College bulletin: 7 October
In the Comms Office we like to mark the start of the Michaelmas Term by scurrying up the stairs in New Court to knock on the door of unsuspecting students who live in rooms that have windows nestled in our wall of Boston Ivy.
This year it was the turn of two English students to pose for the paparazzi – sadly the photos didn’t make it into The Times so they are exclusive available in this Bulletin. Read on to see one of Cambridge’s most famous autumn spectacles and for all the latest College news, information and events.
College news on the website
Academic finalist in Vice-Chancellor’s Awards
Interim Director of Music to lead The Choir of St John’s College
Three world premieres to take place at St John's
Andrew Chamblin Memorial Lecture 2022
Other news
Community hub – opening date
The transformation of the south-west corner of Second Court into a contemporary social centre is now expected to finish in November.
The completion date has been delayed because of supply chain issues in the construction industry, which means the new Buttery, Bar and Café will now open at the start of Lent Term – later than initially planned.
The team from Barnes Construction is expected to finish the work in November and then Catering department will make sure the new spaces are operationally ready ahead of the new term.
Some customer experience trials will take place in December and January so the venues can formally open when students return after the Christmas vacation.
A huge amount of work continues to take place behind the scenes on the new Buttery, Bar and Café to restore the 17th century Second Court as the social centre of College. Recent milestones include the installation of the gates on Kitchen Bridge, the patio is now on the same floor level as the Buttery and the bar fittings have been put in – cheers!
Artist impressions of the community hub
Meet our new Fellows
Six new Fellows have been welcomed to St John’s College, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise in subjects ranging from Computer Science to Philosophy.
Dr Vincent Fortuin, a Title A Fellow in Computer Science, and Professor Laura Diaz Anadon, a Title C Fellow in Land Economy, joined the College in the summer and this term has seen the arrival of Ella Sbaraini, Title A Fellow in History, and Title B Fellows Professor Nic Lane (Computer Science), Dr Matteo Seita (Engineering) and Dr Jessie Munton (Philosophy).
More details in the Fellows Directory
Three Fellows-Elect are due to take up their appointments in Michaelmas Term 2023: Dr Amy Orben, Dr Leah Downey and Mr Jef Laga.
Make a date with the College calendar
College events, meetings and useful dates can be found on the College Calendar or by clicking the link at the bottom of your homepage on the St John’s website. Please note that you will need to be logged in to see all the events.
Maintenance requests
Maintenance requests from all College members must be made through the self-service helpdesk intranet portal TabsFM and not via email.
Instructions can be found on the page. Each issue and trade require separate Tabs raising.
It is a very busy time for the Maintenance department so thanks to all for your understanding.
Proposed Roll of the Regent House and preliminary list of members of the faculties
There are significant changes to the rules for the Regent House membership of University staff that will come into force from 5 November 2022.
The Roll is published once a year and is the list of eligible voters in elections and ballots of the Regent House until the next Roll is published in November. Members and prospective members of Regent House are asked to check the proposed Roll published on 1 October 2022 if you believe you are eligible for Regent House membership.
Please email the University Draftsman with any queries on inclusion as soon as possible.
Corrections must be emailed to this address by noon on 14 October 2022 to be included in the definitive Roll.
Chance to view Old Library collections
The College's historic 17th-century Library will be open for members of College and their guests every Wednesday afternoon during Michaelmas Full Term.
A selection of highlights from the collections – medieval manuscripts, pioneering photography, books that changed the world, and more – will be on display.
Do go along to find out what made one new student exclaim: “That is the coolest thing I've ever seen.”
Open Wednesdays, 2-4pm, entry is via E staircase, Second Court.
What’s on
Chapel
Evensong with electronic sound – Friday 7 October, 6.30pm
Including David Nunn’s oh pristine example. This work was commissioned by the Master and Fellows with generous support from Paul and Joanna Lindsell, and Jeremy and Jodie Podger. It receives its first performance this evening.
Open to all, admission free.
Evensong to mark the 40th anniversary of the admission of women to membership of the College – Saturday 8 October, 6.30pm
Open to all, admission free.
Student communion – Sunday 9 October, 8.30am
Student Communion takes place every Sunday at 8.30am, followed by a subsidised cooked breakfast in Hall.
Sung Eucharist – Sunday 9 October, 10.30am
Open to all, admission free.
Organ recital – Sunday 9 October, 6pm
Glen Dempsey, Assistant Director of Music at Ely Cathedral, will be performing works by J.S. Bach.
Open to all, admission free.
Morning prayer – weekdays, 8.30am
Taking place in Ante-Chapel every weekday morning, lasting about 15 minutes.
Evensong – daily, from Wednesday 5 October, 6.30pm
Sung by St John’s Voices.
Open to all, admission free.
Evensong – Monday 10 October, 6.30pm
Open to all, admission free.
Evensong – Saturday 15 October, 6.30pm
Including Jonathan Dove’s St John’s Service. This work was commissioned by Dr Kamal and Mrs Anna Ahuja in memory of Professor Sir Christopher Dobson, Master of the College (2007-2019). It receives its first performance this evening.
Open to all, admission free.
Advent Carol Services – Saturday 26 November, 6pm, and Sunday 27 November, 3pm
Organ music will be played by George Herbert, Assistant Organist, and Alex Robson, Herbert Howells Organ Scholar. Full programme to be confirmed.
The Sunday service will be broadcast live by BBC Radio 3.
Open to College members and up to two guests. Admission free, booking required. Deadline for applications is Monday 31 October.
Further details and registration
Advent Carol Services – Sunday 27 November, 3pm
Organ music will be played by George Herbert, Assistant Organist, and Alex Robson, Herbert Howells Organ Scholar. Full programme to be confirmed.
The service will be broadcast live by BBC Radio 3.
Open to College members, members may bring two guests. Admission free, booking required. Deadline for applications is Monday 31 October.
Further details and registration
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
Meet the Music Society – Saturday 8 October, noon
Central Hall, Old Divinity School.
Head along to St John’s College Music Society to meet fellow College members interested in all things music-related. You can enjoy drinks and snacks and chat with committee members to find out more about the broad range of events the society is planning this year, including social events, concerts and music schemes that you could be involved in.
Open to all College members, admission free, booking not required. College members are welcome to bring guests.
Live lunchtime meditation – Monday to Thursday, 1.15-1.30pm
Via Zoom.
Spend 15 mindful minutes relaxing or meditating with the University’s mindfulness practitioner, Dr Elizabeth English, in these weekday sessions, free to students and staff.
First session is this Monday, 10 October.
Careers Service fairs – starting Monday 10 October
The Careers Service will be holding 13 Career Fairs throughout this term, online and in-person, to help with applications and preparation. You’ll be able to speak with employers directly or go to their group talks and ask questions. There will be careers panels, discussions and employer-led skills sessions.
The first week’s fairs include a Virtual Banking & Finance Fair, a Banking & Finance Fair, a Consultancy Fair and a Virtual Consultancy Fair.
Registration for each opens a week in advance at 9am. Further details and to register
To see the full range of support available, including CV and interview aids, visit the Careers Service website.
Maths for Everyone lecture series: Maths everywhere – Monday 10 October, 5.30pm
Boys Smith Room, Fisher Building.
Maths is becoming more important in many academic areas, and in the outside world. St John’s Fellow Professor Nick Manton presents the first in a series of eight lectures aiming to broaden and deepen your understanding of what maths can do and how it works, through stimulating examples from a wide range of areas.
This first lecture looks at numbers, shape and pattern, the language of maths, logical argument, abstraction, maths as explanation, mathematical models and prediction, approximation and uncertainty.
It will help if you have some familiarity with A-Level maths topics.
Open to all College members. Admission free, booking not required.
St John’s College Open Orchestra – Monday 10 October, 7.30pm
Palmerston Room, Fisher Building.
‘Come and play’ in the St John’s College Music Society Open Orchestra. Meet new friends and play music from Studio Ghibli and Harry Potter.
A fun, relaxed group meeting fortnightly, open to all College members who are not in an existing University orchestra and are around Grade 4 standard or above. Admission free.
Paleography for beginners – Tuesday 11 October, 3pm
Weekly online sessions for anyone interested in reading handwriting from c1500-c1700, using documents from the College’s institutional archives. Sessions are informal and aimed at beginners, or those with a little experience who wish to practise their skills. Photographs of the documents will be emailed out in advance.
Open to all College members, admission free.
To register or make further enquiries, contact the archivist, Dr Lynsey Darby.
Pre-Dinner Lecture Series talk: Bayesian Machine Learning: A Gentle Introduction and Historical Appreciation – Tuesday 11 October, 6.15pm
Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School.
St John’s Fellow Dr Vincent Fortuin presents an introduction into the modern science of machine learning within the framework of artificial intelligence. Dr Fortuin aims to convey a general intuition for the fundamental principles of these algorithms and will outline the problem of uncertainty in machine learning and how it can be overcome with Bayesian methods, which he will introduce in their historical context.
The lecture will last 20-30 minutes and be followed by audience questions and drinks.
Open to Fellows, affiliates and postgraduate students. Admission free.
Dinner for new postgraduates – Wednesday 12 October, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to new College postgraduates. By invitation only.
St John's College Music Society (SJCMS) lunchtime recital – Thursday 13 October, 1.15pm
Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School.
With Lola Flexen on piano.
Open to all, admission free, booking is not required.
Historical walk 1: Medieval Cambridge – Sunday 16 October, 2pm
Meet at Cripps Porters’ Lodge.
A tour with St John’s Fellow Professor Tim Bayliss-Smith of the highlights of medieval Cambridge including Castle Hill and St Peter’s Church.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests. Admission free, booking not required.
Hinsley Memorial Lecture: Viewing Economics through a Moral Lens – Tuesday 18 October, 5.30pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
The 22nd Hinsley Memorial Lecture will be given by Professor Ashoka Mody, Charles and Marie Robertson Visiting Professor in International Economic Policy at the School of Public and International Affairs, Princeton University. Professor Mody is author of EuroTragedy: A Drama in Nine Acts.
The lecture will be followed by a drinks reception in the Central Hall. Fellows who will be dining after the lecture are then warmly invited for dessert in the Combination Room.
Open to all College members, admission free.
Register by 12 October: Fellows’ registration; staff and students’ registration.
Johnian Society virtual talk: interview with Jez Butterworth – Wednesday 19 October, 6.30pm
Online.
Alumnus Jez Butterworth (1988) is a playwright, director and screenwriter whose notable works include Mojo, Jerusalem and The Ferryman. Jez followed his brother Tom (1985) to St John’s to study English Literature.
Emily Brand (1987), a member of the Johnian Society Committee, will host the conversation with Jez, exploring his writing journey from that moment as a teenager and practising his craft at St John’s to becoming one of the most in-demand writers of his generation.
The interview will be followed by a Q&A; audience questions can also be emailed in advance.
Open to all College members, admission free. Registration closes on Monday 17 October.
Further details and to register
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 19 October, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Free of charge, limited places, register via Upay.
Please note that ‘Postgraduates Dine with Fellows’ events take place throughout the academic year (currently twice per term). Postgraduates are kindly asked to limit attendance to one per academic year.
Tour of Chapel – Wednesday 26 October, 2pm
Meet in the Ante-Chapel.
With an introduction by The Rev’d Dr Mark Oakley followed by a 95-minute tour with Stephen Stokes, Chapel Clerk.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests. Admission free, booking not required.
Tour of the Fitzwilliam Museum – Saturday 29 October, 2pm
Fitzwilliam Museum.
With Professor Patrick Boyde, Fellow of St John’s. Meet at the museum’s public entrance.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests. Admission free, booking not required.
Andrew Chamblin Memorial Lecture 2022 – Friday 4 November, 5pm
Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road, Cambridge CB3 0WA.
The 16th Andrew Chamblin Memorial Lecture, entitled Black Holes, Thermodynamics and Information Loss, will be given by Professor Robert Wald, professor of Physics at the University of Chicago.
Admission is free but booking is required via the Faculty of Mathematics Events page.
Jonathan Gilmour memorial service – Saturday 5 November, 12pm
St John’s College Chapel.
A memorial service is being held for postgraduate student Jonathan Gilmour, who died in April.
All welcome to attend. Please register in advance to assist with planning seating and refreshments.
Full details and registration form
SBR’s Postgraduate Research Symposium – Saturday 12 November
Palmerston Room and Fisher Building Foyer.
Details to be confirmed.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests. Admission free, booking not required.
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 16 November, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Free of charge, limited places, register via Upay after 20 October.
Dramatisation from the Divine Comedy – Wednesday 16 & Thursday 17 November, 7.30pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
Fellow Professor Patrick Boyde presents Dante’s Virgil: the Tragedy of a more-than-Father, a semi-staging of scenes from Dante’s epic 14th-century poem, the Divine Comedy.
In Italian with subtitles, images and music.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests as part of this term’s Sans Frontières events programme.
Admission free, booking recommended.
Book for Wednesday 16 November performance or Thursday 17 November performance
Ghost walk – Thursday 24 November, 5.45pm
Meet in the Third Court Cloister by the Bridge of Sighs.
With Fellow Dr Mark Nicholls.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests. Admission free, booking not required.
Precarious lives: inequalities in health through the lens of the film maker – Wednesday 30 November, 1.15pm for 1.45pm start
Palmerston Room, Fisher Building.
Director Ken Loach is due to appear at this rare afternoon workshop and screening of his acclaimed 2019 film Sorry We Missed You.
St John’s Reading Group on Health Inequalities has organised the event, which comes at a time of deep concern about the impact of rising poverty on child health and development, in association with the University’s Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (CRASSH).
Free of charge. Donations will be collected at the event for Cambridge City Foodbank and Cambridge Aid.
Book your place via the CRASSH events page
Ghost stories – Wednesday 7 December, 8.45pm
Combination Room.
With Professor Patrick Boyde.
Open to College postgraduate students, Fellows, visiting Fellows and their guests. Admission free, booking not required.
And finally…
Second-year English students Alice Warrington, left, and Jude Lilley, right, pose for photographs in their room in New Court. The wall of Boston Ivy is believed to be the largest in Britain.
Photo credit: Geoff Robinson
