Trinity Term 2024 e-News
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21st June 2024
Trinity Term 2024 e-News
I’m pleased to report that we’ve reached the end of another successful year at Worcester. Some of our students are still sitting their Finals, but most are now celebrating the end of their time in Oxford. I’m certain that they will have done well academically – but they’ve also achieved a great deal on the playing fields and to contribute to artistic life in College too.
In fact, only last week I had the pleasure of joining a large number of Old Members and current students (pictured here) at our Buskins Gala to celebrate 90 years of Shakespeare in the gardens at Worcester. In a stroke of drama more suited to a tragedy than a comedy, the lashing rain forced the cast of As You Like It into the Sultan Nazrin Shah Auditorium. Nevertheless, it was a wonderful opportunity to reminisce about the highlights of so many wonderful Buskins productions as well as celebrating the flourishing arts community that now exists in College: a brand-new visual arts society and an engaging Exhibition003 curated by our students at the start of term.
I am confident that Worcester continues to go from strength to strength – something I hope you’ll see in this newsletter. As ever, thank you for your continuing support for College.
I very much look forward to seeing many of you at this year’s gaudies and reunions in the early autumn.
With all best wishes for a good summer.
David Isaac CBE, Provost
College news
King’s Birthday honour for Andrew Stephen
Professor Andrew Stephen has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia in the King’s Birthday Honours list in Australia.
Professor Stephen is a Professorial Fellow at Worcester College, L’Oréal Professor of Marketing and Deputy Dean of Saïd Business School. The Australian-born professor is a highly prolific academic in the marketing field and his contributions to marketing research and education continue to have an impact on the marketing industry around the world. The honour recognises his ‘significant service to business marketing research and development’.
Strategic Innovation Fund supports digital humanities project
Dr Emanuela Vai, Head of Research and Senior Research Fellow, has received an award from Oxford’s Strategic Innovation Fund to accelerate the ‘Digital Bate Collection’ project. Dr Vai is Keeper of the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments and is collaborating with David De Roure, Professor of e-Research in the Department of Engineering Science. Their project represents a stimulating opportunity to apply digital humanities tools to advance research on musical instruments.
Emmanuel Breuillard elected Fellow of the Royal Society
Professor Breuillard has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society, the UK’s national academy of sciences. Recognised for their invaluable contributions to science, Fellows elected to the Royal Society are leaders in their fields. Professor Emmanuel Breuillard is a mathematician who works at the interface between algebra and analysis. He studied in Paris and Yale, worked in Lille, Paris, Muenster and Cambridge before joining the University of Oxford, where he now holds the Chair of Pure Mathematics and a Professorial Fellowship at Worcester College.
Unique choral programme at Worcester
A new Oxford Choral Experience weekend has been set up at Worcester by Director of College Music Caius Lee. This unique access programme is offered free of charge to state school students who are looking to do ambitious singing at university, and will run for the first time on the 28-30 June this year. Led by Caius Lee, a team of friendly tutors, academic experts and student ambassadors will guide students through an exciting programme of musical, academic and social activities. Places on the programme are prioritised for academically promising students from backgrounds under-represented at Oxford, offering them the opportunity to experience high-level music-making and make informed decisions about university applications.
Worcester Philosopher writes best doctoral dissertation
Former DPhil student Dr Lea Cantor (2017, Ancient Philosophy) has been awarded the Oxford Nicolas Berggruen Prize for Best Doctoral Dissertation in Philosophy, Law & Politics 2024. This prestigious prize, funded by the Berggruen Institute in Los Angeles, is awarded to work that is both excellent and transformative in either theory or practice. The selection process is rigorous, with one dissertation nominated by each of the three faculties in Oxford (Philosophy, Law, and DPIR) every year, and the final selection made among the three highly impressive nominees by a committee constituted by the terms of the prize.
New programme on AI for businesses
Worcester College is launching a new, customisable four-week online programme for businesses: Integrating AI in business: Using algorithms for success. The course is directed by Worcester Management Fellow, Dr Nir Vulkan, creator of the Oxford Fin Tech programme and the Oxford Programme on Algorthmic Trading. It features AI experts including Julian Roberts KC, author on the use of AI in sentencing, Neli Frost, Worcester Junior Research Fellow specialising in the application of AI in law, Michael Wooldridge, Professor of Computer Science at Oxford, and Stefan Zohren, Worcester Physics lecturer and an expert on using machine learning and LLM in finance. Please pass the information on to your organisation if you think it would be of interest. The Development team are happy to pass any queries onto the course organisers.
Worcester’s beautiful lake is under threat and needs your help!
For over 200 years, the much-loved lake has been a peaceful refuge for students at times of stress, a haven for wildlife and a backdrop, literally, for theatrical ambition in successive outdoor Buskins plays. But decades of falling leaves and build up of sediment have left the lake struggling to breathe. To compound the problem, a number of leaks have been discovered in the banks, causing water levels to fall. We need to raise £200,000 to dredge the lake and repair its banks. Please consider helping us restore the lake to full health for future generations. To find out more, contact Dr Millie Papworth, Deputy Development Director. You can make a donation here, choosing ‘Buildings, Gardens & Grounds’ and emailing development@worc.ox.ac.uk to let us know your donation is towards the lake restoration project.
Student news
Music at Worcester
It has been a busy term for Music at Worcester. In the last fortnight alone we’ve enjoyed an anniversary performance of Bob Chilcott’s A Little Jazz Mass conducted by the composer himself, beautiful Indian ragas played on the sports field at sunset, a pre-tour concert by the Choir, and a wonderful evening of music by the lake, uniting the College Choir with the Allsorts community choir. If you’d like to be the first to hear about concerts next term, join the Music at Worcester mailing list.
Worcester College Boat Club
Jack Bennett, Men’s Captain 2023-4 writes: “Worcester College Boat Club had a great summer of racing. We competed in Oxford City Bumps, Bedford Regatta, and Summer VIIIs. Both of our first VIIIs moved up three bunglines over the week, while our M2 snagged blades. We were extremely happy to see many of our Old Members return for the annual Boat Club Dinner on the evening of Saturday 25 May. It was a great night in a packed hall, celebrating new and old tales. Those looking to attend future boat club events should consider joining WCBC’s alumni society, the Martlets.”
Read the latest WCBC Alumni Newsletter
Emma Higginson a winner of inaugural E&M prize
Second-year student Emma Higginson (2022, Economics & Management) was one of three winners in the inaugural Oxford-Intesa Sanpaolo Prize for Economics and Management. The award was sponsored by Intesa Sanpaolo, one of Europe’s leading banking groups and a significant supporter of Oxford University and Saïd Business School. Entrants were asked to write a short op-ed in the style of the Financial Times, on the theme: ‘Does responsible business require more formal regulatory intervention?’.
James Cogbill awarded Procter Visiting Fellowship at Princeton University
DPhil student in Byzantine History, James Cogbill (2019, Late Antique and Byzantine Studies) is one of only four students from the UK and France per year to have been awarded this prestigious Fellowship. James’ doctoral project contributes to the ongoing reassessment of the Late Byzantine period by bringing together textual, material and topographical evidence to decentre the figure of the emperor in early Palaiologan political culture. He has co-organised four graduate conferences and established the Oxford Byzantine Graduate Seminar in 2021.
Old Members
Visiting Worcester
Worcester Old Members are warmly welcome to visit the College. From 1 July 2024 until the clocks change in October, the College’s opening times will extend to 11.30am to 5.00pm each day. If you are unable to arrange your visit within these times, please email the Development team with the time of your arrival so that we can notify the Porter’s Lodge. Please be aware that on rare occasions we may need to close the College at short notice. The Development and Alumni office is based in the Provost’s Lodgings and is staffed during working hours, Monday to Friday, with the exception of bank holidays and the Christmas and New Year period. Do get in touch if you would like to meet one of us during your visit.
Celebrating Buskins and 90 years of Shakespeare garden plays at Worcester
A sell-out run of this year’s garden play, As You Like It, marked this special anniversary of Buskins. Produced by DPhil student, Carys Howell (2018, History) and directed by Nathan Crewe (2020, English Literature and Language), we were delighted to include a special evening for Old Members not only to enjoy the play but also to view an exhibition of programmes and photos of Shakespeare garden plays over the last 90 years. Celebrations included films of Old Members’ memories of Buskins – take a look. And you can view photos of the gala night here, using the password LSzk8ToEfu.
Old Members’ sport
Alumni Cricket Captain, Jordan Galsworthy writes: “On 4 May the Worcester Alumni XI were delighted to be welcomed back to the College for their annual cricket fixture vs the current XI. After winning the toss, Worcester Alumni captain Jordan Galsworthy (2013, Engineering Science) elected to bat first. A sluggish outfield and some tight early bowling made it challenging to score quickly, but openers Galsworthy and Andrew Lewis (1983, Engineering Science) both survived and at drinks the Alumni XI were 53-0. Following the drinks break a few quick wickets lead the Alumni XI being pegged back to 65-4. Some excellent batting and late hitting from Sam Hale (2014, Earth Sciences) and Monty Cooper (2016, Chemistry) propelled the total to a competitive 132-8 from the allocated 30 overs. Thank you to Vishil Devshi (2022, Physics), the current Worcester XI captain for his support in arranging this fixture.”
The Worcester College Golf Society tournament took place on Wednesday 24 April at The Wisley Golf Club in Surrey. Twelve Old Member golfers took part and Bob Jones (1980, Literae Humaniores) took the trophy! If you are interested in joining the mailing list to find out about future Worcester Alumni cricket matches register your interest here or for enquiries please contact Jordan (for cricket) or Bob (for golf) via the Development Office.
What’s on the Alumni Bookshelf?
The new Alumni Bookshelf on our website brings you a collection of books published by Worcester Old Members. This term’s additions include, Prints and the Landscape Garden by Michael Symes (1962, English), A Half Century Around Europe by John Waygood (1962, Modern Languages), Proust’s Songbook by Jennifer Rushworth (2005, Modern Languages), The Bishop and the Butterfly by Michael Wolraich (1992, Visiting Student in Philosophy) and The Final Curtain by Michael Coveney (1967, English).
Upcoming events
For the latest event updates and information, and to book your place, please visit the Alumni Events page of the College website.
