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Water feeling - the University Offices - University of Cambridge

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The magazine for The sTaff <strong>of</strong> The UniversiTy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong> sepTember/oCTober 2010<br />

<strong>Water</strong> <strong>feeling</strong><br />

College pool’s timely makeover<br />

The wonder <strong>of</strong><br />

scientific imagery<br />

page 8<br />

Landscape studies:<br />

a varied terrain<br />

page 10


snapshoT<br />

Hot shot: This picture was one <strong>of</strong><br />

165 entries to <strong>the</strong> 2010 Engineering<br />

Department photo competition. Taken<br />

by student Nate Sharpe, it shows a rifle<br />

bullet slicing through a playing card, and<br />

was taken with a flash <strong>of</strong> 400 billionths<br />

<strong>of</strong> a second. The competition, which<br />

was won by Dr Robert Gordon, invites<br />

anyone who works in <strong>the</strong> department<br />

– whe<strong>the</strong>r academic, student or<br />

member <strong>of</strong> supporting staff – to submit<br />

a photograph connected with <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

everyday work.<br />

open again: The last letters <strong>of</strong> Captain<br />

Scott and his companions have returned<br />

to public display as one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world’s<br />

most important collections <strong>of</strong> polar<br />

artefacts was opened by <strong>the</strong> Earl and<br />

Countess <strong>of</strong> Wessex. The Polar Museum at<br />

<strong>the</strong> Scott Polar Research Institute – which<br />

also holds <strong>the</strong> expedition diaries <strong>of</strong> Sir<br />

Ernest Shackleton and <strong>the</strong> photographic<br />

records <strong>of</strong> Herbert Ponting – has<br />

undergone a two-year transformation as<br />

part <strong>of</strong> a £1.75m redevelopment.<br />

sassoon exhibition: The treasures <strong>of</strong><br />

Siegfried Sassoon’s personal archive have<br />

gone on public display for <strong>the</strong> first time<br />

at <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> Library. Exhibits include<br />

his diary recounting <strong>the</strong> first day at <strong>the</strong><br />

Battle <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Somme, and this ligh<strong>the</strong>arted<br />

sketch by <strong>the</strong> poet <strong>of</strong> a memorial<br />

he wanted erected to him on Market<br />

Hill, <strong>Cambridge</strong>. ‘Dream Voices: Siegfried<br />

Sassoon, Memory and War’, runs until<br />

23 December. The archive was bought<br />

by <strong>the</strong> library after a £1.25m fundraising<br />

campaign.<br />

Access all areas: Newnham College,<br />

pictured, was one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> many venues<br />

and institutions that opened <strong>the</strong>ir doors<br />

to <strong>the</strong> public this month as part <strong>of</strong> Open<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong>. The weekend included<br />

tours, walks and open access events that<br />

allowed local residents and community<br />

groups to experience <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />

and city’s rich heritage. This year saw a<br />

number <strong>of</strong> activities targeted specifically<br />

at families and children.<br />

2 | september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER<br />

ConTenTs<br />

cover<br />

Generous alumni have<br />

saved Christ’s historic<br />

bathing pool.<br />

Turn to page 4<br />

2-5 News round-up<br />

6-7 Getting practical<br />

It started with an item in <strong>the</strong> Newsletter –<br />

now former staff member An<strong>the</strong>a Bain is<br />

a student at <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />

8-9 behind <strong>the</strong> scenes<br />

How <strong>Cambridge</strong> researchers and<br />

technicians are creating some <strong>of</strong> science’s<br />

most stunning pictures<br />

10-11 making a difference<br />

Landscape studies can help us<br />

understand <strong>the</strong> past – and shape<br />

our future<br />

12-13 prizes, awards and honours<br />

14 obituary<br />

15 Advertisements<br />

<strong>Water</strong> <strong>feeling</strong><br />

College pool’s timely makeover<br />

neWsLeTTer<br />

The Newsletter is published for <strong>the</strong> staff <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong> and is produced by <strong>the</strong><br />

Office <strong>of</strong> External Affairs and Communications.<br />

Please send in ideas for <strong>the</strong> content and ways<br />

we can improve <strong>the</strong> publication.<br />

Tel: (3)32300 or email newsletter@admin.cam.ac.uk.<br />

Suggestions for articles for <strong>the</strong> November/<br />

December edition should reach <strong>the</strong> Editor by<br />

1 October.<br />

Editor: Andrew Aldridge<br />

Advertising: Nick Saffell<br />

Design: www.creative-warehouse.co.uk<br />

Printers: Labute Printers<br />

Contributors: Andrew Aldridge, Becky Allen,<br />

Alex Buxton, Abbie Long, Stuart Roberts.<br />

neWsLeTTer onLine<br />

www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/newsletter<br />

The magazine for The sTaff <strong>of</strong> The UniversiTy <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong> sepTember/oCTober 2010<br />

The wonder <strong>of</strong> Landscape studies:<br />

scientific imagery a varied terrain<br />

page 8<br />

page 10


WhaT’s neW<br />

vice-Chancellor<br />

becomes dame alison<br />

VICE-CHANCELLOR PROFESSOR<br />

Alison Richard has been appointed<br />

Dame Commander <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British<br />

Empire for services to higher<br />

education.<br />

The announcement was made in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Queen’s Birthday Honours list.<br />

During her seven-year term as<br />

Vice-Chancellor, which concludes at<br />

<strong>the</strong> end <strong>of</strong> this month, she has argued<br />

consistently for deliberate diversity <strong>of</strong><br />

mission in UK higher education.<br />

Dame Alison has overseen<br />

<strong>the</strong> establishment <strong>of</strong> needsbased<br />

bursaries to ensure that<br />

undergraduate students and<br />

applicants can always afford to study<br />

at <strong>Cambridge</strong>, and she has supported<br />

major teaching and research<br />

initiatives across academic disciplines.<br />

Her term <strong>of</strong> <strong>of</strong>fice has also seen <strong>the</strong><br />

development <strong>of</strong> alumni as advisers<br />

THE CAMBRIDGE FESTIVAL <strong>of</strong> Ideas<br />

returns next month, giving visitors<br />

<strong>the</strong> chance to experience a huge<br />

range <strong>of</strong> talks and workshops.<br />

The 11-day festival, which runs<br />

from 20-31 October, celebrates <strong>the</strong><br />

arts, humanities and social sciences.<br />

This year’s guest speakers include <strong>the</strong><br />

children’s author Jacqueline Wilson<br />

and The Guardian columnist Lucy<br />

Mangan.<br />

The festival’s flagship event, <strong>the</strong><br />

annual Mark Pigott Lecture, will be<br />

delivered this year by Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Linda<br />

Colley, who will speak on <strong>the</strong> subject<br />

‘When did <strong>the</strong> British Constitution<br />

become unwritten?’. Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Colley<br />

is a British historian whose 1992<br />

study Britons: Forging <strong>the</strong> Nation,<br />

1707–1837 explored <strong>the</strong> development<br />

<strong>of</strong> Britishness following <strong>the</strong> 1707 Acts<br />

<strong>of</strong> Union. She is Shelby M C Davis<br />

1958 Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> History at Princeton<br />

<strong>University</strong>.<br />

O<strong>the</strong>r highlights include a family<br />

and ambassadors for <strong>Cambridge</strong>,<br />

and <strong>the</strong> streng<strong>the</strong>ning <strong>of</strong> strategic<br />

communications – with alumni,<br />

<strong>the</strong> wider public, and national and<br />

international decision-makers.<br />

As part <strong>of</strong> this engagement, alumni<br />

have contributed impressively to <strong>the</strong><br />

800th Anniversary Campaign which,<br />

it was announced in June, has now<br />

raised more than £1 billion.<br />

The priority <strong>of</strong> developing alumni<br />

relations has also been woven into<br />

Dame Alison’s extensive travels in<br />

support <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong>’s growing<br />

international activity.<br />

On her watch, <strong>Cambridge</strong> has also<br />

established an Investment Office, and<br />

reorganised <strong>the</strong> management <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

endowment, to enable endowment<br />

income to contribute effectively to a<br />

healthy mix <strong>of</strong> income sources.<br />

In addition to Dame Alison’s<br />

arts and culture for all<br />

The Festival <strong>of</strong> Ideas: for children too<br />

day on 23 October, which will<br />

see many departments hosting<br />

interactive events for children, and<br />

Ideas in <strong>the</strong> Community, which will<br />

take Festival <strong>of</strong> Ideas events to local<br />

community centres.<br />

➔ For more details visit www.<br />

festival<strong>of</strong>ideas.org<br />

Your comments and contributions are always welcome.<br />

Please send <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong> Editor at newsletter@admin.cam.ac.uk<br />

The deadline for <strong>the</strong> next issue is 1 October.<br />

Dame Alison Richard: honoured for services to higher education<br />

appointment, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Colin<br />

Humphreys, Goldsmiths’ Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

<strong>of</strong> Materials Science, was awarded a<br />

knighthood for services to science.<br />

A Fellow <strong>of</strong> Selwyn, Sir Colin founded<br />

and directs <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong> Centre for<br />

Gallium Nitride.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor A<strong>the</strong>ne Donald, Deputy<br />

Head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cavendish Laboratory,<br />

was appointed Dame Commander<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British Empire for services<br />

to Physics. Dame A<strong>the</strong>ne, a Fellow<br />

<strong>of</strong> Robinson, has worked at <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong>’s Cavendish Laboratory<br />

since 1983 and was elected to <strong>the</strong><br />

Royal Society in 1999.<br />

➔ Fur<strong>the</strong>r coverage <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Queen’s<br />

Birthday Honours is on page 12.<br />

september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER | 3<br />

DAN WHITE


MAIN PHOTO: SIR CAM<br />

CoLLege neWs<br />

alumni splash out for Christ’s<br />

The pool last November – before renovation<br />

MEMBERS OF CHRIST’S did not have<br />

far to look for a swim this summer as<br />

<strong>the</strong> restoration <strong>of</strong> its Fellows’ Bathing<br />

Pool was completed ahead <strong>of</strong> June<br />

and July’s warm wea<strong>the</strong>r.<br />

Archives suggest that <strong>the</strong> outdoor<br />

pool – thought to be <strong>the</strong> oldest <strong>of</strong><br />

its kind in <strong>the</strong> country still in use –<br />

was built in <strong>the</strong> late-17th century.<br />

Famous alumni who might have<br />

cooled <strong>of</strong>f in it waters include William<br />

Paley, Charles Darwin and Louis<br />

Mountbatten.<br />

But over <strong>the</strong> past 20 years <strong>the</strong><br />

pool had slipped into decline, with<br />

fewer and fewer fellows brave<br />

enough to venture in. Only last<br />

year its future was as murky as <strong>the</strong><br />

water that filled it. O<strong>the</strong>r uses were<br />

suggested, including turning it into<br />

an ornamental pond.<br />

All that changed when <strong>the</strong> college<br />

turned to its alumni for help. It had<br />

already received a sizeable donation<br />

from alumnus Richard Barlow-Poole,<br />

who had swum in it during <strong>the</strong> late<br />

1930s. Though extremely generous,<br />

it wasn’t enough. So Christ’s<br />

Development Director Ca<strong>the</strong>rine<br />

Twilley, herself a keen swimmer,<br />

launched an appeal to bring <strong>the</strong> pool<br />

up to modern standards, as well as<br />

restore <strong>the</strong> Palladian-style pavilion.<br />

Donations soon began to pour in.<br />

Meanwhile an investigation into<br />

<strong>the</strong> pool’s history discovered that<br />

it was not Victorian, as had been<br />

supposed, but far older. Just how<br />

old might remain a mystery, for<br />

while records suggest that a pool<br />

existed before 1688, <strong>the</strong>re is a<br />

tantalising gap in <strong>the</strong> college archives<br />

4 | september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER<br />

Members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> college enjoy <strong>the</strong> newly restored bathing pool<br />

for <strong>the</strong> preceding decades.<br />

The pool’s design is suavely<br />

classical, with its perimeter<br />

decorated with busts <strong>of</strong> Christ’s<br />

scholars – including astronomer<br />

Ralph Cudworth, poet John Milton,<br />

ma<strong>the</strong>matician Nicholas Saunderson<br />

and polymath Joseph Mede. An<br />

imposing urn is rumoured to hold<br />

<strong>the</strong> ashes <strong>of</strong> physicist and author<br />

CP Snow.<br />

At <strong>the</strong> suggestion <strong>of</strong> Barlow-Poole,<br />

who sadly died before he could see it<br />

restored, <strong>the</strong> pool has been renamed<br />

<strong>the</strong> Malcolm Bowie Bathing Pool in<br />

honour <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Master <strong>of</strong> Christ’s from<br />

2002 to 2006, and is open to staff and<br />

students as well as Fellows.<br />

In a little corner <strong>of</strong> Christ’s, hidden<br />

behind ancient walls, <strong>the</strong> swimming<br />

and dreaming go on.<br />

IN brIeF...<br />

Homerton celebrates<br />

Homerton celebrated <strong>the</strong> award<br />

<strong>of</strong> its Royal Charter this summer<br />

with a garden party. The Vice-<br />

Chancellor, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Dame Alison<br />

Richard, welcomed <strong>the</strong> college<br />

to <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong>, and Sir David<br />

Harrison, former Chairman <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Homerton Board <strong>of</strong> Trustees,<br />

replied on <strong>the</strong> college’s behalf.<br />

The College Charter Choir sang<br />

William Byrd’s Sing Joyfully, as well<br />

as a new piece for <strong>the</strong> occasion<br />

with words by Poet Laureate<br />

Carol Ann Duffy and music by Sir<br />

Peter Maxwell Davies. Attendees<br />

also enjoyed a performance<br />

by <strong>the</strong> Homerton Steel Drums,<br />

pictured. The college, which<br />

formerly specialised in teacher<br />

training, now admits students to<br />

all subjects except medicine.<br />

college appointments<br />

Lesley Thompson, pictured, has<br />

joined Lucy Cavendish as Bursar.<br />

She replaces Dr David Carter, who<br />

has retired after four years with<br />

<strong>the</strong> college. Lesley has worked<br />

in various senior roles in higher<br />

education and arts development<br />

following her initial qualification<br />

as a Chartered Accountant.<br />

Murray Edwards also has a<br />

new Bursar. Paola Morris comes<br />

to <strong>the</strong> college from <strong>the</strong> British<br />

Academy in London, where she<br />

was Director <strong>of</strong> Finance and<br />

Corporate Services.


WhaT’s neW<br />

AFTER FIVE YEARS <strong>of</strong> hard work<br />

to reduce its carbon footprint,<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> has been awarded<br />

<strong>the</strong> Carbon Trust Standard – <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>of</strong>ficially recognised benchmark<br />

for organisations that have taken<br />

successful action on climate change.<br />

A combination <strong>of</strong> old, energyinefficient<br />

buildings and <strong>the</strong> lack <strong>of</strong><br />

a joined-up monitoring system for<br />

energy use meant that, as recently<br />

as 2006, <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> had energy<br />

and water bills exceeding £9m.<br />

This equated to per annum carbon<br />

emissions <strong>of</strong> about 66,200 tonnes.<br />

Since <strong>the</strong>n, and working in<br />

partnership with <strong>the</strong> trust, <strong>the</strong> figure<br />

has been reduced so dramatically that<br />

carbon emitted per pound <strong>of</strong> income<br />

is now down on <strong>the</strong> 2006 figure by<br />

an impressive 17 per cent. This means<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> has made a CO2 saving<br />

<strong>of</strong> 1,130 tonnes a year.<br />

Pay a visit to <strong>the</strong> online edition <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Newsletter:<br />

www.admin.cam.ac.uk/univ/newsletter/<br />

<strong>University</strong> awarded green accolade<br />

UNIVERSITY STAFF now have access<br />

to two new benefits schemes.<br />

CAMbens Discounts, launched this<br />

month, will help employees and <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

families spend less when <strong>the</strong>y shop at<br />

a range <strong>of</strong> leading retailers.<br />

Staff can log on to <strong>the</strong> CAMbens<br />

website using <strong>the</strong>ir payroll number<br />

(see ‘Find out more’ bottom right),<br />

set up a password and enjoy a<br />

range <strong>of</strong> discounts with companies<br />

such as Boots, Marks & Spencer and<br />

Sainsbury’s.<br />

There are more than 1,700<br />

participating stores in all, which<br />

means employees can save money<br />

on a wide range <strong>of</strong> household<br />

expenses – from groceries and white<br />

goods, to holidays and insurance.<br />

They will have exclusive access to<br />

discounted vouchers, savings and<br />

cashback rewards at <strong>the</strong>ir favourite<br />

stores whe<strong>the</strong>r online, in-store or<br />

over <strong>the</strong> phone.<br />

Cashback can be accumulated<br />

from different retailers and withdrawn<br />

The process began with a carbon<br />

footprint survey. An independent<br />

consultant studied <strong>the</strong> systems<br />

and processes used to manage <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong>’s energy, and helped<br />

<strong>University</strong> Energy Manager Paul<br />

Hasley and Environmental Officer<br />

Martin Whiteland get new initiatives<br />

to control energy use <strong>of</strong>f <strong>the</strong> ground.<br />

The procedures <strong>the</strong>y put in place<br />

involved making changes to all<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 350 teaching, research and<br />

administrative buildings around <strong>the</strong><br />

city, not including <strong>the</strong> 31 colleges.<br />

Information about <strong>the</strong> energy<br />

consumption pr<strong>of</strong>ile <strong>of</strong> each one was<br />

collected and made accessible via a<br />

central database, and staff across <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong> made real efforts to save<br />

energy by controlling <strong>the</strong>ir use <strong>of</strong><br />

lighting, computers and laboratory<br />

equipment.<br />

“The <strong>University</strong> regards reducing<br />

new benefits schemes help pay go fur<strong>the</strong>r<br />

Shop for less at a range <strong>of</strong> leading retailers<br />

straight into employees’ personal<br />

bank accounts.<br />

Also new this term is CAMbens<br />

Cars, a salary sacrifice scheme that<br />

enables employees to lease fuelefficient<br />

<strong>University</strong>-provided vehicles.<br />

Feedback on <strong>the</strong> schemes has<br />

been positive. Ann Cartwright,<br />

Departmental Administrator at<br />

<strong>the</strong> Gurdon Institute is one who<br />

is impressed. “This is a good<br />

opportunity to recognise <strong>the</strong> hard<br />

Buildings like <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> Manufacturing have helped <strong>Cambridge</strong> cut its carbon footprint<br />

carbon emissions as an important<br />

activity, and receiving this award<br />

proves that all <strong>the</strong> efforts being made<br />

in this direction are bearing fruit,”<br />

Mr Hasley said.<br />

“The <strong>University</strong> should be very<br />

proud <strong>of</strong> all <strong>the</strong> staff who rose to <strong>the</strong><br />

work and contribution <strong>of</strong> our staff at<br />

a time when we have more limited<br />

financial resources to do so,” she said.<br />

Trades unions UNISON, Unite and<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> and College Union all<br />

welcomed <strong>the</strong> initiatives. “CAMbens<br />

Discounts is a great new benefit and<br />

should help employees’ salaries go<br />

that bit fur<strong>the</strong>r during <strong>the</strong>se difficult<br />

financial times, particularly those on<br />

low incomes,” said UNISON Branch<br />

Chair Alan Davis.<br />

find oUT more<br />

➔ For more information on both<br />

schemes, call 0845 299 0908 or<br />

log on to <strong>the</strong> CAMbens website<br />

at http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/<br />

<strong>of</strong>fices/hr/staff/benefits/.<br />

➔ Two roadshows will take place on<br />

30 September and 29 October at<br />

<strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> Centre from 11am<br />

to 2pm.<br />

challenge <strong>of</strong> saving energy over <strong>the</strong><br />

last few years.”<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong> has also gained<br />

credit under <strong>the</strong> Carbon Reduction<br />

Commitment, which places it in a<br />

league table <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most energy<br />

efficient organisations in Britain.<br />

help fellow staff<br />

THE UNIVERSITY IS LOOKING to<br />

recruit and train volunteers to help<br />

with its Dignity@Work service.<br />

Dignity@Work volunteers are<br />

trained to support members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong> affected by bullying and<br />

harassment. Such support includes<br />

meeting individuals who approach<br />

<strong>the</strong> service, listening to <strong>the</strong>ir concerns<br />

and helping <strong>the</strong>m analyse <strong>the</strong><br />

problems <strong>the</strong>y face. It also involves<br />

explaining <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s policy on<br />

bullying and harassment, highlighting<br />

internal and external sources <strong>of</strong><br />

support, and helping staff decide a<br />

course <strong>of</strong> action.<br />

Volunteers will acquire useful<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essional skills, meet and<br />

work with a friendly team <strong>of</strong><br />

contacts and have <strong>the</strong> opportunity<br />

to help colleagues improve <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

working lives.<br />

For fur<strong>the</strong>r information, please<br />

contact Lyn Goodenough (lyn.<br />

goodenough@admin.cam.ac.uk,<br />

extension 67836).<br />

september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER | 5


phiLip mynott<br />

getting practical<br />

From staff to student<br />

An<strong>the</strong>a Bain was working at Trinity Hall when she spotted an item in <strong>the</strong> Newsletter publicising<br />

opportunities for studying at <strong>Cambridge</strong> as a mature student. Now she is preparing to start her<br />

second year reading English at Lucy Cavendish. She describes how <strong>the</strong> move from staff member<br />

to student “has turned her life upside down – in <strong>the</strong> most positive way imaginable”<br />

6 september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER<br />

Staff member-turned<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong> student An<strong>the</strong>a<br />

Bain in <strong>the</strong> garden <strong>of</strong> Lucy<br />

Cavendish


When and why did you decide to<br />

study english?<br />

I was in publishing for more than 20<br />

years, working on a whole string <strong>of</strong><br />

titles – including Vogue and House &<br />

Garden. I loved every moment <strong>of</strong> it, but<br />

<strong>the</strong>re was always this nagging thought<br />

that I’d missed out on something<br />

important in my life – university. When<br />

I was younger I wanted to be a vet. That<br />

wasn’t something open to me as an older<br />

student so I decided to study English. I’ve<br />

always loved literature – from Chaucer<br />

to McEwan, and I enjoy <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong><br />

writing and <strong>the</strong> way it is creative and<br />

challenging. When I graduate I’ll be 64<br />

and I’ll have just a year <strong>of</strong> conventional<br />

working life left. I’d love to spend that<br />

year doing fur<strong>the</strong>r study. After that I plan<br />

to finish <strong>the</strong> book I started a few years<br />

ago – it’s a mix <strong>of</strong> travel, cookery and<br />

chick lit.<br />

Why did you apply to<br />

cambridge?<br />

A couple <strong>of</strong> years ago <strong>the</strong> company I<br />

was working for in London underwent<br />

restructuring and I took a payout. But<br />

I’m not someone who can do nothing.<br />

Because I live not far from <strong>Cambridge</strong> I<br />

also took various part-time jobs at <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong> to help fund my writing. I ended<br />

up working with <strong>the</strong> Master <strong>of</strong> Trinity Hall,<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Martin Daunton. One day my eye<br />

was caught by an item in <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong><br />

Newsletter inviting staff to come to an<br />

open day for mature students. That was<br />

it – I signed up, talked to some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

admissions tutors, and before I knew it<br />

I was planning to apply!<br />

What did you do before coming<br />

to cambridge?<br />

A lot! I was brought up in a fenland<br />

farming family and left school after taking<br />

O-levels. I wanted to stay on for A-levels<br />

but my mo<strong>the</strong>r had been widowed<br />

young and wanted me to acquire some<br />

practical skills. So I did a secretarial<br />

course and <strong>the</strong>n trained to be a nurse.<br />

It was <strong>the</strong> 1960s and I even squeezed in<br />

a spot <strong>of</strong> modelling, appearing on <strong>the</strong><br />

pages <strong>of</strong> Petticoat magazine wearing a<br />

paper dress! I worked in nursing and later<br />

for Condé Nast Publications – before<br />

travelling in Greece for a year. When<br />

I got back I returned to Condé Nast,<br />

moved on to o<strong>the</strong>r publishing houses,<br />

and worked hard to make my way up to<br />

board level in <strong>the</strong> trade press. My career<br />

gave me countless skills and was hugely<br />

rewarding. But I still hankered to study<br />

at university.<br />

Find out more<br />

➔ If you’re over 21<br />

and you’ve been<br />

inspired by reading<br />

An<strong>the</strong>a’s story, you<br />

too might like to<br />

consider studying at<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong>.<br />

➔ There are four<br />

colleges for mature<br />

students at <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong>: Hughes<br />

Hall; Lucy Cavendish<br />

College; St Edmund’s<br />

College; and Wolfson<br />

College. All take<br />

students aged 21 and<br />

over and Lucy<br />

Cavendish is for<br />

women only. The<br />

standard-age<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong> colleges<br />

also accept mature<br />

students.<br />

➔ For more information<br />

on opportunities for<br />

studying at<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong> as a<br />

mature student,<br />

plus details <strong>of</strong><br />

events, open days<br />

and residential<br />

summer schools,<br />

go to www.cam.<br />

ac.uk/admissions<br />

An<strong>the</strong>a modelling for The West Anglian magazine in 1967<br />

can you tell us about applying<br />

to lucy cavendish?<br />

I had vaguely heard about a <strong>Cambridge</strong><br />

college for mature women called Lucy<br />

Cavendish, but it didn’t really dawn on<br />

me that I would be able to study <strong>the</strong>re<br />

until I went to <strong>the</strong> mature students open<br />

day – which was held at Wolfson College.<br />

The more I found out, <strong>the</strong> more I realised<br />

that Lucy was <strong>the</strong> place for me – I like <strong>the</strong><br />

single sex environment <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> college<br />

and <strong>the</strong> supportive atmosphere.<br />

On <strong>the</strong> advice <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Lucy Cavendish<br />

admissions tutor, I took an Open<br />

<strong>University</strong> course called Approach to<br />

Literature and got a distinction – I applied<br />

to Lucy Cavendish during that year.<br />

I was interviewed and <strong>of</strong>fered a place.<br />

I felt elated.<br />

What’s <strong>the</strong> workload like at<br />

cambridge?<br />

It’s hard, no doubt about that. Each week<br />

I go to approximately a dozen lectures<br />

and attend two or three supervisions<br />

with classes and seminars. We’re<br />

expected to produce up to three 2,000word<br />

essays a week.<br />

You might think that having worked<br />

in publishing all those years, I would find<br />

it a doddle to dash <strong>of</strong>f my assignments.<br />

You’d be wrong. Academic writing is quite<br />

different from <strong>the</strong> journalistic style I was<br />

used to – essays have to be much more<br />

analytical and rigorous. I’ve been pulled<br />

up for being too colloquial in my use <strong>of</strong><br />

English and have had to learn to be more<br />

logical and disciplined.<br />

Before <strong>the</strong> course started we were<br />

warned that we would have to put <strong>the</strong><br />

rest <strong>of</strong> our lives on hold while we were<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong> students. I thought to myself:<br />

“Rubbish, <strong>of</strong> course I can juggle doing<br />

<strong>the</strong> course with keeping up with <strong>the</strong> rest<br />

<strong>of</strong> my life.”<br />

Again, I was quite wrong – it demands<br />

every scrap <strong>of</strong> my attention and time.<br />

What’s it been like fitting in and<br />

making new friends?<br />

There are six <strong>of</strong> us in <strong>the</strong> same year<br />

studying English at Lucy Cavendish,<br />

and we range in age from 20s to 60s.<br />

Everyone’s different and we’ve all had<br />

different life experiences. Three <strong>of</strong> us<br />

have formed an especially strong<br />

bond – and <strong>the</strong> husband <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most<br />

senior student has named us <strong>the</strong> Gang<br />

<strong>of</strong> Three.<br />

Some <strong>of</strong> my non-university friends<br />

assume that if you’re an older student<br />

you do a different – and easier – course<br />

than <strong>the</strong> standard age students. I’ve had<br />

to put <strong>the</strong>m straight on that – we do<br />

exactly <strong>the</strong> same course as <strong>the</strong> 18-yearolds,<br />

attending <strong>the</strong> same lectures and<br />

having to meet <strong>the</strong> same requirements<br />

and demands.<br />

There are certainly some benefits<br />

to being older – you do bring more<br />

life experience to your studies. This<br />

can help, for example, when you’re<br />

studying Shakespeare and analysing<br />

<strong>the</strong> motives and behaviour <strong>of</strong> his<br />

characters. And because I was in<br />

publishing, <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> writing holds<br />

no fears for me. I don’t have <strong>the</strong> blank<br />

screen terror that less experienced<br />

students might have.<br />

What advice would you give<br />

to someone thinking about<br />

applying to cambridge as a<br />

mature student?<br />

Becoming a <strong>Cambridge</strong> student has<br />

turned my life upside down – in <strong>the</strong> most<br />

positive way imaginable. I’m meeting<br />

inspirational people and I am learning<br />

to think in a way I’ve never done before.<br />

It’s so liberating to be taught by some<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> best brains in <strong>the</strong> country and<br />

to be digging deep inside myself. I can<br />

almost hear my synapses stretching and<br />

snapping. To o<strong>the</strong>r prospective mature<br />

students, I’d say: just go for it.<br />

september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER | 7


ehind <strong>the</strong> scenes<br />

seeing is believing<br />

How do you go about photographing a distant star formation or <strong>the</strong> inside <strong>of</strong> a locust’s brain?<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong> researchers and technicians reveal all<br />

THEY ARE BLU-TACkED onto bedroom<br />

walls, cover <strong>the</strong> corridors <strong>of</strong> every<br />

science department in <strong>Cambridge</strong><br />

and illuminated <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s most<br />

iconic buildings during <strong>the</strong> light show<br />

that ended <strong>the</strong> 800th anniversary<br />

year. But how are <strong>the</strong>se scientific<br />

images produced? How much are<br />

<strong>the</strong>y manipulated, and what truth – as<br />

opposed to beauty – do <strong>the</strong>y contain?<br />

Today, we can ‘see’ <strong>the</strong> most<br />

amazing things. Thanks to telescopes<br />

and microscopes, photography and<br />

computing power, scientists can visualise<br />

<strong>the</strong> beginnings <strong>of</strong> human life and <strong>the</strong><br />

deaths <strong>of</strong> distant stars – things too small<br />

for <strong>the</strong> naked eye to see and too large for<br />

our brains to comprehend easily.<br />

But capturing <strong>the</strong>se images is a<br />

complicated business. According to<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Raymond E Goldstein from <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Applied Ma<strong>the</strong>matics and<br />

Theoretical Physics: “Despite <strong>the</strong> ubiquity<br />

<strong>of</strong> high-resolution digital cameras,<br />

producing <strong>the</strong>se pictures is far from<br />

simple. You need to go to great lengths to<br />

get it right.”<br />

Fascinated by <strong>the</strong> stalactite-hung<br />

limestone caves near <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong><br />

Arizona where he worked until four years<br />

8 september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER<br />

Scientists can<br />

visualise <strong>the</strong><br />

beginnings <strong>of</strong><br />

human life and<br />

<strong>the</strong> deaths <strong>of</strong><br />

distant stars<br />

Above: this image – showing <strong>the</strong> half brain <strong>of</strong> a solitarious<br />

locust on <strong>the</strong> left and <strong>the</strong> half brain <strong>of</strong> a gregarious, swarming<br />

locust <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> same species on <strong>the</strong> right – was created by<br />

Dr Swidbert ott <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Zoology. he used<br />

fluorescence-labelled proteins and laser scanning microscopy.<br />

“it’s taken me years <strong>of</strong> work to perfect <strong>the</strong> art <strong>of</strong> getting <strong>the</strong><br />

specimen into <strong>the</strong> right condition so that <strong>the</strong> imaging works,”<br />

he says<br />

Left: a colour image <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> orion nebula constructed from<br />

images taken by <strong>the</strong> ViStA telescope in paranal, Chile. <strong>the</strong><br />

institute <strong>of</strong> Astronomy in <strong>Cambridge</strong> is involved in both <strong>the</strong><br />

data processing and scientific exploitation <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> telescope’s<br />

infrared surveys <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> sou<strong>the</strong>rn sky<br />

ago, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Goldstein wondered why<br />

stalactites were long and pointy and how<br />

<strong>the</strong>se forms could best be explained in<br />

ma<strong>the</strong>matical terms. After developing a<br />

ma<strong>the</strong>matical <strong>the</strong>ory for <strong>the</strong> shape, he<br />

and his colleagues set about testing <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

results using photography.<br />

“We took images <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stalactites,<br />

digitised <strong>the</strong> shapes and compared<br />

<strong>the</strong>se to <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ory. The photographs<br />

are stunning, but <strong>the</strong>y are more than just<br />

‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ – <strong>the</strong>re is deep science in<br />

<strong>the</strong>se images,” he says.<br />

Since leaving Arizona for <strong>Cambridge</strong>,<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Goldstein’s gaze has shifted<br />

SwiDBert r ott, UniVerSity <strong>of</strong> CAmBriDge


from stalactites to icicles: “I looked at<br />

icicles, which are long and skinny like<br />

stalactites, and wondered if <strong>the</strong> maths<br />

were similar.”<br />

In collaboration with Grae Worster,<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Fluid Dynamics at <strong>the</strong><br />

Institute <strong>of</strong> Theoretical Geophysics,<br />

and Senior Research Fellow Jerome<br />

Neufeld, <strong>the</strong> group produced something<br />

resembling a large ice lolly. They watched<br />

it melt using a super high-resolution<br />

camera (see picture series above), taking<br />

images every few minutes and using <strong>the</strong><br />

500 photographs to measure changes on<br />

<strong>the</strong> icicle’s surface.<br />

“Our job is to understand <strong>the</strong> world,<br />

to put order into it. I was driven to<br />

study icicles because <strong>the</strong>y are beautiful,<br />

because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> aes<strong>the</strong>tics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> evolution<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir shape. It’s such a simple process<br />

that we should be able to find a law to<br />

explain it,” he says.<br />

Just as Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Goldstein finds<br />

beauty in ice and <strong>the</strong> maths behind<br />

its melting, Dr Swidbert Ott from<br />

<strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Zoology sees<br />

extraordinary beauty in <strong>the</strong> lentil-sized<br />

brains <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> locusts he studies, and<br />

has gone to great lengths to develop<br />

techniques that allow him to image <strong>the</strong>m<br />

accurately – and aes<strong>the</strong>tically.<br />

According to Dr Ott: “A major<br />

challenge is to fix <strong>the</strong> brain tissues so that<br />

<strong>the</strong>y are preserved in a life-like state and<br />

are able to withstand all <strong>the</strong> subsequent<br />

dyeing and drying without becoming<br />

distorted. It’s taken me years <strong>of</strong> work to<br />

perfect <strong>the</strong> art <strong>of</strong> getting <strong>the</strong> specimen<br />

into <strong>the</strong> right condition so that <strong>the</strong><br />

imaging works.”<br />

Using fluorescence-labelled proteins,<br />

confocal laser scanning microscopy<br />

and s<strong>of</strong>tware more commonly found in<br />

functional magnetic resonance imaging<br />

(MRI) <strong>of</strong> human patients, Dr Ott takes<br />

optical sections <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> locusts’ brains.<br />

“These virtual slices <strong>of</strong> brain are<br />

digitised and show <strong>the</strong> fluorescent<br />

protein in <strong>the</strong> brain point by point at very<br />

high resolution,” he says. “You end up<br />

with a stack <strong>of</strong> optical sections through<br />

<strong>the</strong> brain in <strong>the</strong> computer that you can<br />

reassemble and manipulate.”<br />

The results – an example <strong>of</strong> which is<br />

shown opposite – are stunning and,<br />

Dr Ott admits, far more aes<strong>the</strong>tic than<br />

<strong>the</strong> data demand. “You need to produce<br />

a dataset, but my results could have been<br />

published without images – with <strong>the</strong> data<br />

captured in double-logarithmic plots –<br />

that’s what interests my peers,” he says.<br />

“But I think <strong>the</strong> ma<strong>the</strong>matical analysis<br />

becomes more tangible when you look<br />

at <strong>the</strong> images.<br />

“The aes<strong>the</strong>tics are intrinsic to <strong>the</strong><br />

structure, so I’ve tried to do justice to<br />

that – to get <strong>the</strong> best data with <strong>the</strong> fewest<br />

artefacts and by doing so I end up with<br />

something visually stunning.”<br />

While not essential to his science, Dr<br />

Ott believes that producing such images<br />

is crucial to communicating his science<br />

to a wider audience, both to <strong>the</strong> general<br />

public and to academics in o<strong>the</strong>r fields.<br />

“Close to my heart is getting across <strong>the</strong><br />

fact that bugs have brains; that <strong>the</strong>y’re<br />

not just filled with goo. They are highly<br />

structured inside, and I hope my images<br />

make people think.”<br />

Some <strong>of</strong> science’s most iconic images<br />

come from telescopes ra<strong>the</strong>r than<br />

microscopes – pictures <strong>of</strong> distant nebulae<br />

and galaxies whose size is measured not<br />

in fractions <strong>of</strong> a metre but in millions <strong>of</strong><br />

light years.<br />

Dr Robin Catchpole <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Institute<br />

<strong>of</strong> Astronomy, who has worked with<br />

<strong>the</strong> Hubble Space Telescope, describes<br />

how <strong>the</strong>se images are created: “We use<br />

a set <strong>of</strong> filters to isolate different parts<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> electromagnetic spectrum. We<br />

observe a galaxy, for example, at three<br />

different wavelengths – red, green and<br />

blue. By measuring <strong>the</strong> amount <strong>of</strong> energy<br />

Above: pr<strong>of</strong>essor raymond<br />

e goldstein, from <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Applied<br />

ma<strong>the</strong>matics and <strong>the</strong>oretical<br />

physics, and members <strong>of</strong><br />

his research group used a<br />

super high-resolution camera<br />

to measure changes on an<br />

icicle’s surface. “i was driven<br />

to study icicles because <strong>the</strong>y<br />

are beautiful, because <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

aes<strong>the</strong>tics <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> evolution <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong>ir shape. it’s such a simple<br />

process that we should be<br />

able to find a law to explain it,”<br />

he says<br />

september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER | 9<br />

rAymonD e goLDStein, J neUfeLD AnD mg worSter,<br />

UniVerSity <strong>of</strong> CAmBriDge<br />

emitted at each wavelength we can find<br />

<strong>the</strong> temperatures <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> stars. And by<br />

combining three images we can produce<br />

<strong>the</strong>se pretty pictures.”<br />

The degree to which images are<br />

manipulated or enhanced is <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

debated but, as Dr Ott points out,<br />

scientists could alter <strong>the</strong>ir images long<br />

before <strong>the</strong> advent <strong>of</strong> digital photography<br />

and Photoshop.<br />

“When I did my MSc and used <strong>the</strong><br />

darkroom I could do <strong>the</strong> same thing – use<br />

different filters and paper to alter my<br />

images. Scientists and technicians have<br />

always had to choose what to show and<br />

what not to show.”<br />

For Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Goldstein, questions<br />

<strong>of</strong> manipulation arise even before his<br />

images exist: “Most <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ‘manipulation’<br />

goes on in <strong>the</strong> process <strong>of</strong> acquiring <strong>the</strong><br />

images – playing with light and contrast<br />

so that we can detect edges accurately,<br />

for example.”<br />

And while <strong>the</strong> scientific community<br />

expects researchers to be honest in <strong>the</strong><br />

images <strong>the</strong>y publish in peer-reviewed<br />

research, Dr Robin Catchpole believes<br />

<strong>the</strong> public requires honesty too. This is<br />

particularly true for <strong>the</strong> colours added<br />

to astronomical photographs. “What is<br />

acceptable manipulation is quite clear<br />

in astronomy. The filters we use don’t<br />

approximate to <strong>the</strong> human eye, but<br />

<strong>the</strong> colours we assign must have some<br />

quantitative value. The image has to<br />

reflect some kind <strong>of</strong> truth, even though<br />

it’s not what we would see with <strong>the</strong><br />

naked eye.”<br />

Without this honesty and accuracy,<br />

<strong>the</strong>se images become art ra<strong>the</strong>r than<br />

science and, Dr Catchpole believes, lose<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir power to inspire a new generation<br />

<strong>of</strong> astronauts and astronomers: “These<br />

images are only valuable and inspiring if<br />

you know <strong>the</strong>re is some underlying truth<br />

in <strong>the</strong>m. O<strong>the</strong>rwise we might as well just<br />

colour <strong>the</strong>m in by hand,” he says.


making a diFFerence<br />

Views <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> land<br />

The study and appreciation <strong>of</strong><br />

landscapes – <strong>the</strong>ir past and future<br />

threats – provide a framework for<br />

understanding major challenges<br />

that affect us all ALL piCtUreS exCept Bottom right: Sir CAm<br />

EvERY DAY, PEOPLE ENJOY and connect<br />

with landscapes – both rural and<br />

urban. For staff who live in or close to<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong>, this might involve walking in<br />

<strong>the</strong> Fens, taking a trip to a National Park<br />

or simply cherishing a particular corner <strong>of</strong><br />

a common or wood.<br />

But how many <strong>of</strong> us stop to<br />

consider how a favourite landscape<br />

has been formed, what it says about<br />

<strong>the</strong> generations <strong>of</strong> people who have<br />

managed and shaped it, or what it might<br />

look like in ano<strong>the</strong>r couple <strong>of</strong> centuries?<br />

What impact will <strong>the</strong> effects <strong>of</strong> climate<br />

change and population growth have on<br />

that landscape, on <strong>the</strong> people who live<br />

<strong>the</strong>re and <strong>the</strong> wildlife it sustains? Who<br />

will decide how its historical and cultural<br />

heritage is preserved? To what extent will<br />

<strong>the</strong> public be involved in those decisions?<br />

These are some <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> most<br />

compelling issues <strong>of</strong> our times, and <strong>the</strong>y<br />

Studying <strong>the</strong><br />

landscape’s<br />

features can<br />

reveal glimpses<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lives<br />

<strong>of</strong> those who<br />

have gone<br />

before us<br />

10 september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER<br />

are <strong>the</strong> source <strong>of</strong> much research and<br />

teaching at <strong>Cambridge</strong>, in departments<br />

that include Archaeology, Land Economy,<br />

Geography and Architecture among<br />

o<strong>the</strong>rs.<br />

Studying <strong>the</strong> landscape’s features –<br />

hedges, footpaths, bumps and hollows<br />

– can reveal glimpses <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> lives <strong>of</strong> those<br />

who have gone before us, says Dr Susan<br />

Oosthuizen, <strong>University</strong> Senior Lecturer for<br />

Historic Environment (Landscapes and<br />

Gardens) at <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> Continuing<br />

Education.<br />

Dr Oosthuizen’s research focuses on<br />

<strong>the</strong> attitudes and identities <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people<br />

who worked <strong>the</strong> English countryside<br />

between 400 and 1200 AD – in particular,<br />

what <strong>the</strong> remnants <strong>of</strong> Anglo-Saxon and<br />

medieval field systems reveal about<br />

<strong>the</strong> ways in which people from this<br />

period ran <strong>the</strong>ir lives. The open fields<br />

that existed across central and sou<strong>the</strong>rn<br />

England pre-enclosure – in existence<br />

around <strong>Cambridge</strong>shire until <strong>the</strong> early<br />

19th century – not only enabled <strong>the</strong>m to<br />

make a living, but were also important<br />

places where relationships between<br />

community groups and those in authority<br />

were played out. Because <strong>of</strong> this, says Dr<br />

Oosthuizen, <strong>the</strong> landscape becomes a<br />

mnemonic for understanding <strong>the</strong> social<br />

and cultural values <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people who<br />

lived <strong>the</strong>re.<br />

Such research looks to <strong>the</strong> present<br />

as well as <strong>the</strong> past. “The management <strong>of</strong><br />

farming was substantially consensual.<br />

The work <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> French anthropologist<br />

Pierre Bourdieu demonstrated that <strong>the</strong><br />

transmission <strong>of</strong> such underlying values<br />

from one generation to <strong>the</strong> next could be<br />

ongoing and personal, in just <strong>the</strong> same<br />

way that general attitudes to raising<br />

children, for example, are likely to have<br />

been passed on through <strong>the</strong> generations.


Perhaps <strong>the</strong> tradition <strong>of</strong> consensus in<br />

English culture has a long history?<br />

“The general assumptions<br />

underpinning <strong>the</strong> attitudes that are at<br />

<strong>the</strong> heart <strong>of</strong> our relationships with o<strong>the</strong>r<br />

people tend not to be revealed until <strong>the</strong>y<br />

are challenged by somebody who does<br />

things differently. Cultural diversity is<br />

interesting because it can result in a clash<br />

<strong>of</strong> values which may need to be examined<br />

critically. Where does toleration begin<br />

and end? History and archaeology have<br />

important roles to play in this debate.”<br />

Landscape historians and<br />

archaeologists also have important<br />

contributions to make to <strong>the</strong> debate<br />

about how <strong>the</strong> historic environment<br />

should be preserved – as do members <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> public. Community cohesion, explains<br />

Dr Oosthuizen, includes <strong>the</strong> involvement<br />

<strong>of</strong> citizens in <strong>the</strong> stewardship <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> past.<br />

And if we have a better understanding<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> past, and how it influences us,<br />

<strong>the</strong> better our chances <strong>of</strong> a successful<br />

cultural inheritance for our children and<br />

grandchildren.<br />

The various and competing pressures<br />

on land, its uses and values provide<br />

major challenges to policy-makers<br />

and planners. In March <strong>of</strong> this year, <strong>the</strong><br />

East <strong>of</strong> England Regional Assembly<br />

(now dissolved) published its revised<br />

East <strong>of</strong> England Plan, a blueprint for<br />

tackling <strong>the</strong> area’s housing shortage,<br />

encouraging economic development,<br />

reducing <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> climate change<br />

and constructing a sustainable transport<br />

infrastructure by 2031. By <strong>the</strong>n, <strong>the</strong> area’s<br />

population is expected to have grown to<br />

seven million (from 5.4 million in 2001)<br />

and, if <strong>the</strong> plan’s housing targets are met,<br />

<strong>the</strong> area will see a 40 per cent increase in<br />

<strong>the</strong> number <strong>of</strong> new dwellings being built.<br />

Bill Adams, Moran Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong><br />

AgB fiLmS<br />

main picture: a modern-day<br />

fen landscape just north <strong>of</strong><br />

reach, <strong>Cambridge</strong>shire<br />

Small pictures, top:<br />

a fingerpost at fulbourn,<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong>shire – english<br />

heritage has called on local<br />

authorities to retain and repair<br />

<strong>the</strong>se distinctive rural and<br />

suburban features<br />

middle: <strong>the</strong> roman road on<br />

<strong>the</strong> gog magog Downs<br />

Bottom: robert macfarlane,<br />

<strong>University</strong> Lecturer in english<br />

and author, in his film The Wild<br />

Places <strong>of</strong> Essex, which explores<br />

<strong>the</strong> county’s varied rural and<br />

urban landscapes<br />

Conservation in <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong><br />

Geography, wonders what kind <strong>of</strong> new<br />

landscapes this surge <strong>of</strong> development<br />

will create, and what it will take to make<br />

it work. “These plans are primarily about<br />

bricks and mortar, but just as important<br />

are <strong>the</strong> ecological and material flows<br />

such as energy, water and car travel<br />

surrounding <strong>the</strong>m,” he says.<br />

“In Britain we have become good at<br />

protecting beautiful rural landscapes, but<br />

we do not see clearly <strong>the</strong> connections to<br />

<strong>the</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r landscapes that supply <strong>the</strong>m:<br />

<strong>the</strong> motorways, shopping malls and retail<br />

parks. We see <strong>the</strong> beautiful thatched<br />

cottage, but not <strong>the</strong> commuter’s four-byfour<br />

in <strong>the</strong> driveway.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Adams, whose research<br />

focuses on relations between society<br />

and nature, says that people’s cultural<br />

and spiritual values <strong>of</strong> land also tend to<br />

get overlooked in landscape and nature<br />

conservation. Western ideas about what<br />

is ‘wild’ or ‘beautiful’, for example, <strong>of</strong>ten<br />

have little or no meaning to indigenous<br />

communities in developing countries.<br />

“The Serengeti is <strong>of</strong>ten referred to as<br />

one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> world’s great wilderness areas,<br />

but <strong>the</strong> moment you start talking about<br />

it in those terms, you turn its people into<br />

interlopers. And if <strong>the</strong>re is anywhere not<br />

likely to be a wilderness it is <strong>the</strong> African<br />

continent after millennia <strong>of</strong> human<br />

occupation. After all we evolved <strong>the</strong>re.”<br />

History, archaeology, planning,<br />

conservation… <strong>the</strong>y all approach<br />

land and its uses in different ways.<br />

continued on page 14<br />

personal connections<br />

UNIvERSITY LECTURER in English and Fellow <strong>of</strong> Emmanuel<br />

Robert Macfarlane (pictured above) has written about <strong>the</strong> allure<br />

<strong>of</strong> British landscapes in his book The Wild Places.<br />

He believes that many <strong>of</strong> us have a desire to connect with, and<br />

store our experiences <strong>of</strong>, <strong>the</strong> natural world – even if we struggle<br />

to put <strong>the</strong>m into words. “The British find it embarrassingly easy<br />

to express affection for beloved pets, and formidably difficult to<br />

express affection for beloved landscapes,” he says.<br />

“This is partly because we lack a widely available language<br />

for articulating <strong>the</strong> pleasure we receive from encountering and<br />

re-encountering certain trees, or <strong>the</strong> junction <strong>of</strong> four fields, or<br />

watching a wren thread through a bush. Such events are at once<br />

radiantly specific and vaguely generic. So it is that many people<br />

store <strong>the</strong>se encounters away as memories that will be returned to<br />

privately in later life.<br />

“That said, <strong>the</strong> need to express a personal connection with<br />

nature finds its outlets in poetry, painting, drawing, photography,<br />

gardening and blog-keeping, to give only a few examples, as well<br />

as in postcards, letters and phone-calls to friends and family. Such<br />

informal expressions <strong>of</strong> intimacy fascinate me.”<br />

september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER | 11


prizes, aWards and honours<br />

Queen’s birthday honours 2010<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essor colin Humphreys, Director<br />

<strong>of</strong> Research in <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong><br />

Materials Science and Metallurgy, has<br />

been awarded a knighthood for services<br />

to Science. A Fellow <strong>of</strong> Selwyn, Sir Colin<br />

founded and directs <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong><br />

Centre for Gallium Nitride, which is<br />

developing energy-efficient lighting that<br />

would enable <strong>the</strong> Uk to close, or not<br />

build, eight power stations if adopted<br />

widely.<br />

Using similar technology, he is also<br />

researching a new way to purify water<br />

in <strong>the</strong> developing and developed<br />

worlds, and to kill hospital superbugs.<br />

He founded and directs <strong>the</strong> Rolls-Royce<br />

<strong>University</strong> Technology Partnership in<br />

Advanced Materials at <strong>Cambridge</strong>, which<br />

is developing next-generation materials<br />

for Rolls-Royce jet engines to make <strong>the</strong>m<br />

o<strong>the</strong>r awards<br />

➔ Dr Gerry Kearns, <strong>University</strong> Senior<br />

Lecturer and Fellow <strong>of</strong> Jesus, was<br />

honoured in <strong>the</strong> Royal Geographical<br />

Society’s annual Royal Medals and awards<br />

ceremony. Dr kearns won <strong>the</strong> Murchison<br />

Award “for publications in historical<br />

geography”. He was joined by <strong>Cambridge</strong><br />

student lucy stapleton, co-winner <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Alfred Steers Dissertation Prize for<br />

<strong>the</strong> best undergraduate Geography<br />

dissertation in 2009.<br />

➔ pr<strong>of</strong>essor robin irvine has been<br />

awarded <strong>the</strong> 2010 JR vane Medal from<br />

<strong>the</strong> British Pharmacological Society (BPS).<br />

The medal recognises his outstanding<br />

work in <strong>the</strong> field <strong>of</strong> molecular, cellular and<br />

signaling pharmacology. The presentation<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prize will be made at <strong>the</strong> BPS<br />

annual dinner and prizegiving ceremony,<br />

to be held in December in London.<br />

➔ Dr andrea Ferrari, Head <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Nanomaterials and Spectroscopy Group<br />

in <strong>the</strong> Electrical Engineering Division<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Engineering, has<br />

been awarded a Royal Society Wolfson<br />

Research Merit Award by <strong>the</strong> Royal<br />

Society, <strong>the</strong> Uk’s national academy <strong>of</strong><br />

science. The award is given to individuals<br />

<strong>of</strong> proven outstanding ability to<br />

undertake independent, original research.<br />

➔ pr<strong>of</strong>essor sir John meurig thomas,<br />

is to give <strong>the</strong> Gerhard Ertl Prize Lecture<br />

at <strong>the</strong> Fritz-Haber Institute Berlin in<br />

December.<br />

➔ Dr andy Harter has won a prestigious<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essor Colin humphreys<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essor A<strong>the</strong>ne Donald<br />

Royal Academy <strong>of</strong> Engineering Silver<br />

Medal. Dr Harter, who is Chief Executive<br />

Officer <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong>-based s<strong>of</strong>tware<br />

company RealvNC Ltd and visiting Fellow<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Computer Laboratory’s Digital<br />

Technology Group, received <strong>the</strong> award<br />

for his outstanding contribution to British<br />

engineering. He is perhaps most notably<br />

responsible for virtual Networking<br />

Computing, a s<strong>of</strong>tware system invented<br />

in 1995 that provides remote graphical<br />

access to a computer screen.<br />

➔ pr<strong>of</strong>essor philip Gibbard, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

<strong>of</strong> Quaternary Palaeoenvironments in <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Geography, was awarded<br />

an honorary doctorate degree by <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> Helsinki. This is <strong>the</strong> highest<br />

honour <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> can bestow.<br />

➔ Dr bertie Gottgens, Reader<br />

in Molecular Haematology in <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Haematology, has been<br />

awarded <strong>the</strong> McCulloch and Till Award<br />

by <strong>the</strong> International Society for Stem<br />

Cells and Hematology. The award is given<br />

annually to <strong>the</strong> most promising younger<br />

group leader worldwide in stem cell and<br />

haematology research.<br />

➔ barbara J sahakian, Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

<strong>of</strong> Clinical Neuropsychology at <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Psychiatry, has been given<br />

<strong>the</strong> 2010 Senior Investigator Award by<br />

<strong>the</strong> International College <strong>of</strong> Geriatric<br />

Psychoneuropharmacology (ICGP)<br />

for her outstanding contribution over<br />

many years to translational cognitive<br />

psychopharmacology and <strong>the</strong> study <strong>of</strong><br />

emotional and behavioural dysfunction.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Sahakian is due to receive <strong>the</strong><br />

12 | september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER<br />

more energy efficient. He has received<br />

many national and international medals<br />

for his research, has been President <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> Materials, Minerals and<br />

Mining, and is a Fellow <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Royal<br />

Academy <strong>of</strong> Engineering. He has recently<br />

been appointed Master <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Armourers<br />

and Brasiers’ Company in London,<br />

in addition to his o<strong>the</strong>r activities. He<br />

received a CBE from <strong>the</strong> Queen in 2003.<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essor a<strong>the</strong>ne Donald, Deputy Head<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Cavendish Laboratory and Director<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Women in Science, Engineering<br />

and Technology Initiative (WiSETI),<br />

has been appointed Dame Commander<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British Empire (DBE) for services<br />

to Physics.<br />

Dame A<strong>the</strong>ne, a Fellow <strong>of</strong> Robinson,<br />

has worked at <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s Cavendish<br />

award this month at <strong>the</strong> ICGP Annual<br />

Meeting in A<strong>the</strong>ns.<br />

➔ pr<strong>of</strong>essor clare Grey, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Chemistry, has been<br />

awarded <strong>the</strong> John Jeyes Award by<br />

<strong>the</strong> Royal Society <strong>of</strong> Chemistry “in<br />

recognition <strong>of</strong> her world leadership role<br />

in <strong>the</strong> use <strong>of</strong> solid-state NMR methods<br />

to study structure and function in<br />

inorganic materials, and specifically for<br />

<strong>the</strong> development and application <strong>of</strong><br />

novel NMR methods to study structure<br />

and dynamics in lithium licals and<br />

manufacture”.<br />

➔ pr<strong>of</strong>essor alastair compston, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Clinical Neurosciences, is<br />

<strong>the</strong> joint recipient <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> 2010 Zülch Prize,<br />

<strong>the</strong> most prestigious scientific distinction<br />

in basic neurological research in Germany.<br />

Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Compston and Pr<strong>of</strong>essor Hans<br />

Lassmann <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> vienna<br />

received <strong>the</strong> award for scientific research<br />

on <strong>the</strong> pathophysiology and <strong>the</strong>rapy <strong>of</strong><br />

multiple sclerosis.<br />

➔ Dr barbara lorber <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong><br />

Centre for Brain Repair has received an<br />

Early Career Investigator Award from<br />

eye research charity Fight for Sight.<br />

Dr Lorber is researching <strong>the</strong> possibilities<br />

<strong>of</strong> transplanting specialist cells into <strong>the</strong><br />

eye and optic nerve to repair <strong>the</strong> damage<br />

caused by glaucoma.<br />

➔ Dr steve morris has received <strong>the</strong><br />

British Liquid Crystal Society Young<br />

Scientist <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Year award. Dr Morris is<br />

a researcher in <strong>the</strong> Centre <strong>of</strong> Molecular<br />

Materials for Photonics and Electronics<br />

at <strong>the</strong> Department.<br />

Laboratory since 1983 and was elected to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Royal Society in 1999.<br />

Her current research lies at <strong>the</strong><br />

interface <strong>of</strong> Physics and Biology, working<br />

on problems associated with protein<br />

aggregation and cellular biophysics.<br />

She has been responsible for building<br />

up this activity within <strong>the</strong> department<br />

and nationally, being <strong>the</strong> founding<br />

chair <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> Physics Group in<br />

Biological Physics. This summer she won<br />

<strong>the</strong> Faraday Medal from <strong>the</strong> institute for<br />

outstanding contribution to experimental<br />

physics.<br />

In 2009 she was awarded <strong>the</strong> L’Oreal/<br />

UNESCO Women in Science Award for<br />

Europe in recognition <strong>of</strong> this work. She<br />

has received numerous o<strong>the</strong>r prizes<br />

during her career, including <strong>the</strong> Bakerian<br />

Prize Lecture <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Royal Society in 2006.<br />

Dr gerry Kearns<br />

pr<strong>of</strong>essor robin irvine<br />

Dr Andrea ferrari


pilkington prizes<br />

Twelve <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>University</strong>’s best teaching<br />

talents have been honoured at <strong>the</strong> annual<br />

Pilkington Prizes awards ceremony.<br />

This year, prizes have gone to<br />

individuals who have pioneered<br />

new methods <strong>of</strong> learning, who have<br />

made outstanding contributions to<br />

outreach work, and who have shown an<br />

extraordinary capacity to connect with<br />

and inspire students. All are linked by<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir commitment to teaching <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

highest quality.<br />

The prizewinners, who received <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

awards from vice-Chancellor Pr<strong>of</strong>essor<br />

Dame Alison Richard during a reception<br />

at Cripps Court, Magdalene, are:<br />

Dr Julia Davies, Senior Lecturer at <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Plant Sciences; Dr mark<br />

elliott, Senior Lecturer in <strong>the</strong> Faculty <strong>of</strong><br />

Law and Fellow <strong>of</strong> St Catharine’s;<br />

Dr John Firth, Associate Clinical Dean <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> School <strong>of</strong> Clinical Medicine, Fellow<br />

<strong>of</strong> Wolfson and Consultant Nephrologist;<br />

Dr simon Guest, Reader in Structural<br />

Mechanics at <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong><br />

Engineering and Fellow <strong>of</strong> Trinity Hall;<br />

Dr richard Harrison, Lecturer in <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> Earth Sciences and<br />

Fellow <strong>of</strong> St Catharine’s; Dr mark<br />

lillicrap, Associate Clinical Dean at <strong>the</strong><br />

School <strong>of</strong> Clinical Medicine; Dr simon<br />

moore, Reader in Computer Architecture<br />

at <strong>the</strong> Computer Laboratory and Fellow<br />

<strong>of</strong> Trinity Hall; Dr Helen mott, Assistant<br />

Director <strong>of</strong> Research at <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong><br />

Biochemistry and Fellow <strong>of</strong> Gonville and<br />

Caius; pr<strong>of</strong>essor simon schaffer, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Department <strong>of</strong> History and Philosophy <strong>of</strong><br />

Science and a Fellow <strong>of</strong> Darwin; Dr rob<br />

Wallach, <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> Material<br />

Sciences and Metallurgy and a Fellow<br />

<strong>of</strong> king’s; Dr Joachim Whaley, Senior<br />

Lecturer at <strong>the</strong> Department <strong>of</strong> German<br />

and Dutch and Fellow <strong>of</strong> Gonville and<br />

Caius; and Dr Hallvard lillehammer,<br />

Senior Lecturer at <strong>the</strong> Faculty <strong>of</strong><br />

Philosophy.<br />

The Pilkington Teaching Prizes were<br />

established in 1994 by businessman and<br />

alumnus <strong>of</strong> Trinity Sir Alastair Pilkington.<br />

Above: this year’s pilkington<br />

prizewinners with <strong>the</strong> Vice-<br />

Chancellor and high Steward<br />

Lord watson <strong>of</strong> richmond<br />

september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER | 13<br />

MIkE CAMERON


making a diFFerence<br />

continued from page 11<br />

But to what extent are <strong>the</strong>se viewpoints<br />

coordinated for <strong>the</strong> wider benefit <strong>of</strong><br />

society?<br />

Dr Gloria Pungetti, Research Director<br />

at <strong>the</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong> Centre for Landscape<br />

and People, believes that more could<br />

be done to promote a holistic and<br />

interdisciplinary approach to <strong>the</strong><br />

study <strong>of</strong>, and dialogue surrounding,<br />

landscapes. The CCLP works to achieve<br />

this, disseminating research, organising<br />

workshops and courses, and making<br />

recommendations to governments, NGOs<br />

and policy-makers.<br />

A recent research project, Eucaland,<br />

brought toge<strong>the</strong>r 40 organisations from<br />

across 20 countries to consider <strong>the</strong><br />

different types <strong>of</strong> European agricultural<br />

landscapes – <strong>the</strong>ir history, points <strong>of</strong><br />

difference and similarity, <strong>the</strong> cultural and<br />

social meaning <strong>the</strong>y have for various<br />

people, and how <strong>the</strong>y can be managed<br />

sustainably in <strong>the</strong> future.<br />

“Sustainability means to preserve<br />

both <strong>the</strong> natural and cultural heritage<br />

<strong>of</strong> our landscapes. Healthy ecological<br />

landscapes are crucial for nature<br />

conservation, and <strong>the</strong> enjoyment and<br />

appreciation <strong>of</strong> landscapes are important<br />

for people’s wellbeing,” she says.<br />

“It is also important that <strong>the</strong>se<br />

issues are properly communicated –<br />

to governments, those who formulate<br />

policy and to members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public –<br />

if we want to achieve a sound balance<br />

between landscape conservation and<br />

development.”<br />

obituarY<br />

robin mat<strong>the</strong>ws, Emeritus Pr<strong>of</strong>essor <strong>of</strong> Political<br />

Economy and Master <strong>of</strong> Clare from 1975 to 1993,<br />

has died at <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> 83.<br />

Find out more<br />

➔ « For more information<br />

about landscape and<br />

garden history courses<br />

at <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong><br />

Continuing Education,<br />

visit http://www.ice.<br />

cam.ac.uk/courses/<br />

subjects<br />

➔ To book for Dr<br />

Oosthuizen’s lectures<br />

and walk (see box<br />

right), phone (01223)<br />

746217 or email<br />

ccd337@cam.ac.uk.<br />

➔ The Festival <strong>of</strong> Ideas’<br />

website is at http://<br />

www.admin.cam.ac.uk/<br />

whatson/ideasfestival/<br />

14 | september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER<br />

maKinG an impact<br />

STAFF AND THEIR FAMILIES can learn<br />

more about <strong>the</strong> history <strong>of</strong> landscapes<br />

and gardens through a number<br />

<strong>of</strong> courses run by <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong><br />

Continuing Education.<br />

The institute enrols more than<br />

10,000 students a year, and plays<br />

a key role in linking education and<br />

research, and in <strong>the</strong> transfer <strong>of</strong><br />

knowledge to wider society. Dr Susan<br />

Oosthuizen also organises a series<br />

<strong>of</strong> one-day Historic Environment<br />

Research Conferences through <strong>the</strong><br />

McDonald Institute for Archaeological<br />

Research. These bring toge<strong>the</strong>r<br />

leading experts in historic landscapes,<br />

parks and gardens to discuss new and<br />

unpublished research, and provide an<br />

Robert Charles Oliver (‘Robin’) Mat<strong>the</strong>ws was<br />

born in Edinburgh on 16 June 1927 and educated<br />

at Edinburgh Academy. He went up to Oxford to<br />

study Classics and PPE at Corpus Christi College,<br />

before becoming a student at Nuffield College for a<br />

year, and <strong>the</strong>n Lecturer at Merton College. In 1950<br />

he moved to <strong>Cambridge</strong>, to take up a lectureship<br />

in <strong>the</strong> Faculty <strong>of</strong> Economics and a Fellowship <strong>of</strong> St<br />

John’s. He was lured back to Oxford in 1965 with <strong>the</strong><br />

Drummond Pr<strong>of</strong>essorship <strong>of</strong> Political Economy and<br />

a Fellowship <strong>of</strong> All Souls, before returning, finally,<br />

to <strong>Cambridge</strong> in 1975 to become Master <strong>of</strong> Clare.<br />

In 1980 he was appointed to <strong>the</strong> chair <strong>of</strong> Political<br />

Economy at <strong>Cambridge</strong>, a post he held until 1991.<br />

He continued as Master <strong>of</strong> Clare for ano<strong>the</strong>r two<br />

years, retiring in 1993.<br />

Robin Mat<strong>the</strong>ws was recognised as one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

leading economists <strong>of</strong> his generation. Among his<br />

many public appointments, he served as chair <strong>of</strong><br />

Devil’s Dyke at reach<br />

opportunity for members <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> public<br />

to engage with this work.<br />

Dr Oosthuizen will also be<br />

appearing at this year’s Festival <strong>of</strong><br />

Ideas, which runs from 20-31 October.<br />

She will give lectures on ‘Greens<br />

and commons in <strong>the</strong> landscape’<br />

and ‘The archaeology <strong>of</strong> gardens’<br />

(20 and 27 October respectively,<br />

6pm at <strong>the</strong> Institute <strong>of</strong> Continuing<br />

Education, Madingley Hall) as<br />

well as lead ‘Finding a medieval<br />

village in <strong>the</strong> modern landscape’, a<br />

guided walk on 29 October around<br />

Burwell, <strong>Cambridge</strong>shire, that uses<br />

buildings, ditches, banks and roads to<br />

reconstruct <strong>the</strong> medieval landscape<br />

and how it was used.<br />

<strong>the</strong> Social Science Research Council, chairman<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> academic panel <strong>of</strong> consultants set up by<br />

<strong>the</strong> Bank <strong>of</strong> England, a trustee <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Nuffield<br />

Foundation, and a member <strong>of</strong> an Organisation for<br />

Economic Co-operation and Development group<br />

<strong>of</strong> expert economists. His publications included<br />

A Study in Trade Cycle History and <strong>the</strong> magisterial<br />

British Economic Growth 1856–1973. He was<br />

elected to a Fellowship <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> British Academy<br />

in 1968.<br />

As Master <strong>of</strong> Clare, Robin Mat<strong>the</strong>ws was a<br />

strong supporter <strong>of</strong> co-education, and an<br />

enthusiastic champion <strong>of</strong> student rights<br />

and student opinion. He presided over <strong>the</strong><br />

successful fundraising campaign to build a new<br />

undergraduate library and <strong>the</strong> expansion <strong>of</strong><br />

student accommodation at Clare’s ‘Colony’.<br />

He died in <strong>Cambridge</strong> on 19 June 2010, three<br />

days after his 83rd birthday.<br />

Sir CAm


adVertisements<br />

Advertising on this page is open to <strong>University</strong> staff. The cost is £15 for a single insertion or £75 for six insertions.<br />

The deadline for <strong>the</strong> November/December issue is 1 October. Send your copy – no longer than 70 words – to <strong>the</strong> Editor at<br />

newsletter@admin.cam.ac.uk<br />

houses to rent (uk)<br />

➔ cornwall<br />

Traditional granite cottage in<br />

peaceful countryside between<br />

St Ives and Penzance. Sleeps five in<br />

three bedrooms, with comfortable<br />

sitting room, kitchen-breakfast<br />

room and bathroom. Sunny garden<br />

and <strong>of</strong>f-road parking. Close to<br />

beaches and coves, coastal path,<br />

sub-tropical gardens, historic<br />

properties. Details and photos at<br />

www.tinminerscottage.co.uk.<br />

Contact Penny Barton on pb29@<br />

cam.ac.uk or 01638 507192.<br />

➔ arran, scotland<br />

Holiday let on <strong>the</strong> Isle <strong>of</strong> Arran with<br />

easy links from Glasgow. Available<br />

all-year round. Recently refurbished<br />

four-bed house on seafront with<br />

views <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Holy Isle, sleeps six.<br />

Cycle routes and forestry tracks a<br />

short walk from <strong>the</strong> house, with<br />

mountaineering, horse riding and<br />

sailing available on <strong>the</strong> island.<br />

Email km511@medschl.cam.ac.uk.<br />

Details at http://www.cottagesand-castles.co.uk/property/view/accomodation-cottages-lamlashmarine-villa-ar058.html.<br />

➔ nairn, scotland<br />

Traditional Highland cottage<br />

refurbished to a very high standard<br />

six miles from Nairn on <strong>the</strong> Moray<br />

Firth. Sleeps four, with one twin<br />

and one double bedroom. Modern<br />

shower room, open-plan kitchen/<br />

living room with washing machine,<br />

dishwasher, LCD Tv and iPod/radio.<br />

Conservatory overlooks open fields<br />

and woodlands. Secluded gardens<br />

with BBQ and chairs. Quiet location<br />

but easy access to Inverness and<br />

Cairngorms with castles and<br />

superb beaches nearby. Email<br />

brackenhaugh@yahoo.co.uk.<br />

➔ cambridge<br />

Modern three-bedroom house<br />

to let in <strong>the</strong> north <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong>.<br />

Would suit three people sharing<br />

or pr<strong>of</strong>essional family. Available<br />

September 2010. City councilaccredited,<br />

energy efficiency rating<br />

<strong>of</strong> C (71) with gas condensing<br />

boiler. Large lounge diner, fully<br />

equipped kitchen, new bathroom<br />

and separate shower. Off-road<br />

parking, on main bus route or short<br />

cycle ride to city centre. £1,050 per<br />

calendar month in advance, deposit<br />

and references required. Email<br />

johnstevenholt@yahoo.co.uk.<br />

➔ butley, suffolk<br />

Comfortable, spacious, well<br />

equipped cottage with piano<br />

in Butley, Suffolk. Available for<br />

Aldeburgh Festival, weekends<br />

and short breaks throughout <strong>the</strong><br />

year. Close to Orford, Sutton Hoo,<br />

Snape and Minsmere. Sleeps up to<br />

eight. More information at www.<br />

butleycottage.co.uk. Contact<br />

Miranda on 01223 357035 or info@<br />

butleycottage.co.uk.<br />

➔ north Yorkshire moors<br />

Low Mill, Farndale, with sitting<br />

room, dining rooms, playroom,<br />

kitchen, four bedrooms, two<br />

bathrooms and garden with lovely<br />

views. Sleeps seven, all mod cons.<br />

Fabulous walks in all directions.<br />

Near Rievaulx, Castle Howard,<br />

Runswick Bay. £380 a week.<br />

Contact Horace or Miranda Barlow<br />

on 01223 366618/333867 or email<br />

hbb10@cam.ac.uk.<br />

houses to rent (oVerseas)<br />

➔ argaka, cyprus<br />

Four bedroom, air-conditioned<br />

family home with swimming pool.<br />

Escape <strong>the</strong> hustle and bustle <strong>of</strong><br />

over-commercialised resorts to<br />

<strong>the</strong> rural village <strong>of</strong> Argaka. For a<br />

taste <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> real Cyprus, dine in <strong>the</strong><br />

tavernas where <strong>the</strong> local villagers<br />

congregate. Argaka is <strong>the</strong> ideal base<br />

for exploring <strong>the</strong> Akamas peninsula,<br />

an area <strong>of</strong> outstanding natural<br />

beauty. Latsi and Pomos are a short<br />

drive away along quiet roads.<br />

Contact vanessa White on 01223<br />

332227 or email vjw22@admin.<br />

cam.ac.uk.<br />

➔ châtel, France<br />

Apartment in Châtel, France, for<br />

holiday rental. Châtel is a friendly<br />

unspoilt village, and a great base for<br />

walking, touring and skiing. Thirty<br />

minutes drive from Evian – visit<br />

Geneva, Annecy or Lausanne for<br />

<strong>the</strong> day. Apartment ideal for two<br />

to four adults or two adults and<br />

three children. Double-bedroom<br />

downstairs, separable twin beds<br />

on mezzanine upstairs. West-facing<br />

balcony, unobstructed views<br />

overlooking valley and small lake.<br />

For more information email Bob<br />

Skelton at rls1000@cam.ac.uk<br />

➔ provence, France<br />

Large, comfortable flat in famous<br />

‘Côte Bleue’ resort <strong>of</strong> Carry-le-<br />

Rouet, close to <strong>the</strong> Camargue and<br />

Marseilles. Seafront, beach and<br />

coves within 100 metres. Excellent<br />

for swimming, snorkelling, scuba<br />

diving, sailing, walking and cycling.<br />

Close to all Provençal places <strong>of</strong><br />

interest. Twenty minutes from<br />

Marseilles airport and 30 minutes<br />

from Marseilles TGv station. Sleeps<br />

six comfortably. Private parking.<br />

WIFI network. Email Anita Ogier on<br />

ao10001@cam.ac.uk.<br />

➔ provence, France<br />

villa to let in pine woods near <strong>the</strong><br />

13th-century Cistercian Abbey <strong>of</strong><br />

Le Thoronet. About one hour by<br />

road from Marseille or Nice. Three<br />

bedrooms, shower room, bathroom,<br />

two kitchens, large living room<br />

opening onto terrace, garage and<br />

central heating. Short-term let €250<br />

per week, reduced rates for longer<br />

stay. Email dgubb@cicbiogune.es or<br />

phone 0034 94 615 4957 (evenings<br />

and weekends).<br />

➔ cracow, poland<br />

Studio apartment in a modern<br />

block <strong>of</strong> flats with 24-hour security,<br />

gym and sauna. Central location,<br />

convenient for sightseeing,<br />

restaurants and entertainment.<br />

Sleeps two. Available August and<br />

September. £30 per week, longer<br />

lets negotiable. Phone Maria<br />

Crossland on 07861498139 or<br />

01223 277041.<br />

➔ cevennes, France<br />

Mediterranean climate, dramatic<br />

mountain scenery, superb walking/<br />

river-swimming. Roman Provence/<br />

Rhône and Languedoc vineyards.<br />

Two spacious, refurbished, entirely<br />

independent apartments with<br />

central heating and covered<br />

terraces near Mont Lozere sleeping<br />

eight and up to six respectively.<br />

Shady gardens, boulodrome,<br />

barbecue, quiet hamlet, near shops<br />

and markets. Available separately<br />

but particularly suitable for groups<br />

holidaying toge<strong>the</strong>r. From £280 per<br />

week. Easy access via trains and<br />

budget airlines. For fur<strong>the</strong>r details<br />

phone (01527) 541360.<br />

➔ amalfi coast, italy<br />

Small bed and breakfast in peaceful,<br />

traffic-free mountain village above<br />

Positano. All rooms are ensuite<br />

with panoramic sea views <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

Amalfi coast. Good base for walks<br />

in all directions. English speaking<br />

host. Double room and breakfast<br />

50 euros per night. easyJet flights<br />

to Naples from Stansted. Photos<br />

and fur<strong>the</strong>r information available.<br />

Contact Penny Marrone on 01954<br />

210681 or email Penny.Marrone@<br />

btinternet.com.<br />

➔ algarve, portugal<br />

Spacious, family owned apartment<br />

sleeps up to five in idyllic village.<br />

Private patio and ro<strong>of</strong> terrace with<br />

shared pools. Picturesque beach<br />

five minutes walk. Restaurants<br />

within village. Tennis, golf, water<br />

parks and shopping close by. Faro<br />

airport 45 minutes. Stunning and<br />

quiet location. Short and long<br />

breaks available. visit www.holidayhome-rentals.co.uk,<br />

property 4995,<br />

email Helen.floto@gmail.com or<br />

phone 01954 267291.<br />

➔ nice, France<br />

Quiet apartment near <strong>the</strong><br />

Promenade des Anglais and city<br />

centre. It is in <strong>the</strong> ‘Musicians’ area’<br />

on <strong>the</strong> fourth floor, accessed<br />

by lift. Sleeps two, with living<br />

room, bedroom with double bed,<br />

separate, fully equipped kitchen,<br />

modern bathroom, separate w/c,<br />

small balconies front and back. Price<br />

per week, including linen, £350<br />

October to March, £400 April, May,<br />

September, £450 June to August.<br />

Email Robin Spence on rjs2@cam.<br />

ac.uk or phone 07808 932943.<br />

serVices<br />

➔ Wills at home<br />

Will writing and probate services<br />

arranged in <strong>the</strong> comfort <strong>of</strong> your<br />

home at your convenience. We will<br />

visit you and take care to ensure<br />

you are fully satisfied with our fast,<br />

friendly and efficient legal services.<br />

Single will £80, joint will £140. Ten<br />

per cent discount for senior citizens.<br />

Free £5 Marks & Spencer voucher<br />

for each successful referral. Log on<br />

to www.willsathome2009.co.uk,<br />

email willsathome2009@gmail.com<br />

or call 07738 756685.<br />

➔ Graphic design<br />

Independent graphic designer<br />

with many years experience in<br />

publishing, marketing and print<br />

design seeks someone who<br />

would benefit from my creative<br />

and innovative design. Posters,<br />

brochures, leaflets, advertising,<br />

logo identity, branding, exhibition<br />

design and more. Contact Geraldine<br />

Woods by phone on 01223<br />

571029/07963 345724 or email on<br />

geraldinemwoods@gmail.com.<br />

Volunteer<br />

cambridge<br />

design<br />

studio<br />

The <strong>Cambridge</strong> BioResource<br />

is a volunteer panel based at<br />

Addenbrooke’s Hospital. Anyone<br />

over <strong>the</strong> age <strong>of</strong> 16 who lives,<br />

works or studies within 25 miles<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong> is welcome to join.<br />

Joining involves completing some<br />

study paperwork and providing<br />

a small blood or saliva sample.<br />

Based on your genetic make-up<br />

you may be invited to participate<br />

in various studies. For more details<br />

phone 01223 769 215, email cbr@<br />

cambridgebioresource.org.uk or<br />

log on to www.cambridgebio<br />

resource.org.uk.<br />

more aDverts<br />

including those for<br />

accommodation and<br />

car-sharing, appear at http://<br />

forum.cam.ac.uk/. <strong>the</strong>re is<br />

also a discussion forum on<br />

<strong>University</strong> governance.<br />

Designs that comply<br />

with <strong>the</strong> identity<br />

guidelines <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

<strong>University</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cambridge</strong><br />

info@cambridgedesignstudio.org<br />

www.cambridgedesignstudio.org<br />

september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER | 15


For fur<strong>the</strong>r information please contact:<br />

The Events Office<br />

The Pitt Building<br />

Trumpington Street<br />

<strong>Cambridge</strong> CB2 1RP<br />

Telephone: (01223) 330807<br />

Email: pittbuilding@cambridge.org<br />

16 september/october 2010 | UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE NEwSlETTER<br />

P<br />

<strong>the</strong> pitt<br />

building<br />

… a conference centre <strong>of</strong> distinction<br />

in central <strong>Cambridge</strong><br />

Videoconferencing now available<br />

P <strong>University</strong> discounts available<br />

P Extensively and purposefully refurbished<br />

P Flexible conference and meeting room facilities<br />

accommodating 2 to 250 people<br />

P Syndicate rooms seating 10 to 15 delegates<br />

P Magnificent executive suite seating 24 people<br />

P Year-round availability<br />

P Complimentary WiFi access throughout<br />

P Tailored and creative food service<br />

www.cambridge.org/pittbuilding

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