College bulletin: 24 June
After a wonderfully busy May Week, congratulations to everyone who made it to the end of term.
St John’s Giving Day is running until 9pm today, and we have graduation to go, so there is still plenty more to celebrate.
It’s farewell from the College Bulletin team for now, but do keep us updated with your news, we will continue to share them across our communication channels, and we look forward to welcoming our new and returning students back to College in Michaelmas Term.
College news
New Acting Vice-Chancellor announced as Honorary Fellow at St John’s
Dr Anthony Freeling, the incoming Acting Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge, has been elected to an Honorary Fellowship at St John’s College.
Postgraduates recognised for outstanding work in fields of Computer Science, Education and Physics
Three researchers from St John’s have been awarded top academic prizes for excellence in their PhD studies.
From rap star to student
Ten years ago Niyi Adelakun, a successful rapper and DJ, left his music career behind to study at St John’s. Now doing a PhD in Education, he has rediscovered his voice and his place in the world.
Fit for a Queen
In 2022, Her Majesty The Queen has become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years on the throne. To mark the historic reign of Queen Elizabeth II, we look at the Royal welcome St John’s has given to various members of the monarchy during the College’s first half a millennium.
The medical student who is a real high-flyer
Meet final-year St John's student doctor Adil Lakha, who is an RAF Officer Cadet with Cambridge University Air Squadron.
Cracking the Cretan code
Dr Ester Salgarella, a Junior Research Fellow at St John’s, has had an essay published in Aeon magazine on her work in deciphering Linear A, an ancient Minoan script. Can linguistic analysis unlock its meaning?
Other news
Memorial plaque unveiled in President’s Garden
A plaque has been placed at the foot of a cherry tree in the President’s Garden in memory of Professor Robert Hinde, a Fellow and former Master of St John's College, who died in December 2016 at the age of 93.
Professor Hinde was an Emeritus Royal Society Research Professor in the Department of Zoology at the University of Cambridge, with a long and distinguished career as a zoologist, ethologist and psychologist. He studied for his undergraduate degree at St John’s, later became a Fellow, and was Master of the College from 1989-1994.
His widow Joan Stevenson-Hinde and three of his children, Camilla, Jonathan and Kate, are pictured below at yesterday’s memorial plaque ceremony with Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s College, and David Austrin, Head Gardener.
Honorary degree awarded to Professor Sir Roger Penrose
Professor Sir Roger Penrose, an alumnus and Honorary Fellow of St John’s, has been awarded an honorary degree from the University of Cambridge.
The mathematical physicist and philosopher of science was one of 10 distinguished guests who gathered to receive their honorary degrees at the Senate House on Wednesday 22 June. The conferment of honorary degrees is one of the highest accolades the University can bestow upon people who have made outstanding achievements in their respective fields.
Sir Roger studied Mathematics at University College London before coming to St John’s to complete a PhD on tensor methods in algebraic geometry. He is now Rouse Ball Professor of Mathematics Emeritus in the University of Oxford. Knighted and appointed to the Order of Merit, Sir Roger was a joint winner of the Nobel Prize for Physics.
Heather Hancock, Master of St John’s College, is pictured celebrating with Sir Roger on Wednesday.
New Fellows announced
Professor Laura Diaz Anadon, Professor of Climate Change Policy in the Department of Land Economy, will take up a Fellowship at St John’s on 1 July 2022 having been elected to a Fellowship under Title C in September 2021.
Dr Nicholas Lane, Associate Professor in Machine Learning in the Department of Computer Science and Technology, has been elected to a Fellowship under Title B at St John’s from 1 October 2022.
During 2021-22 Professor Anadon has been a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University. She is a Lead Author in the 6th Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Working Group III on Climate Change Mitigation, and member of the European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change. In Cambridge, she is Director of the Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance.
Dr Lane is a co-founding Director at the Samsung Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre in Cambridge and has extensive experience working with Microsoft and other tech companies since graduating from Waikato University in New Zealand and gaining an M.Eng. and PhD at Cornell University and Dartmouth College in the USA. His research focuses on the design, architecture and algorithms of scalable and robust end-to-end machine learning systems. He has recently been appointed to a newly established Professorship from October.
Gemma and crew capture Sporting Moment of the Year
Making Boat Race history has scooped St John’s student Gemma King and her 2022 Women’s Lightweight Blue Boat crew mates the University of Cambridge Sports Awards Sporting Moment of the Year title.
The Cambridge University Boat Club crew won the women’s 2022 Interactive Investor Lightweight Boat Race against Oxford by 15 lengths in a time of 19:59:53, beating the course record by 3.5 minutes.
The winner of the Sporting Moment of the Year Award was decided by an audience vote ahead of Monday’s awards at the University of Cambridge Sport Centre.
Gemma, who is in the fourth-year of her Natural Sciences degree, also competed last week in the Henley Women’s Regatta with her Lightweight Blue Boat crew mate Freya Sutcliffe – and the duo won the Championship Lightweight Pair.
“It was amazing to win at Henley Women’s Regatta at the weekend. It’s something I’ve always wanted to achieve and I still can’t quite believe it,” said Gemma. “It was also such an honour to be chosen as the Sporting Moment of the Year for my lightweight boat race crew’s win against Oxford. I am so grateful to everyone who voted for us.”
Watch the winning Sporting Moment from the Women’s Lightweight Boat Race
Full event and winners’ summary
Gemma is pictured far right at the Sports Awards with some of her crew mates: (from left) Freya Sutcliffe (Jesus), twin sister Catherine King (Gonville & Caius), Casey Shepheard (Jesus), Amy Richardson (Pembroke) and Jodie Cameron (Homerton).
St John’s equestrians jump into first place
Two horse riders from St John’s have come first in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) Equestrian Championships with their team from Cambridge University Riding Club.
Maaike Hooijmeijer-Brown and Chloe Fairston – both studying Veterinary Medicine – and fellow equestrians in the Cambridge 1st team finished in first position at last week’s championships and were crowned overall BUCS Team Champions with a total team score of 132. They also won the team show jumping finals and came third in the team dressage.
Chloe (centre, left) and Maaike (centre, right) are pictured holding their trophy aloft with team mates Lydia Collas and Manuel Fernandez at the championships.
St John’s student to climb mountain in a blindfold to raise money for charity
Edward Smith, a second year Philosophy student, will wear a blindfold for three days in a row in a challenge he has set himself on behalf of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).
Edward is aiming to raise £2,500 for the charity because his sister is blind and he wanted to ‘give something back to a charity that helps my sister and other visually impaired people so much’.
He said: “Nobody in this world makes me more proud than my sister does. It is unbelievable how much she thrives without the ability to see in a world designed for the sighted. The RNIB provides library books in Braille to allow blind people to read, the charity drives forward accessible technology, provide emotional support, equipment and much more. Any donations would be greatly appreciated, thanks so much.”
Ed, pictured below with his sister on Kitchen Bridge, plans to spend 72 hours blindfolded and climbing mountains in Thailand in July. His girlfriend Eimear is going to guide him and he has been getting some practice in by building up the amount of time he spends in a blindfold now.
Donate to Ed’s fundraising campaign
Follow Ed’s challenge on @blackout_blindfold
The Johnian Society scarf design competition winner announced
The Johnian Society Committee was delighted to receive so many ‘fabulous’ submissions for its competition to design a silk scarf that captures the spirit of the St John’s community
History undergraduate Isabella Bottle came first and fellow first-year Archie Maton, who is studying Architecture, had his design chosen as runner up. The Committee is now working with manufacturers to transform Isabella's beautiful design (pictured below) into a 90cm x 90cm silk scarf that will be available to purchase in the late autumn, with further details to follow.
If you would like to pre-order your scarf please email Secretary of The Johnian Society, Zip Jila.
Thyme’s right for new herb garden
The College gardeners have planted a small selection of herbs at the westernmost end of the flower borders in front of New Court, for use by Fellows, students and staff.
The herb garden was created following a suggestion by Professor Christine Gray, a Fellow of St John’s.
Head Gardener David Austrin said: “It’s a bright, sunny location, perfect for growing herbs, and in no particular order, there’s rosemary, sage, bay, common chives and garlic chives – also known as Chinese chives – thyme, chamomile, and there different varieties of oregano. We hope to add more in time.”
Fellows, staff and students are welcome to pick and use the herbs.
What’s on
Chapel
Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Durufle’s Requiem – Saturday 25 June, 7.30pm
St John’s Voices joins forces with the London Mozart Players for a concert featuring Haydn’s dramatic and turbulent Nelson Mass (“Missa in Angustiis”) and Durufle’s hauntingly beautiful Requiem.
Open to all. Students: tickets £10 / £5 on the doors. Non-students: tickets £25 (main Chapel front), £20 (main Chapel rear) and £10 (Ante-Chapel, restricted view) from ADC Ticketing.
Evensong sung by the Chapel Choir of Balliol College, Oxford – Monday 27 June, 6pm
This service is sung by our Sister College.
Open to all, admission free.
Festal Evensong – Wednesday 29 June, 6.30pm
For St Peter and St Paul.
Open to all, admission free.
Evensong with Harp and Percussion – Saturday 2 July, 6pm
This service will include Bernstein’s Chichester Psalms.
Open to all, admission free.
Solemn Sung Eucharist – Sunday 3 July, 10.30am
For the Feast of St Thomas.
Open to all, admission free.
Organ recital – Sunday 3 July, 6pm
Paul Greally, Organ Scholar, King’s College, will be performing Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in E minor BVW 548, and Sonata no. 2 in C minor BVW 526.
Open to all, admission free.
Sunday Evensong with Violin – Sunday 3 July, 6.30pm
Open to all, admission free.
Monday 4 July – no services
Joint Evensong with King’s College – Tuesday 5 July, 6pm
Service sung by the Choirs of King’s College and St John’s College.
Open to all, admission free.
Evensong with Electronics – Thursday 7 July, 6.30pm
Service sung by the Choirs of King’s College and St John’s College.
Open to all, admission free.
Sung Eucharist – Sunday 10 July, 10.30am
Open to all, admission free.
Organ recital – Sunday 10 July, 6pm
George Herbert, Herbert Howells Organ Scholar, St John’s College, will be performing Vierne’s Symphonie II.
Open to all, admission free.
Sunday Evensong – Sunday 10 July, 6.30pm
This is the final service of this academic year.
Open to all, admission free.
A full programme for the term is available here.
Follow the Facebook page, SJC Chaplain, for Chapel service updates; and Andrew is on TikTok @thedetoxpriest. The Chapel is always keen to hear from more volunteers to read in services or assist in other ways: please contact Andrew.
Other events
Cambridge Nature Festival 2022 – until Thursday 30 June
From art exhibitions and wildlife safaris to landscape heritage walks, there are an enormous range of events to get involved in during Cambridge Nature Network’s Cambridge Nature Festival 2022. Many events are free and there is a small fee for others.
Giving Day – Friday 24 June, until 9pm
The first-ever St John’s Giving Day in aid of Dobson Free Places, the College’s ground-breaking initiative to secure world-class, means-tested student support in perpetuity, has continued today following yesterday’s successful launch.
Jo Beatty, Senior Development Officer (Annual Giving), said: “With the last few hours counting down the Development team are thrilled to say that as of 1pm our amazing Johnian community has raised £384,588 from 488 donors, well on course to hit, and go beyond, their stretch challenge of 500 donors before 9pm this evening.
“It’s been a very busy campaign, thank you to everyone who has supported with donations, photos and sharing the message. It has been heartwarming to see the positivity and commitment from Johnians to secure world-class student support here at St John’s through the fund. The Development team (pictured below) looks forward to revealing the final total to you next week.”
Visit the alumni website for further details.
Henley Royal Regatta qualifications – Friday 24 June, 7pm
Henley Reach.
The Lady Margaret Boat Club men’s 1st boat team will complete a time trial in a bid to qualify for the Henley Royal Regatta. The Regatta live streams the trials on YouTube.
More details on the Henley Royal Regatta website
Panel discussion: Transatlantic Perspectives of Covid-19 and Debt – Monday 27 June, 4.30pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
The University’s Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH) and St John’s Fellow Dr Jodi Gardner will host a panel discussion including world leaders from the UK and the USA talking about the transatlantic experiences with Covid-19 and debt. Professor Frederick Wherry from Princeton University will discuss ‘The debts we did not see: what the pandemic exposed in the US’, Mae Watson Grote from The Change Machine will talk about ‘The great reprioritization of debt’, Dr Mia Gray from Cambridge University contributes her thoughts, and Professor Karen Rowlingson from York University will discuss ‘A tale of two pandemic experiences: Covid-19, debt and savings in the UK’.
Followed by a question and answers session with the audience and a drinks and canapés reception. Further details
Open to all, admission free: register for tickets
Careers Service Finalist Focus – Monday 27 June to Friday 8 July
The Careers Service is holding its Finalist Focus fortnight to help students with career plans after graduation. Highlights include a series of in-person careers workshops for wherever you are in your career planning, an online graduate jobs fair and opportunity to drop in and talk to the careers team. This is a great opportunity to discuss what’s next in a relaxed, informal setting.
Palaeography for beginners – Tuesday 28 June, 3pm
Weekly online sessions for anyone interested in reading handwriting from c1500-c1750, using documents from the College’s institutional archives.
Sessions are informal and aimed at beginners, or those with a little experience who wish to practice their skills. Photographs of the documents will be emailed out in advance.
Sessions will continue throughout July. Open to all College members, admission free.
To register or make further enquiries, contact the archivist, Dr Lynsey Darby.
End-of-term staff celebration – Friday 1 July, 4-7pm
Scholars’ Garden.
This drop-in ‘do’ for College staff will feature food trucks Wandering Yak and The Churros Bar, drinks and music.
All staff are welcome.
Interdisciplinary conference on allegory in Greco-Roman antiquity – Wednesday 14 September, 12pm to Friday 16 September, early afternoon
Faculty of Classics and Old Divinity School.
Co-organised and presented by Dr Benedek Kruchió, St John’s Junior Research Fellow in Classics, the conference aims to explore the many forms of allegory in the imperial period of Greco-Roman antiquity, focusing on their interconnectedness across cultural divisions and medial borders. Popular with Greeks and Romans, Christians, Jews, pagans, philosophers, theologians and rhetoricians, allegory provides a unique opportunity to investigate the complex processes of exchange between all these groups.
Papers will be pre-circulated; the discussions will be introduced by brief summaries and invited responses. Two lunches, a drinks reception, and coffee/tea will be provided.
Open to all and free admission for College and University members (all participants have to register).
Further details and register for tickets
Chariots of Fire charity relay race – Sunday 18 September
Sign up for the Chariots of Fire charity race – a route of 1.7 miles that winds its way through some of Cambridge's most beautiful Colleges and along the backs. You don't need to be a serious runner to take part and it's all in aid of a very good cause – Arthur Rank Hospice Charity (ARHC).
St John's is generously offering to pay the entrance fees for up to three teams of six runners, leaving you free to raise as much sponsorship as possible. Teams can be a mixed group of any gender and can consist of College students, staff and Fellows. If you are interested in taking part, please fill out the registration form. You can fill it out regardless of whether you have a team yet or not. If you don’t, you’ll be put into one, but if you do please indicate the team name on the form. The application deadline is 25 August 2022, places given on a first-come first-served basis.
Please do not register online on the Chariots of Fire website if you want to be part of a College team as the College will not be able to pay your fee.
Further details and registration form for a St John’s team
And finally…
The seventh-best party in the world did not disappoint when it returned to St John’s for the first time in three years on Tuesday. And it was all thanks to the hard work of the May Ball Committee led by Presidents Anna Stevenson and Emma Warburton, supported by staff and Fellows.
