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what’s new Festival of Ideas returns ‘bigger and better’ Festival highlights l David Starkey on Henry VIII’s legacy – 5.30-6.30pm, 27 October, Mill Lane Lecture Room 3. Pre-booking required (see below) l Author Michael Morpurgo talks about his writing – 10.30–11.30am, 24 October, Lady Mitchell Hall, Sidgwick Site. Pre-booking required l Plant Orchestra. Artist Luke Jerram will amplify the imperceptible soundwaves of plants in the Botanic Garden. From 5.30–8pm, 21–25 October. Pre-booking required l Prehistory Day. Experience aspects of prehistoric life, 10–4pm, 24 October, Cambridge Archaeological Unit, Storey’s Way. Drop in. ➔ The Festival of Ideas runs from 21 October to 1 November. For more information and to view a full programme, go to www. cambridgefestivalofideas.org. To pre-book an event call (01223) 766766. The Festival of Ideas is a chance to learn about language, culture and many other topics Historian David Starkey is set to headline this year’s Cambridge Festival of Ideas which, in the University’s 800th year, focuses on centuries of people and thought. He will give the first Mark Pigott Lecture on the legacy of Henry VIII, whose achievements included founding Cambridge University Press and Trinity College. Other authors attending the festival include Michael Morpurgo, who will launch Family Day on 24 October, the festival’s busiest day. This is the second year of the festival, which celebrates the arts, humanities and social sciences, and is run in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge University Press and the Higher Education Funding Council for England. Last year’s festival attracted more than 5,000 people, but this year the aim is to make it bigger and better. It will include more than 150 events, ranging from evening debates, exhibitions and hands-on workshops, all designed to open up the University to the public and inspire people to learn more about subjects as diverse as history, literature, language, art and politics. The debates, talks and events, most of which are free, will take place in University lecture halls, museums, art galleries and other venues around Cambridge. Innovations this year include: • Ideas in the Community, a series of oneday events at local community centres • A national media partner. The Guardian will stream debates on its website. BBC Cambridgeshire will be the festival’s local partner • A competition with Cambridge News and BBC Cambridgeshire encouraged members of the public to suggest questions they wanted to see debated. The result is a clash of the classics with Professors Mary Beard and Paul Cartledge debating whether languages are a force for domination or civilisation • The Mark Pigott Lecture. This will become a regular feature and has been created to recognise the contribution of PACCAR Chairman Mark Pigott who donated £2m to the University for the Pigott Scholars Programme. This will ensure annual funding of UK graduate students studying in the arts, humanities and social sciences departments. Festival of Ideas Coordinator Nicola Buckley said: “We are really pleased to be building on the popularity of the first festival. It was great last year to see lots of local families getting hands on with a huge range of subjects, and people of all ages learning about economics, politics and much more at the evening talks and debates.” 4 | september/october 2009 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter
Pay a visit to the online edition of the Newsletter: www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/newsletter/ Found! First evidence of pre-Norman Cambridge A hoard of historic finds, including Roman pottery, medieval remains and the bones of an 11th-century dog, have been found at the heart of the University during an excavation marking its 800th anniversary. This late-Saxon dog was uncovered during an archaeological dig at the Old Schools The dig, which took place eight feet underneath the staff tea room in the Old Schools, uncovered material that is believed to pre-date the Norman Conquest. It is the first hard evidence that more than 150 years before the University’s arrival in 1209, the area that now forms its administrative centre was occupied by a bustling Anglo-Saxon community. Archaeologists unearthed a number of animal bones, boundary markings and signs of quarrying, which suggest that, in the final decades of the Saxon era, the foundations of what was to become the heart of the University were being laid. Higher up, at what is being referred to as the ‘1209 level’, the dig uncovered other materials that have helped to provide a snapshot of life at the time of the University’s foundation. Further up still, the excavators hit the original medieval frontage of the Old Schools. “The site has enabled us to prove what we previously had no proof for – that by the time of the Norman Conquest, there was a thriving settlement in the middle of Cambridge,” Richard Newman, site director with the Cambridge Archaeological Unit, said. “Until now this was one of the least-investigated parts of the city. What it has shown is that a century and a half before the University arrived, and 300 years before it started to build in this area, people were already living and working here.” The dig was taking place ahead of the installation of a new lift shaft to the Combination Room. Going strong at ten Two Cambridge institutions hit double figures over the summer. Cambridge Dictionaries Online (CDO) has grown to become the most popular learner dictionary on the web, with 29 million page views a month. CDO also compiles a monthly list of its most frequently viewed words. While common gremlins such as ‘liaise’ and ‘discreet’ are tapped in to its search engine with unsurprising regularity, the ‘Top 40’, as it is affectionately referred to by staff, is also an interesting barometer of the online community’s hopes, fears and interests. Back in April of this year, the word ‘swine’ entered the list as the fifth most searched-for word. ‘Pandemic’, sitting in 14th place in late-July, may be a lot higher by the time this publication comes to be printed. Those who wish to brush up on their English can access the site at http://dictionary.cambridge.org/ Meanwhile, the tenth issue of Research Horizons, the University’s flagship research magazine, has just rolled off the presses. The magazine provides a snapshot of research, discoveries and innovation across all disciplines at Cambridge: from science and technology, to arts, humanities and social sciences. Says editor Dr Louise Walsh: “Accessibility is our aim. Cambridge is renowned worldwide for the breadth and excellence of its research, and we aim to reflect this in a way that provides an informative and engaging read for our wide audience.” The magazine’s readership includes academics, funding bodies, policymakers, industry, students and media. “It is also a valuable way for colleagues across the University to keep up-to-date with developments in disciplines other than their own,” adds Louise. The termly magazine and website is published by an editorial team within the University’s Research Services Division. It works closely with the Office of External Affairs and Communications, the Chairs of each of the University’s six academic Schools and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research. For details, please contact the editor at research.horizons@rsd.cam.ac.uk or visit www.research-horizons.cam.ac.uk september/october 2009 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE Newsletter | 5
Page 1 and 2: The magazine for the staff of the U
Page 3: what’s new Your comments and cont
Page 7 and 8: places to live. This ranges from ro
Page 9 and 10: Science shops: a brief history SCIE
Page 11 and 12: INSIDE THE COLLEGES 1A tour through
Page 13 and 14: prizes, awards and honours Birthday
Page 15 and 16: interview Murder in the colleges As

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