeared Lady Bullock andLady Wear sitting in deck-chairs, reading tothe students from Kenneth Clark’s Civilisation.The same unflinching courage was shownwhen she and Alan were walking alongCowley Road, and saw two men engaged in aferocious fight on the opposite pavement.Alan’s instinct was not to get involved, butNibby marched across the road, seized thetwo men, pulled them apart and gave them agood telling-<strong>of</strong>f.Nibby could be courageous, but she was alsoa very kind and loveable person. Even whenshe was quite ill, she would always ask youhow you were before you could ask her,enquiring about your family before you couldask about hers. She showed a greatgenerosity <strong>of</strong> spirit, combining to a raredegree genuine goodness, real ability, and aloveable personality. We shall miss hergreatly. We cannot help but be sad in ourfarewell to her, and yet, if we are to be trueto what she was and what she believed, wemight also be able to glimpse in her faith thatdeath is not the end, but a new adventure, ascaptured in one <strong>of</strong> her many lovely poems,printed and broadcast on Radio 3.What a wonderful long life. It was not alwayseasy. Nibby had more than her share <strong>of</strong> grief andheartbreak, including the death <strong>of</strong> her daughterClare, yet through her life shone goodness andkindness, and generosity and love.If something <strong>of</strong> Nibby’s spirit could beinherited by us, if something <strong>of</strong> her goodness,and kindness, and laughter and love could beseen in our lives, it would be the greatesttribute we could pay her. Those <strong>of</strong> us whohave been enriched by her friendship salute arare and splendid spirit, whose endearinggoodness has quickened our lives and madethe world a better and happier place. ■Ralph WallerST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/65


GAZETTEObituaries 2009PETER ALFRED SOMERS (1969, Chemistry)Peter Alfred Somers was born in Leeds on 5October 1950. He attended Roundhay GrammarSchool, Leeds before gaining a place at<strong>St</strong> Catherine’s, where he read Chemistry.On leaving <strong>Oxford</strong> in 1973, he started workwith British Telecom (then known as the PostOffice) and was relocated to Cardiff, Wales in1978. He was promoted frequently and soonbecame a senior delivery manager in the ITdepartment.In 1989 he married Naomi (née Gaffney), apr<strong>of</strong>essional musician, with whom he had twochildren, Siobhan and Andrew. He treasured hisfamily and they all miss him enormously. Peterdied suddenly at home, from a pulmonarythrombosis, on 26October 2007.MALCOLM SALT (1959,English)With the death <strong>of</strong>Malcolm Salt the<strong>College</strong> has lost one <strong>of</strong>its most enthusiasticand committed alumni.Contending courageously with ill health inrecent years, Malcolm nevertheless revelled inthe reunions and Gaudies involving his fellowstudents<strong>of</strong> those exciting last years in the oldSociety. In 1960 he supported his friend thelate Bob Gibbons in the latter’s tireless workas chairman <strong>of</strong> the Valedictory Ball committeeand helped to make the event the memorablesuccess it was. Now they are reunited.David <strong>St</strong>ooke (1958)MALCOLM DALZIEL (1960, History)Malcolm Dalziel was born in Great Longstone,Derbyshire on 18 September 1936. Heattended Banbury Grammar School and in1955 won a place at <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s to readHistory; but first he undertook two yearsNational Service, during which he wascommissioned into the NorthamptonshireRegiment.In 1957, he arrived in <strong>Oxford</strong> to begin hislong association with the city, and while at <strong>St</strong>Catherine’s became President <strong>of</strong> the JuniorCommon Room and captain <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>rugby team.In 1960, he joined the British Council and,after studying Urdu at the School for Orientaland African <strong>St</strong>udies, he set sail for Pakistan,followed by a stint in Malaysia, and a returnto Lahore as the regional representative.Malcolm was promoted to head the Council<strong>of</strong>fices for his final two postings in Sudan andEgypt, where he was also appointed asCounsellor for Cultural Affairs at the BritishEmbassy. In 1983, Malcolm returned to Englandwhere he was awarded a CBE and appointedController <strong>of</strong> the Higher Education Division.Malcolm regarded his greatest achievementas establishing the Education CounsellingDepartment, where he succeeded inpersuading higher education institutions tobegin recruiting overseas students. Heworked hard to secure the backing <strong>of</strong> theBritish Council, as well as to win over theinitially reticent universities. The allure <strong>of</strong>the present-day British education system foroverseas students is in part credit toMalcolm’s efforts and vision.In 1987 he left the Council and establishedhis own international funding consultancy,seeking monies from the European Union andvarious international development banks onbehalf <strong>of</strong> British companies and institutions.Malcolm retired in 2001 and remained aprominent figure in <strong>Oxford</strong>, most importantlybecoming Chairman <strong>of</strong> the <strong>St</strong> Mary MagdalenRestoration and Development Trust andhelping to raise over £600,000 to fund themagnificent organ the church now enjoys.66/ O B I T U A R I E S


GAZETTEMalcolm died on 26 June 2009. Hisinimitable, enthusiastic and joyous approachto life is greatly missed by all who knew him,especially his wife Anne, (who he met whenshe was secretary to Alan Bullock), and hischildren, Caroline, Annabel and Rory.JOHN MOULLIN DAVIES (1942, Medicine)John Moullin Davies was born in London in1925 but brought up mainly on the Sussexcoast. A bequest from his grandmother madeit possible for him to apply to university andhe obtained a place at <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s Societyto study medicine, going up in 1942.At <strong>Oxford</strong>, he became part <strong>of</strong> a circle <strong>of</strong>friends including Elizabeth Ross, whom helater married in 1950. For the clinical stage <strong>of</strong>his training he spent two years at <strong>St</strong> George’sHospital Medical School, before returning to<strong>Oxford</strong> and the Radcliffe Infirmary.Following his love <strong>of</strong> the sea, John joined theRoyal Navy Medical Service in 1952. His firstposting was a two-and-a-half-year touraboard HMS Newfoundland, based inTrincomalee, Sri Lanka. Elizabeth followedthe fleet to Colombo while John saw servicein the Korean War and Malayan Emergency.Newfoundland also escorted the Royal Yachtcarrying Queen Elizabeth on herCommonwealth tour in 1954, during whichJohn and Elizabeth’s first son, Nicholas(Sandford) was born.The couple had two more children before thefamily set sail for John’s posting to HongKong in 1960, where he was active in dealingwith the 1961 cholera outbreak andpublished a report in the 1962 Journal <strong>of</strong> theRoyal Navy Medical Service.The family was then based in Scotland(where their fourth child was born) andMalta before John took up what was to be hisfinal Royal Navy post, as the Senior MedicalOfficer to HM Dockyard Chatham.At 46 John still had a yearning for the seaand so took up a succession <strong>of</strong> posts withthe Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA), serving in thePersian Gulf and the Atlantic, Pacific andIndian Oceans.John finally retired to Elizabeth’s family homein Combe, <strong>Oxford</strong>shire, but continued workingas a doctor doing GP locums in the <strong>Oxford</strong>area. He was also an active researcher andwriter on the subject <strong>of</strong> his mother’sGuernsey families and Channel Islandshistory, and regularly contributed to theJournal <strong>of</strong> the Guernsey Society.He died suddenly <strong>of</strong> a heart attack on 20December 2008 aged 83. The funeral washeld on Saturday 10 January 2009 at <strong>St</strong>Lawrence Church, Combe, <strong>Oxford</strong>shire.TERRY SHAW (1966, Physics)Terry Shaw was born on 16 December 1947at Halifax. In 1966 Terry studied Physics at <strong>St</strong>Catherine’s <strong>College</strong> completing his degree in1969. He was first employed by InternationalResearch and Development and then CAParson in Newcastle. In 1972 Terry startedteaching at Dame Allan’s School, becomingHead <strong>of</strong> Physics and Second Master.Among his many interests, Terry enjoyed hismembership <strong>of</strong> the Institute <strong>of</strong> Physics andhe was deeply involved with Blyth ValleyHeritage. Terry was an active member <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>Nicholas Church in Cramlington, serving twoterms as Church Warden and participating inthe Building and Finance Committees to namebut two.Terry and Elizabeth’s marriage <strong>of</strong> forty yearswas blessed with two children and twograndchildren.DAPHNE ISABEL ROBINSONDaphne Robinson (née Coulthard), the wife<strong>of</strong> Catz Founding Fellow and physics tutorNeville Robinson, was closely involved with <strong>St</strong>ST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/67


GAZETTECatherine’s for more than threedecades. In 1962, along withNeville, she attended theconference in Italy to plan thenew college. Much later, shewas briefly the Acting Master’swife when Neville stepped induring an interregnum. SirPatrick Nairne recalls that, onhis arrival as Master in 1981with his wife Penny, Nevilleand Daphne ‘went out <strong>of</strong>their way to be welcoming,which we greatlyDaphne Robinson (left).appreciated’. As a lifelong gardener, she wasparticularly interested in the evolution <strong>of</strong> the<strong>College</strong>’s gardens, to the extent <strong>of</strong> asking thegardener, Tony Young, to help out at home.Daphne’s long connection with <strong>Oxford</strong> beganin 1944, when she became a student atSomerville reading PPE, following her sister to<strong>Oxford</strong> and her beloved brother, who died asa prisoner-<strong>of</strong>-war in 1945. Despite wartimeausterity, she led a busy social life, and wasan Isis ‘Idol’. She and Neville married in1952, and lived in Jericho, Iffley and Cowley,while bringing up a family, before finallysettling in Linton Road, North <strong>Oxford</strong>.She was deeply attached to the universityand had many friends there, and abroad —not only throughNeville’s work at theClarendonLaboratory, <strong>St</strong>Catherine’s andNuffield <strong>College</strong>, butalso through her ownpr<strong>of</strong>essionalinvolvement as aresearcher in Alice<strong>St</strong>ewart’s Department<strong>of</strong> Social Medicine andlater as the muchvaluedadministrator <strong>of</strong>Iain Chalmers’s newNational Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, as wellas with the British Society for Immunologyand the Department <strong>of</strong> Medical Engineering.She was also active in the Newcomers’ Club,as a guide to the Bodleian Library, and as aFriend <strong>of</strong> the <strong>Oxford</strong> Botanic Garden. Some <strong>of</strong>her happiest hours were spent gardening,even as dusk fell, both at home and in thegarden <strong>of</strong> the Bishop’s House in Linton Road,where she and Neville grew many flowers,fruits and especially vegetables — sometimesin overwhelming quantities.Daphne died, after a long illness, inNorthampton, on 4 September 2009. She issurvived by her three children and fourgrandchildren.NOTIFICATIONSMike Ainsworth (1969, ModernLanguages)Charles Armstrong (1984, Philosophy &Modern Languages)George E Benfield (1939, Theology)Michael Carroll (Assistant SCR Butler)Charles Cook (1958, Law)Hewan Craig (1947, ColonialAdministration)Peter Cr<strong>of</strong>t-White (1939, Chemistry)Victor Dudman (1959, Philosophy)John Duffield (1927, Zoology)Alan Head (Visiting Fellow)Keith Jennings (1953, Organic Chemistry)Richard McEwan (1939, Modern History)Alex Ormerod (1959, PhysiologcialSciences)Christopher Phillips (1967, Mathematics)Kenneth Reeve (1946, Modern History)Peter Robinson (1971, PPP)Gordon Rose (1946, Modern History)Rodney Scholes QC (1963, Law)Terence Shaw (1966, Physics)Roger <strong>St</strong>ubbs (1955, Geography)Victor Thomas (1948, PPE)Frederic Thompson (1950, Modern History)James Usherwood (1992, BiologicalSciences)Idris Williams (1936, PPE)68/ O B I T U A R I E S


GAZETTEAdmissions 2009UNDERGRADUATESBiological SciencesJoshua Alvey – King’s School, PeterboroughJonathan Angwin – <strong>St</strong> Angela’s & <strong>St</strong> Bonaventure’s Sixth Form<strong>College</strong>, LondonChristopher Evans – Queen Elizabeth Cambria School,CarmarthenArthur Khindria – Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle, LondonFergus McCorkell – Fettes <strong>College</strong>, EdinburghKatrina Spensley – North London Collegiate School, MiddlesexEleri Tudor – Ysgol Gyfun Llanhari, GlamorganLuke Williams – Harrow School, MiddlesexChemistryDavid Ashmore – Royal Latin School, BuckinghamEmma Bennett – Queen Mary’s <strong>College</strong>, BasingstokeJames Boxall – The Gryphon School, DorsetGregory Craven – Abingdon School, <strong>Oxford</strong>shireAdam Creamer – Runshaw <strong>College</strong>, LancashireAlice French – <strong>St</strong> John’s School, MarlboroughAdam Kendrick – Henry Box School, WitneyRosemary Lang – Parkstone Grammar School, PooleJordan Millar – International School <strong>of</strong> Port <strong>of</strong> Spain, Trinidad &TobagoJack Wardle – Farmor’s School, GloucestershireComputer ScienceBenjamin Gazzard – John <strong>of</strong> Gaunt School, TrowbridgeJonathan Hoyland – Immanuel <strong>College</strong>, HertfordshireLaurens Lemaire – Regina Caeli Lyceum, BelgiumEconomics & ManagementShivam Bajaj – King Edward’s School, BirminghamMichael Hill – Meridian School, HertfordshireEngineering ScienceDavid Alliu – D’Overbroeck’s <strong>College</strong>, <strong>Oxford</strong>Gregg Gaffney – Blue Coat School, LiverpoolJames Gibson – Bournemouth School, DorsetDavid Griffin – Loughborough Grammar School, LeicestershirePamela Mezue – <strong>St</strong> Michael’s Catholic School, LondonChristopher Rees – Olchfa School, SwanseaAlexander Sanders – Adams’ Grammar School, ShropshireJennifer Wood – Forest School, LondonEnglish Language & LiteratureGabriella Aberbach – North London Collegiate School,MiddlesexKatya Balen – City <strong>of</strong> London School for GirlsVerity Glass – Bromsgrove School, WorcestershireHarriet Green – South Wiltshire Grammar SchoolThomas Mallon – Lick-Wilmerding High School, USAMartha McPherson – Richard Huish <strong>College</strong>, TauntonJoe Murphy – <strong>St</strong> Mary’s Roman Catholic School, IlkleyVictoria Noble – Perse School, CambridgeOctavia Seymour – Wycombe Abbey School, High WycombeAlexandra Turney – Surbiton High School, SurreyEuropean & Middle Eastern LanguagesAlexander Kohen – Eton <strong>College</strong>, WindsorGabrielle Odah – <strong>St</strong> Dominic’s Sixth Form <strong>College</strong>, HarrowIsobel Platts-Dunn – <strong>St</strong> Aidan’s & <strong>St</strong> John Fisher Sixth Form,HarrogateExperimental PsychologyKirsty Hannah – Fettes <strong>College</strong>, EdinburghThomas Hocking – Queen Elizabeth’s School, Wimborne MinsterFine ArtAdriana Blidaru – <strong>Oxford</strong> Brookes <strong>University</strong>Jennifer Mustapha – <strong>Oxford</strong> Brookes <strong>University</strong>GeographyCharlotte Abrahams – Haberdashers’ Aske’s Girls’ School,ElstreeMay Chick – King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Girls,BirminghamChristianna Coltart – Westminster School, LondonCeri Davies – <strong>St</strong> Mary’s School, CalneEdward de Quay – <strong>St</strong> Wilfrid’s Catholic School, CrawleyVictoria Elbourne – Lady Eleanor Holles School, MiddlesexGabrielle Hoctor – Henrietta Barnett School, LondonKumayl Karimjee – Merchant Taylors’ School, MiddlesexCharles Sussman – Perse School, CambridgeHolly Tabor – The Gryphon School, DorsetHistoryElla Batchelor – Bullers Wood School,ChislehurstSamuel Bevan – Westcliff High School for Boys, EssexOtis Clarke – Dame Alice Owen’s School, HertfordshireAidan Clifford – <strong>St</strong> Bartholomew’s School,NewburyKate Gibson – Central Newcastle High SchoolCharlotte G<strong>of</strong>f – Portsmouth Grammar School, HampshireToby Knott – Norwich SchoolDaniel Mulligan – Fullbrook School, SurreyNatalie Pandya – Charters School, BerkshireCamilla Turner – North London Collegiate School, MiddlesexHistory & PoliticsJoshua Chapkin – Camden School for Girls, LondonLincoln Hill – Belmont High School, USAHistory <strong>of</strong> ArtAlice Godwin – Westminster School, LondonEmma Phillpot – Downe House School, BerkshireLaetitia Weinstock – Westminster School, LondonHuman SciencesJennifer Allen – Haberdashers’ Monmouth Girls’ SchoolVishnupriya Das – Calcutta International School, IndiaJohn Langton – Westminster School, LondonAnja Mizdrak – King Edward VI Grammar School, ChelmsfordDeclan O’Flaherty – Franconian International School, GermanyBenjamin Rinck – Charterhouse, GodalmingLawJames Dabell – Kingswood School, BathJames Fisher – Rougemont School, GwentMichael Lam – Lancing <strong>College</strong>, West SussexTimothy Lam – Oundle School, NorthamptonshireKathleen Shields – International School <strong>of</strong> Boston, USAPhillipa Smyth – Uppingham School, RutlandHannah Webb – Worksop <strong>College</strong>, NottinghamshireST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/69


GAZETTELaw with Law <strong>St</strong>udies in EuropeLavinia Randall – Oaklands Roman Catholic School, HampshireAntoine Robin – European School Munich, GermanyMaterials ScienceCamden Ford – Cardinal Newman School, HoveRidhi Kantelal – Dubai English <strong>College</strong>, United Arab EmiratesMichelle Lim – Kolej Yayasan UEM, MalaysiaChristopher Newell – <strong>St</strong> Benedict’s School, EalingSamuel Tham – Hwa Chong Junior <strong>College</strong>, SingaporeMathematicsAndrew Dunne – Portsmouth Grammar School, HampshireRui Han – Brighton, Hove & Sussex Sixth Form <strong>College</strong>Yu Huan Lin – Royal Masonic School, RickmansworthMartin Ramsdale – Devonport High School for Boys, PlymouthSamarth Ranjan – John Leggott <strong>College</strong>, ScunthorpeAlaric <strong>St</strong>ephen – Worcester Sixth Form <strong>College</strong>Yang Zhou – Abbey Tutorial <strong>College</strong>, CambridgeMathematics & PhilosophyRobin Askew – Hills Road Sixth Form <strong>College</strong>, CambridgeMedical SciencesPhilip Beak – Plymouth <strong>College</strong>, DevonLeah Carden – Esher <strong>College</strong>, SurreyJian Ping Jen – Winchester <strong>College</strong>, HampshireLaura McLaren – <strong>St</strong> Francis <strong>College</strong>, LetchworthPatrick Simpson – Royal Latin School, BuckinghamJoel Ward – Dame Alice Owen’s School, HertfordshireModern LanguagesRachel Atkins – Monmouth Comprehensive SchoolBeatrice Blythe – Perse School for Girls, CambridgeMarc Boardman – <strong>St</strong> Mary’s High School, ChesterfieldEmma Ferguson – Royal High School, BathJake Grandison – <strong>St</strong> Paul’s School, LondonLouisa Hollway – City <strong>of</strong> London School for GirlsThomas Larkin – Aylesbury Grammar School, BuckinghamshireEdward Richardson – Harrow School, MiddlesexModern Languages & LinguisticsLydia Hunter – <strong>St</strong>rathearn School, BelfastMolecular & Cellular BiochemistrySian Gregory – Sheffield <strong>College</strong>Gareth Morgan – Monmouth School, GwentAndrew Pountain – King’s <strong>College</strong> School, WimbledonOliver Taylor – Colchester Royal Grammar School, EssexMusicAnnelise Andersen – Gosforth High School, NewcastleBenjamin Holder – Bridgewater High School, WarringtonMark Richardson – Perse School, CambridgeAndrew Tyler – Royal Grammar School, GuildfordPhilosophy, Politics & EconomicsKyrillous Amin – Gunnersbury Catholic School, BrentfordRachel Blackford – Cirencester <strong>College</strong>, GloucestershireRobert Campbell-Davis – Dame Alice Owen’s School,HertfordshireIsabel Ernst – Schloss Torgelow, GermanyMatthew Hart – King Edward VI <strong>College</strong>, <strong>St</strong>ourbridgeOliver Jones – <strong>St</strong> Paul’s School, LondonMargherita Philipp – Heinrich Suso Gymnasium, GermanyPhysicsBhavik Bhatt – Cranford Community School, MiddlesexSownak Bose – American Community School, MiddlesexNatalie Haley – Manchester High School for GirlsBenjamin Hodgson – Tiffin School, Kingston upon ThamesDennis Law – Bellerbys <strong>College</strong>, East SussexAlexander Mayall – Roundwood Park School, HertfordshireTristan Shephard – Kingdown School, WarminsterLo Po Tsui – Dulwich <strong>College</strong>, LondonPhysiological SciencesCaroline Phelps – John Kyrle High School, Ross on WyeEleanor Pinney – Colfes School, LondonPsychology, Philosophy & PhysiologyKaterina Kaltsas – Bancr<strong>of</strong>t’s School, Woodford GreenGuy Reason – Bedford Modern SchoolVisiting Undergraduate <strong>St</strong>udentsAlice Grevedon – Université Paris-IV Sorbonne, FranceGRADUATESMaria Andrade (LLB, PGDip Universidade do Estado do Rio deJaneiro, Brazil), MJurisSheba Anin (BSc, MPhil <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Liverpool; MB ChB<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Warwick), MSc Experimental Therapeutics (part-time)Livia Aumand (BSc, MSc, LLB <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Ottawa, Canada), BCLAnisha Bhagwanani (BA <strong>St</strong> Anne’s <strong>College</strong>, <strong>Oxford</strong>), BMBChValentina Carapella (BSc, MSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Bologna, Italy),DPhil Systems BiologyRaquel Catalao (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>College</strong>, London), BMBCh(Graduate Entry)Christopher Chan (MEng <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), DPhil EngineeringScience *Ngai Him Chan (BSocSc, LLB, PCLL <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Hong Kong,China), BCLVeronica Chan (BA <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), BMBCh *Luying Chen (BSc, MSc Xiamen <strong>University</strong>, China), DPhilComputer ScienceAlissa Cooper (BSc, MSc <strong>St</strong>anford <strong>University</strong>, USA), DPhilInformation, Communication & the Social SciencesPhilip Coulter (MPhys Jesus <strong>College</strong>, <strong>Oxford</strong>), DPhil Particle PhysicsMary Curran (BA Suffolk <strong>University</strong>, USA; BA Boston <strong>University</strong>,USA), M<strong>St</strong> History <strong>of</strong> Art & Visual CultureJonathan David (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Warwick), MSc Biodiversity,Conservation & ManagementHenry Donati (BA Jesus <strong>College</strong>, Cambridge), MSc African <strong>St</strong>udiesMichael Donley (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Nebraska, USA; JD Harvard<strong>University</strong>, USA), MBAShuo Feng (LLB <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Political Science & Law Beijing, China,LLB China (<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Political Science & Law, China), MJurisNadiya Figueroa (BA <strong>St</strong>anford <strong>University</strong>, USA; MA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>the West Indies, Jamaica; MPhil <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), DPhil Development<strong>St</strong>udies *Andrii Finogin (LLB Kiev National Taras Shevchenko <strong>University</strong>,Ukraine), MJurisEmma Foster (MChem <strong>St</strong> Hilda’s <strong>College</strong>, <strong>Oxford</strong>), DPhil OrganicChemistrySophie Foxen (BA <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), BMBCh*Ian Furlong (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Bristol), MSc Major ProgrammeManagement (part-time)Keith Geary (BA <strong>College</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong> Mark & <strong>St</strong> John, London; BSc<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> London; MEd <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Keele; Adv Dipl Kellogg<strong>College</strong>, <strong>Oxford</strong>; MSc <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), DPhil English Local History(part-time)70/ADMISSIONS 2009


GAZETTEXu Geng (BA Renmin <strong>University</strong>, China), MSc Financial EconomicsRonnie Gibson (BMus <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Aberdeen), MPhil Music(Musicology)Ruhi Goswami (BCom, LLB <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Delhi, India), BCLJames Green (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Bristol), M<strong>St</strong> US HistoryMichalis Hadjikakou (BA <strong>St</strong> Edmund’s <strong>College</strong>, Cambridge;Master Université Grenoble-I Joseph Fourier, France), MSc WaterScience, Policy & ManagementMiao He (BA Central <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Finance & Economics, China),MSc Financial EconomicsAriane Heynen (BSc, PGDip <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Auckland, NewZealand), MSc Clinical EmbryologyRosemary Hinton (BA <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), BMBCh*Henning Hinz (Diplom Hamburg <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Technology,Germany), MBAIsis Hjorth (BA, MA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Copenhagen, Denmark; MSc <strong>St</strong>Cross <strong>College</strong>, <strong>Oxford</strong>), DPhil Information, Communication & theSocial SciencesMajad Hussain (BSc, PhD Aston <strong>University</strong>), MSc Evidence-BasedHealth Care (part-time)Alexandre Ibrahimchah (Dipl d’Ing Ecole Nationale des Ponts etChaussées, France), MSc Mathematical & Computational FinanceIna Jahn (BA School <strong>of</strong> Oriental & African <strong>St</strong>udies, London), MScNature, Society & Environmental PolicyWei Ying Jen (BA <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), BMBCh *Lewys Jones (MEng <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), DPhil Materials *Babacar Ka (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> California, USA), MBATheresa Kevorkian (BA Colgate <strong>University</strong>, USA), MPhil Oriental<strong>St</strong>udies (Islamic <strong>St</strong>udies & History)Jung Tae Kim (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Minnesota, USA), MSc FinancialEconomicsChristopher Knowles (BA <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), BCL *Richard Korgul (BA <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), MSc Medical Anthropology *Vasiliki Koura (BSc Aristotle <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Thessaloniki, Greece),MSc Financial EconomicsBanurekha Lakshmanan (BA Anna <strong>University</strong>, India; MBA<strong>St</strong>rayer <strong>University</strong>, USA), MSc Major Programme Management(part-time)Merzaka Lazdam (MB ChB <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Sheffield), DPhilCardiovascular MedicineBerenika Luczak (BSc, BEng <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Western Australia),MSc Biomedical EngineeringNatasha Malpani (BSc Jai Hind <strong>College</strong>, India), MSc IntegratedImmunologyCecilia Martinez Perez (BSc Universidad de las Americas Puebla,Mexico), MSc Biology (Integrative Bio-Science)Lena Matata (MB ChB <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Nairobi, Kenya), MSc GlobalHealth ScienceTara Mills (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Edinburgh), DPhil Clinical MedicineZevic Mishor (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> New South Wales, Australia; MSc<strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), MSc Social Anthropology *Rajeev Mishra (BTech, MTech Indian Institute <strong>of</strong> TechnologyKanpur, India), MBALuis Moreno Moreno (MEng Universidad Politecnica Madrid,Spain), MSc NeuroscienceMatthew Newman (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Bristol), MSc ComparativeSocial PolicyAntony Ngatia (MB ChB <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Nairobi, Kenya), MScGlobal Health ScienceDawn Osbourn (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> York), MSc ExperimentalTherapeutics (part-time)Konstantinos Papoutsis (MEng Aristotle <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Thessaloniki, Greece), MSc Biomedical EngineeringPaul Phelps (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> the South, USA; MA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong>Alabama, USA), DPhil EnglishJonathon Platt (BCom <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Melbourne, Australia), MBARoberto Pons (BSc Princeton <strong>University</strong>, USA; MBA Getulio VargasFoundation, Brazil), MSc Major Programme Management (part-time)James Pope (MMath Brasenose <strong>College</strong>), DPhil Mathematics<strong>St</strong>ephen Powell (BSc, MSc Liverpool <strong>University</strong>; MBA Macquarie<strong>University</strong>, Australia), MSc Major Programme Management (part-time)Robert Rapoport (BA Brown <strong>University</strong>, USA; M<strong>St</strong> <strong>St</strong> Anne’s<strong>College</strong>, <strong>Oxford</strong>), DPhil Fine ArtAleks Reinhardt (MChem <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), DPhil Physical &Theoretical Chemistry *Neil Riley (BA Sidney Sussex <strong>College</strong>, Cambridge), BMBCh(Graduate Entry)Timothy Rooney (MChem <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), DPhil SystemsApproaches in Biomedical Science *Amay Ruia (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Durham), MSc Contemporary IndiaHiral Sanghavi (BSc Mumbai <strong>University</strong>, India), MSc IntegratedImmunologyTohru Seraku (BA Aoyama Gakuin <strong>University</strong>, Japan; MA Keio<strong>University</strong>, Japan; MA <strong>University</strong> <strong>College</strong> London), DPhilComparative Philology & General LinguisticsWarda Shaheen (BA, BEng <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Western Ontario,Canada), MSc Financial EconomicsFarshad Sharafi (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Leicester), MSc BiomedicalEngineeringST CATHERINE’S COLLEGE 2009/71


GAZETTEEmma Shires (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Manchester), M<strong>St</strong> Music(Musicology)Alan Shirfan (BA Boston <strong>College</strong>, USA; VS <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), MPhilEconomicsBruno Silva Rodrigues (Universidade Aberta, Portugal), M<strong>St</strong>Modern LanguagesPower Siu (BEng, MPhil Hong Kong <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Science &Technology, Hong Kong), MSc Financial EconomicsKeira Skolimowska (BSc Imperial <strong>College</strong>, London), BMBCh(Graduate Entry)Rudolph Slobins (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Birmingham), M<strong>St</strong> English(1550-1780)Dhruv Sood (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Delhi, India), MSc Economics forDevelopmentMalcolm Spencer (BA <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), MPhil Russian & EastEuropean <strong>St</strong>udies *Alexander Taylor (BA <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Melbourne, Australia; BA<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Queensland, Australia), M<strong>St</strong> History <strong>of</strong> Art & VisualCultureRaphael Underwood (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Kent), MScPsychological ResearchRuyu Wang (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Warwick), MSc Financial EconomicsTianshuang Wang (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Hong Kong, China), MScMathematical & Computational FinanceMartin Westerberg (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Cologne, Germany), MScNeuroscienceAshley Wharton (MEng <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), DPhil EngineeringScience *Gavin Wiens (BA Carleton <strong>University</strong>, Canada), M<strong>St</strong> History <strong>of</strong> Art& Visual CultureJanine Willcock (BA <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s; PGDip <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Oxford</strong>),M<strong>St</strong> Psychodynamic Practice (part-time) *Nicolas Williams (BCom <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Canterbury, New Zealand),MBAKenneth Wilson (BSc <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Adelaide, Australia; MBA<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> New South Wales, Australia), MSc Major ProgrammeManagement (part-time)Hanna Winiarska (MChem <strong>St</strong> Catherine’s), DPhil OrganicChemistry *Lei Xing (BA Heilongjiang <strong>University</strong>, China), Certificate inDiplomatic <strong>St</strong>udiesXiao Xu (BSc Peking <strong>University</strong>, China), MSc Financial EconomicsJorge Zerón Medina Cuairán (Lic Universidad La Salle, Mexico),DPhil Clinical MedicineXuanxiao Zhao (Université Paris-VI Pierre et Marie Curie, France),MSc Mathematical & Computational FinanceSalma Zibdeh (LLB <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Jordan, Jordan), MJurisVisiting Graduate <strong>St</strong>udentsPhilipp Eichenh<strong>of</strong>er (Humboldt <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Berlin, Germany;MJuris <strong>St</strong> John’s <strong>College</strong>, <strong>Oxford</strong>), Max Planck Visiting Fellow* indicates graduate <strong>of</strong> the <strong>College</strong>Admitted to the FellowshipDr Andreas Münch to a Tutorial Fellowship in MathematicsDr Pawel Swietach to a Fellowship by Special Election inPhysiologyDr Kerry M M Walker to a Junior Research Fellowship inPhysiologyPr<strong>of</strong>essor Udo C T Oppermann to a Pr<strong>of</strong>essorial Fellowship inMusculoskeletal SciencesMrs Naomi Freud to a Fellowship by Special ElectionDr Jonathan E Morgan to a Tutorial Fellowship in Law72/ADMISSIONS 2008


Master and Fellows 2009Maja H Spener, BA (MPhil, PhDLond)Junior Research Fellow inPhilosophyNicholas W J Attfield, M<strong>St</strong>, DPhil(BMus Lond)Fellow by Special Election in MusicNichols Junior Research FellowBritish Academy PostdoctoralResearch Fellow(Leave M09)Andrew J Bunker, BA, DPhilTutor in PhysicsReader in AstrophysicsBarbara A C Lauriat, (BA, JDBoston)Fellow by Special Election in LawCareer Development Fellow inIntellectual Property LawAdrian L Smith, (BSc Keele, MScWales, PhD Nott)Tutor in ZoologyAndreas Münch, MA (Dipl, PhDTU Munich)Tutor in MathematicsReader in Applied MathematicsPawel Swietach, MA, DPhilFellow by Special Election inPhysiologyKerry M M Walker, DPhil (BScMemorial, MSc Dalhousie)Junior Research Fellow inPhysiologyUdo C T Oppermann, (BSc, MSc,PhD Philipps Marburg)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> MusculoskeletalSciencesNaomi Freud, MA, MScFellow by Special ElectionDirector <strong>of</strong> <strong>St</strong>udies for Visiting<strong>St</strong>udentsJonathan E Morgan, MA (PhDCamb)Tutor in LawHONORARY FELLOWSLeonard G Wolfson, The Rt HonLord Wolfson <strong>of</strong> MaryleboneLaurie E Baragwanath, BPhil, MA(BA Melb)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sir John W Cornforth,Kt, CBE, DPhil (MSc Sydney), FRSPr<strong>of</strong>essor Sir Brian E F Fender,Kt, CMG, MA (BSc, PhD Lond)Ruth Wolfson, Lady WolfsonPr<strong>of</strong>essor Sir James L Gowans,Kt, CBE, MA, DPhil, FRCP, FRSThe Rt Hon Sir Patrick Nairne,GCB, MC, MASir Cameron A Mackintosh, KtSir Michael F Atiyah, OM, Kt,MA (PhD Camb), FRS, FRSEJohn Birt, The Rt Hon Lord Birt <strong>of</strong>Liverpool, MATom Phillips, CBE, MA, RA, REPr<strong>of</strong>essor Sir Ge<strong>of</strong>frey Allen, Kt(BSc, PhD Leeds), FRS, FREng,FRSC, FInstP, FIMMMPr<strong>of</strong>essor Sir (Eric) Brian Smith,Kt, MA, DSc (BSc, PhD Liv), FRSC,CChemTan Sri Dato’ Seri A PArumugam, AP, CEng, FIEE,FRAeS, FIMarEST, FinstD, PSM,SSAP, SIMP, DSAP, DIMPPeter Mandelson, The Rt HonLord Mandelson <strong>of</strong> Foy andHartlepool, MASir John E Walker, Kt, MA, DPhil,FRSPr<strong>of</strong>essor Noam Chomsky (PhDPenn)Nicholas H <strong>St</strong>ern, The Rt HonLord <strong>St</strong>ern <strong>of</strong> Brentford, DPhil (BACamb), FBARaymond Plant, The Rt Hon LordPlant <strong>of</strong> Highfield, MA (BA Lond,PhD Hull)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor David J Daniell, MA(BA, MA Tübingen, PhD Lond)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Nicanor Parra, (LicChile)Masaki Orita, (LLB Tokyo)The Hon Sir (Francis) HumphreyPotts, Kt, BCL, MAPr<strong>of</strong>essor Joseph E <strong>St</strong>iglitz,(PhD MIT), FBASir Peter M Williams, Kt, CBE,MA (PhD Camb), FREng, FRSSir (Maurice) Victor Blank, Kt, MAPr<strong>of</strong>essor (Anthony) DavidYates, MAPr<strong>of</strong>essor Ahmed Zewail, (BS,MS Alexandria, PhD Penn)Michael Billington, BAPr<strong>of</strong>essor Alan Katritzky, DPhil,FRSPr<strong>of</strong>essor C N RamachandraRao, MSc Banaras, PhD Purdue,DSc Mysore, FRSPr<strong>of</strong>essor Richard J Carwardine,MA, DPhil, FBA From H10Mark H Getty, BASimon B A Winchester, OBE, MAEMERITUS FELLOWSWilfrid F Knapp, MAErnest L French, FHCIMAPr<strong>of</strong>essor John B Goodenough,MA (PhD Chicago)John Ch Simopoulos, BPhil, MA,Dean <strong>of</strong> DegreesPr<strong>of</strong>essor Jack R Pole, MA (MACamb, PhD Princeton), FBA,FRHistSPr<strong>of</strong>essor D Michael Sullivan,MA, DLitt (BA Lond, MA, LittDCamb, PhD Harvard)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor John O Bayley, CBE,MA, FBAPr<strong>of</strong>essor Donald H Perkins,CBE, MA (PhD Lond), FRSJohn W Martin, MA, DPhil (MA,PhD, ScD Camb)J Derek Davies, BCL, MA (LLBWales)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Peter G M Dickson,MA, DPhil, DLitt, FBABruce R Tolley, MA, DPhil (MAVictoria, Wellington)Barrie E Juniper, MA, DPhil,Secretary for AlumniHenry C Bennet-Clark, MA (BALond, PhD Camb)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Daniel W Howe, MA(PhD California)<strong>St</strong>ephen J Sondheim, (BAWilliams)Sir Ian McKellen, Kt (BA Camb)Sir Alan Ayckbourn, Kt, CBEMichael V Codron, CBE, MASir Peter L Shaffer, Kt, CBE (BACamb), FRSLRichard S Attenborough, The RtHon Lord Attenborough <strong>of</strong>Richmond upon Thames, CBESir Richard C H Eyre, Kt, CBE (BACamb)Thelma M B Holt, CBEDame Diana Rigg, DBENicholas R Hytner, (MA Camb)<strong>St</strong>ephen D Daldry, (BA Sheff)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Malcolm L H Green,MA (PhD Lond), FRSSir Timothy M B Rice, KtPr<strong>of</strong>essor Terence V Jones, MA,DPhilPr<strong>of</strong>essor Gilliane C Sills, MA(PhD Lond)Patrick Marber, BAPhyllida Lloyd, (BA Birm)G Ceri K Peach, MA, DPhilG Bruce Henning, MA (BAToronto, PhD Penn)Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jose F Harris, MA(PhD Camb), FBAPatrick H <strong>St</strong>ewart, OBEDOMUS FELLOWSSir Patrick J S SergeantMelvyn Bragg, The Rt Hon LordBragg <strong>of</strong> Wigton, MAVee Meng Shaw, BABruce G Smith, CBE, MA, DPhil,FREng, FIETKeith Clark, BCL, MAAnthony W Henfrey, MA DPhilRoushan Arumugam, MAUsha Q Arumugam, MANadia Q Arumugam, MASimon F A Clark, MAVISITING FELLOWS* Pr<strong>of</strong>essor David Carnegie,Wellington, M09Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Jeremy Tambling,Manchester, M09* Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Denis Baranger,Paris-II, M09* Pr<strong>of</strong>essor A R Ravishankara,(Hinshelwood Lecturer), Colorado,T10* Christensen FellowRESEARCH ASSOCIATESRoger Gundle, BM, BCh, DPhil(MA Camb), FRCS (Eng), FRCS(Orth)Patrick E McSharry, DPhil (BA,MSc Dub)Patrick S Bullard, MA, M<strong>St</strong>, DPhil(MPhil Dubl)


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