Part III: Antarctica and Academe - Scott Polar Research Institute

Chapter 15
Master of Saint Edmund's College,
Cambridge l985-96
St Edmunds College arms
Cambridge University is one of the leading Universities in the world. Its main
purpose is to foster and develop academic excellence across a wide range of subjects
and at all levels of study. Cambridge is a Collegiate institution, one of few such in
the world. The Colleges are independent foundations whose main roles are to
provide a stimulating and broadening educational environment for all their
members; to select students for admission in accordance with the University's
overall plans; to provide undergraduate teaching on an individual or small group
basis; to provide library and computer facilities for students' work; to look after the
general welfare of their students, and to provide accommodation, meals, and other
social amenities; and to support research through the provision of research
fellowships, and studentships, and in other ways. The main formal teaching is
undertaken within the Faculties and Departments of the University, as is research.
The Departments admit graduate students to undertake research for higher degrees,
or for taught courses leading to higher degrees, but each student must obtain a place
in a College as well. In fact the quality of the education provided by Cambridge
depends greatly on the individual care and attention given to students through their
colleges and the partnership is central to the future development of the University.
My connections with the University had been slight since my graduate student days
in the l950's and my African experiences. I had been made an Honorary member of
my College, St Catharine's in l982, but this entailed no more than attending a few
dinners a year. Also I have recounted in chapter 16 the negotiations which led to the
move of British Antarctic Survey (BAS) to Cambridge and the building of the
Institute on University land on the West Cambridge Site; in this I had been greatly
helped by the then Secretary General, Dr Ian Nichol. However, despite these strictly
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