College bulletin: 29 September
The sun is shining, the Boston Ivy is turning red and the College is buzzing with life – it must be the start of Michaelmas Term at St John’s.
A warm welcome to all new and returning students, even if it does mean that the rest of us may have to queue for a little longer in the Buttery for the Catering team’s daily homemade delights.
In this first College Bulletin of the new academic year, get stuck into some news stories from the summer, be tempted with free caffeine, and enjoy a little taste of this term’s events.
College news
A selection of St John’s stories you may have missed:
Two new portraits join College Hall of fame
Designs of pioneering architect reveal Modernist ideas for rebuilding post-war Germany
The Ancient Greek philosopher who can still surprise after 2,400 years
Fellows’ Butler rocks silver service at St John’s College
Robots cause company profits to fall – at least at first
Unborn babies use ‘greedy’ gene from dads to ‘remote-control’ mums into feeding them extra food
The power of poetry: Dean interviewed on BBC radio after receiving honorary doctorate
The Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley, Dean of Chapel and Fellow of St John’s, has been interviewed on BBC Radio Shropshire after being awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education by the University of Chester in his home town of Shrewsbury.
Listen on BBC Sounds (from 2:47-2:55)
Historian’s new book reveals painter’s 16th century pay row
Renaissance artist Albrecht Dürer painted himself into an altarpiece in an act of revenge over pay, claims Professor Ulinka Rublack, historian and Fellow of St John’s, in her new book.
Prof Rublack, University Professor of Early Modern European History, reveals the 16th century row in Dürer’s Lost Masterpiece: Art and Society at the Dawn of the Global World.
She will be discussing her book at ‘An Evening with Ulinka Rublack in Cambridge’ at Heffers Bookshop on Thursday 19 October – see the What’s On listings below for more details, including how to apply for free tickets.
‘Amazing people, enquiring minds’ – PhD researcher stars in new visitor guide
St John’s PhD student Nynke Blömer, from the Department of Zoology, has had her research on wildflower landscapes featured in a new visitor booklet at Cambridge Botanic Garden.
Calling budding creative writers
St John’s students interested in doing creative writing can get invaluable guidance from Vona Groarke, the College’s Writer-in-Residence.
If you are wondering where to start or how to develop something you’ve already got on the go, she is available for advice, discussion and editing recommendations.
Email Vona to make an appointment.
The Eagle
The 2023 issue of The Eagle, the College’s annual record, can now be viewed on the alumni website or the Calameo platform.
The Eagle features articles written by students, alumni, Fellows and staff; reports from student societies and sports; news from the Johnian community; members’ obituaries; an annual list of donors and information on new academic appointments.
Printed copies can be found in staff department pigeon holes and elsewhere in the Forecourt post room.
Café loyalty card scheme launched
The Café has introduced a new loyalty card scheme; buy nine coffees using your College card, get the tenth free (T&Cs apply). Ask Café staff for your loyalty card when you buy your next hot cuppa.
Students awarded for exemplary performance
Two St John’s students were awarded University prizes last term.
Postgraduate chemist Matthias Schneider was given a 2022 PhD Outstanding Thesis Award from the Chemistry Department while third-year Economics undergraduate Hiro Endo received the Adam Smith Prize, annual awards presented for the best overall exam performance and best dissertation submitted in Part 2B of the Economics Tripos.
What’s on
Chapel
Student Communion – Sunday 1 October, 8.30am
The first student-focused communion service of Term, followed by breakfast in Hall (free for this week) for all attendees.
First Evensong of Term – Wednesday 4 October, 6.30pm
Organ recital – Sunday 8 October, 6pm
Professor Arturo Barba from Catedrático del Conservatorio Superior de Música ‘Joaquín Rodrigo’ de Valencia will be performing works by Fletcher, Mendelssohn and Liszt.
Open to all, admission free.
For all other regular services, see the Chapel webpage. Follow the Facebook page, SJC Chaplain, for Chapel service updates; and Andrew is on TikTok @thedetoxpriest.
The Chapel team is always keen to hear from more volunteers to read in services or assist in other ways: please contact Andrew.
Other events
College Bar Quiz – Monday 2 October, 8.30pm
Bar.
The popular College Bar Quiz is back for a new term – the only rule is: no Googling!
Open to all, admission free.
Lady Margaret Boat Club annual barbecue – Tuesday 3 October, 11am-3pm
Lady Margaret Boat Club, 20 Victoria Avenue.
St John’s rowing club is hosting its annual barbecue with free food and the chance to sign up for rowing taster sessions taking place the following weekend.
Open to all, admission free, no booking required.
St John’s Linguistics Society social – Sunday 8 October, 2.30pm
Castlereagh Room, Fisher Building.
Undergraduate and postgraduate Linguistics students at St John’s and their guests are invited to go along to get to know other linguists in the College, to gather advice on the upcoming year, discuss their favourite research, or just have a chat.
Admission free, no booking required.
Careers Fairs – Monday 9 October and throughout term
University Student Services Centre, Bene’t Street, New Museums Site.
Expect careers panels, discussions and employer-led skills sessions. This first week includes a Graduate Schemes and Internships Fair (9 October, 3-6pm), Consultancy Fair (10 and 11 October, 2-6pm), and Banking and Finance Fair (12 October, 2-6pm).
Registration opens a week in advance at 9am. Further details and to register
Visit the Careers Service website for more information.
Physics for Everyone: Measurements to Grand Unified Theories – Monday 9 October, 6pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
The first in a series of eight lectures by College Fellow Prof Nick Manton, giving an overview of the world of physics for everyone at St John’s. Physics investigates the observable phenomena in our Universe, from the very large to the very small. Elegant theories have emerged, accurately describing a broad range of these phenomena.
These lectures will cover the key concepts of space, time, particles, matter, energy, forces and fields. This week’s lecture explores physics as science of measurement, laws and models, hypothesis and experiment, and overarching theories.
Open to College members and their guests. Admission free, no booking required.
Upper Library opening – Wednesday 11 October, 2-4pm
Enter via E staircase, Second Court.
Open every Wednesday afternoon in term time, view manuscripts and rare printed books from the collections in the 17th-century Upper Library. Requests for material to be exhibited can be emailed to Special Collections and they will do their best to accommodate these during the term.
This is also the chance to see Improbabilities: A Douglas Adams Exhibition, held recently as part of the Open Cambridge heritage events.
Open to College members and their guests. Admission free, no booking required.
Historical walk 1: Medieval Cambridge (450-1350) – Sunday 15 October, 2pm
Meeting place to be confirmed.
Prof Tim Bayliss-Smith, St John’s Fellow, will lead a two-hour walking tour of key medieval locations including Castle Hill and St Peter’s Church.
A free event open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
St John's College Open Orchestra come and play day – Monday 16 October, 7.30pm
New Music Room.
A relaxed orchestra for players of all standards, rehearsals take place every two weeks on Monday evenings in the New Music Room.
Open to all members of the University, admission free. Register using this form: https://tinyurl.com/543ddjej
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 18 October, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Attendance at Postgraduates Dine with Fellows events is restricted to one event per academic year.
Free of charge, limited places, register via Upay.
An Evening with Ulinka Rublack in Cambridge: a discussion of Dürer’s Lost Masterpiece – Thursday 19 October, 6pm
Heffers Bookshop, 20 Trinity Street.
Prof Ulinka Rublak, historian and Fellow of St John’s, will discuss her book Dürer’s Lost Masterpiece: Art and Society at the Dawn of a Global Age, which considers the celebrated German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528), his time and his legacy.
She will be in conversation with Dr Victoria Avery, the Keeper of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts at the Fitzwilliam Museum. The event includes a wine reception.
Open to all, *tickets £8-£35. Further information and to book tickets
*Professor Rublack has 20 tickets to give away to this event, on a first come, first served basis: email Prof Rublack to apply.
Tour of the College wine cellars – Wednesday 25 October, 11.30am
Meeting place to be confirmed.
A 30-minute tour led by Jim Wocha, Wine and Provisions Manager at St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
St John’s Book Group for postgraduates, English Faculty and College staff – Wednesday 25 October, 5.45pm
Merton Hall Cottage (behind the School of Pythagoras).
Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, will host her first book group meeting of Michaelmas Term. This month’s read is Roy Jacobsen’s The Unseen (2016). Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2017, it was described in the Financial Times as ‘a blunt, brilliant book’; in the Guardian as ‘a profound interrogation of freedom and fate’; and by Eileen Battersby in the Irish Times as ‘easily among the best books I have ever read’.
Newcomers welcome. If you are interested in joining this, or the book group for undergraduate students, email Vona.
Tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum – Saturday 28 October, 2pm
Meeting place to be confirmed.
Led by Prof Patrick Boyde, St John’s Fellow and Emeritus Professor of Italian.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
St John’s Book Group for undergraduates – Thursday 30 October, 7pm
Merton Hall Cottage (behind the School of Pythagoras).
Like to read? Interested in discussing short, good, recently-published books in an informal, friendly setting? Join Vona Groarke, St John’s Writer-in-Residence, for the first undergraduate book group meeting of Michaelmas Term.
This month’s book is Saba Sams’s 2022 short story collection, Send Nudes, winner of the 2023 Edge Hill Prize. In 2022, Sams was the youngest ever winner of the BBC National Short Story Award and, in 2023, she was named as a Granta Best of Young British Novelist. A review in the Guardian noted the ‘earthy resilience and joie de vivre that make Send Nudes so rare and uplifting’.
Newcomers welcome – you don’t have to be studying English and you don’t need to bring anything along except the book. Just read the book in advance and go along to share responses to it with other undergraduates. If you are interested in joining, email Vona.
Tour of the Chapel windows – Wednesday 1 November, 2pm
Meeting place to be confirmed.
The story of St John in the College’s stained glass, presented by Prof Patrick Boyde, Fellow of St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
Poetry reading – Friday 3 November, 6pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
Three leading Irish poets will be reading from their work at this event hosted by St John’s. Nick Laird, Tara Bergin and Colette Bryce are among the most acclaimed, innovative and intriguing contemporary poets, with work regularly appearing in publications such as The LRB, Poetry Review and the New Yorker.
The reading will be followed by a wine reception and a chance to meet the poets.
Open to all, admission free, no booking required.
Beer tasting – Wednesday 8 November, 6pm
Wordsworth Room, First Court.
With Prof Michael de Volder, Fellow of St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
Booking and payment details to be confirmed.
Tour of the Scott Polar Research Institute Museum – Friday 10 November, 2pm
Meeting place to be confirmed.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
Andrew Chamblin Memorial Lecture 2023 – Tuesday, 14 November, 5pm
Meeting Room 2, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA.
The 17th Andrew Chamblin Memorial Lecture, entitled Illuminating the Dark Universe with Gravitational Waves, will be given by Professor Alessandra Buonanno, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics.
The lecture will also be livestreamed on YouTube.
Admission is free, but booking is required via the Faculty of Mathematics Events page.
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 15 November, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Attendance at Postgraduates Dine with Fellows events is restricted to one event per academic year.
Free of charge, limited places, registration details to be confirmed.
Dramatisation – Tuesday 21 November and Wednesday 22 November, 7.30pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
With Prof Patrick Boyde, Emeritus Professor of Italian and Fellow of St John’s. Details to be confirmed.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
Ghost walk – Thursday 23 November, 5.45pm
Meeting place to be confirmed.
With Dr Mark Nicholls, Fellow of St John’s.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
Ghost stories – Wednesday 6 December, 8.30pm
Combination Room.
With Prof Patrick Boyde, Fellow of St John’s. Details to be confirmed.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme. Admission free.
And finally
Our beautiful grounds have been filled with the welcome sounds of rumbling luggage trolleys all week as students moved in and the next two days will see around 165 new undergraduates and 110 postgraduate freshers join the College community.
Happy moving in day to all.
