St John's College News
St John’s author nominated for Irish Book of the Year award
"This year’s shortlist is a testament to the breadth and depth of Irish writing talent"From murder to beekeeping, discover how the Irish ate, drank, loved and lied in a book co-authored by a John's academic. A history of Ireland in 100 words has been nominated for ‘best Irish-published book of the year’ in the An Post Irish Book Awards 2019 – Ireland’s major literary event. The book tells the history of Ireland by looking at the development and changing meaning of 100 medieval…read moreChoir releases album to celebrate the tradition of Evensong
“Magnificat features a great variety of music; something for all tastes"St John’s College Choir is releasing its first album dedicated to the Evening Canticles on Friday 25 October. Magnificat is a celebration of the tradition of Evensong, sung daily in College during term time, and contains six contrasting settings of the Evening Canticles. The settings were chosen by Andrew Nethsingha, Director of Music at St John’s, and each one has personal significance to him…read more‘Artificial leaf’ successfully produces clean gas
"You may not have heard of syngas itself but every day, you consume products that were created using it"A widely-used gas that is currently produced from fossil fuels can instead be made by an ‘artificial leaf’ that uses only sunlight, carbon dioxide and water, and which could eventually be used to develop a sustainable liquid fuel alternative to petrol. The carbon-neutral device sets a new benchmark in the field of solar fuels, after researchers at the University of Cambridge demonstrated that it…read moreHinsley Memorial Lecture 2019
The Hinsley Memorial Lecture will be given by Sir Richard DearloveThe 19th Hinsley Memorial Lecture, taking place on 13 November at St John’s College, is to be given by Sir Richard Dearlove KCMG OBE. The lecture is entitled The Secret Intelligence Service and its history. Sir Richard Dearlove joined MI6 in 1966 and served in Nairobi, Prague, Paris, Geneva and Washington as well as in a number of key London-based posts. He was appointed Director of Personnel…read moreMedieval bible returns to its former home after 700 years
Staff at the Gisborough Priory Project arranged for the Gisburne Bible to be borrowed from St John’sA medieval treasure from St John’s Library is the centrepiece of a special exhibition being held to mark the 900th anniversary of a Yorkshire priory. The Gisburne Bible – a richly decorated, handwritten copy of the Vulgate Bible – was bequeathed to Gisborough Priory by a prominent Yorkshire clergyman in 1333 after a catastrophic fire destroyed most of the Priory’s library. The manuscript…read moreLive retelling of Virgil’s epic poem comes to Cambridge
"However 'literary' Virgil, Ovid and others have become, the magic of their voices is the most thrilling dynamic to come out of their world."A rare live performance of one of ancient literature’s masterpieces will be hosted at St John’s in November. Adapted from Virgil’s first-century BC epic poem the Aeneid, The Song of Arms and a Man tells the story of legendary hero Aeneas’s struggle to fulfil his destiny as the founder of Rome. It charts his escape from the burning ruins of Troy and his doomed affair with the Carthagian queen…read moreFreshers awarded £81,000 in pre-admissions prizes
A group of 15 new undergraduates at St John’s College have been awarded up to £8000 each on the day they arrived in Cambridge to begin their studies. Prize-winners were selected on the basis of their academic track record, potential and broader financial need. The exceptional new students were invited with their families to a special ceremony at St John’s to mark their achievements. A total of…read moreVice-Master appointed at St John’s College
Professor Tim Whitmarsh has been named as Vice-Master of St John’s College. The interim position will build on the principled and engaged leadership of Professor Sir Christopher Dobson, the late Master who died in September. Professor Whitmarsh is Director of Studies in Classics Part IA & IB at St John’s s, A. G. Leventis Professor of Greek Culture at the University of Cambridge, and Co-…read moreSt John’s graduate to appear in new BBC war drama
Jonah Hauer-King plays Harry Chase, one of the leading characters in World on FireJonah Hauer-King, actor and St John’s alumnus, is to appear on our TV screens at the end of September in BBC One’s new epic war drama World on Fire. Rising star Jonah, who graduated from St John’s in 2017 with a first-class honours degree in Theology, plays Harry Chase, one of the lead characters in the drama. Credit: BBC/© Mammoth Screen 2018World on Fire, starring Sean Bean, Helen Hunt, Lesley…read moreDiary of polar scientist on ill-fated Shackleton voyage donated to St John’s
“We left the ship this evening: it still floats, but has been so badly damaged by the pressure of the last 24 hours that it will never float again once the ice opens."When explorer Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance became trapped on ice in Antarctica and eventually sank in 1915, Sir James Mann Wordie was one of the crew that escaped in lifeboats to an uninhabited island. Wordie, who was a student, Fellow and eventually Master at St John’s College, was recruited in 1914 as the geologist and chief of scientific staff for Shackleton’s Imperial Trans-Antarctic…read moreAncient story of revenge shortlisted for film award
The film tells the story of a compelling folk tale found etched on a clay tablet in South-East TurkeyThe world’s first ever film in Babylonian – a language that died out 2,000 years ago – has been nominated for a top research prize. Students led by Dr Martin Worthington, a Fellow at St John’s College, University of Cambridge, made the innovative film based on a Babylonian folk tale about a violent and comic story of revenge from 700 BC. The Poor Man of Nippur has now been shortlisted in…read moreTrainee primary school teacher turned Professor wins $3.9million Yidan education prize
"Usha’s research is truly globally significant both to children’s development and to education"The world’s largest education prize awarded to someone who is ‘creating a better world through education’ has been won by Professor Usha Goswami. Professor Usha Goswami, a Professor of Developmental Cognitive Neuroscience, a Director of the Centre for Neuroscience in Education and a Fellow of St John’s College, is an international leader in literacy research and she has today been named as…read more‘Game-changing’ research could solve evolution mysteries
"This new analysis will start an exciting new chapter in the study of molecular evolution"An evolution revolution has begun after scientists extracted genetic information from a 1.7 million-year-old rhino tooth – the largest and oldest genetic data to ever be recorded. Researchers identified an almost complete set of proteins, a proteome, in the dental enamel of the rhino and the genetic information discovered is one million years older than the oldest DNA sequenced from a 700,000-…read moreOnline book of condolence launched to mark death of ‘intellectual giant’ Professor Sir Christopher Dobson
An online book of condolence has now been opened by St John’s CollegeTributes to Sir Christopher Dobson, Master of St John’s, have flooded in from around the world after we shared the news of his death. An online book of condolence has now been opened by St John’s College to allow those who wish to pay virtual tribute to Sir Christopher who was a brilliant scientist, an inspirational mentor, a much-loved Master and a friend to so many. Messages can be left…read moreTributes paid to Master of St John’s College who has died age 69
"Chris was loved by so many and will be hugely missed by us all"Professor Sir Christopher Dobson, Master of St John’s College, died on Sunday, September 8 2019. He is survived by his wife, Dr Mary Dobson, their sons, Richard and William, and his beloved dog, Jimbo. He was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year and died at the Royal Marsden Hospital, Surrey. Sir Christopher, known to most people simply as Chris, was a member of the St John’s community for…read moreClimate change, migration and AI explored at international summer school
"International events of this nature are hugely important in the current times when global collaboration is required"A group of 100 German students came to St John's to take part in a special summer school to explore the big issues facing the future of society. The week-long Studienstiftung Summer Academy was organised by St John’s in partnership with the German Academic Scholarship Foundation, the largest scholarship organisation in Germany, to bring students from the sciences and humanities together to…read moreNo deal will lead to prolonged and severe political and economic uncertainty, new academic report finds
"Leaving without a deal will have significant negative consequences for the UK economy"No deal will not “get Brexit done” rather, it will usher in a period of prolonged uncertainty for citizens, workers and businesses, which is unlikely to be resolved anytime soon, a new report by academic think tank The UK in a Changing Europe reveals. The report – No deal Brexit: issues, impacts and implications – written by 11 academics from a variety of disciplines including Dr Meredith…read moreDissertation inspired by refugee crisis wins John’s student £1000 MPhil prize
"It is concern, grief and anger at the way in which European states were dealing with refugees which brought me to this research"Esther Luigi, who graduated with an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History from St John’s earlier this year, has been awarded the 2019 Quentin Skinner Prize. The prize, which launched in 2008, is presented by the Faculty of History for the best performance in the MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History. It is awarded annually to the student with the highest mark…read moreExercise in pregnancy improves health of obese mothers by restoring their tissues, mouse study finds
"A moderate level of exercise leads to important changes in different tissues of the obese mother"Exercise immediately prior to and during pregnancy restores key tissues in the body, making them better able to manage blood sugar levels and lowering the risk of long term health problems, suggests new research carried out in mice. Researchers at the University of Cambridge, including Dr Amanda Sferruzzi-Perri, an academic at St John's, who led the study published today in the journal…read moreLost Irish words rediscovered, including the word for ‘oozes pus'
"The Dictionary offers a window onto a fascinating and important past world"Researchers from Cambridge and Queen’s University Belfast have identified and defined 500 Irish words, many of which had been lost. They also unlocked the secrets of many other misunderstood terms. Their findings can now be freely accessed in the revised version of the online dictionary of Medieval Irish. If you were choosing where to live in Medieval Ireland you might insist on somewhere ‘…read moreDean of Chapel wins prestigious theological book prize
"The Splash of Words will bring alive poetry to anyone who reads it and shows us how vital poetry is for all Christians"The Reverend Canon Mark Oakley, Dean of Chapel at St John’s, has been announced as the winner of the 2019 Michael Ramsey Prize for Theological Writing. The Archbishop of Canterbury named Canon Oakley’s book The Splash of Words: Believing in poetry as the winner of the prize at the Greenbelt Festival. As the winner of the prize Canon Oakley will receive £10,000. The Splash of Words: Believing in…read moreMathematics Summer Camp for Girls launches at St John’s
"I want them to know that if they want to study here, it is possible for them"A group of Year 12 girls took part in the inaugural St John’s Mathematics Summer Camp for Girls to find out what it is really like to study maths at Cambridge. The 24 students came from all over the world including Malaysia, Africa, and Japan with the majority from the UK. They spent nearly two weeks living and studying at St John’s and had the opportunity to explore Cambridge and visit several…read moreDragons’ Den success for eco-friendly graduation gown business
"It was probably one of the most nerve-wracking things I’ve ever done"Two Cambridge entrepreneurs received a £60,000 investment when they pitched their business supplying graduation gowns made out of recycled bottles on the BBC television show Dragons’ Den. Ruth Nicholls, who graduated from St John’s in 2013 with a law degree, co-founded Churchill Gowns with Oliver Adkins in 2018. Churchill Gowns manufactures and sells graduation attire made from recycled plastic…read moreCatering Manager wins ‘outstanding achievement’ award
“It was amazing to be presented with this top award – it’s very special”St John’s Catering Manager Bill Brogan has been awarded the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award by The University Caterers Association (TUCO). Bill Brogan with Matt White, TUCO ChairTUCO is the leading professional membership body for in-house caterers in the higher education and public sector. The organisation aims to advance the learning and development of catering and hospitality teams…read moreSt John's students win University and departmental prizes for outstanding achievements
University and Departmental Prizes - July 2019Several St John's College students have recently been awarded prizes by the University or other academic institutions thanks to their excellent work and achievements: Daniel Blick, 3rd year undergraduate in Theology, was awarded the Sheikh Zayed Prize. Alex Butcher, 1st year History & Politics undergraduate, received the Faculty of History and Department of Politics & International…read more