University Newsletter: People

University Newsletter

English Fundraising Event

An event to raise funds for the English Faculty took place in April at the Royal National Theatre in London, involving senior alumni of the Faculty. It was to launch Cambridge English 2000, which aims to raise money for various projects, including a new faculty building, and for the funding of various chairs - one in American Literature, one in Commonwealth and International Literature, one in theatre, film, and TV studies, and also for the post of language adviser. Among those giving speeches at the launch were Professor Dame Gillian Beer, who is leading the campaign and Laura Ash, a current English student. The evening was proclaimed a great success.

Balkan Contribution

Two Cambridge students are making important contributions to the international effort to help refugees in the Balkans. Tom Corsellis, a PhD student at the Department of Architecture (and King's College), has just spent a month in Albania working with the Department for International Development to design refugee camps. Mr Corsellis has become an expert in camp design, and one of his strengths is in designing shelters that will last. Research has shown that most camps, usually set up rather hastily in order to cope with urgent needs, are still in use five years later. During Mr Corsellis's time in Albania, he particularly concentrated on the construction of cold weather shelters, because of the likelihood that large numbers of refugees will still be homeless when winter arrives in the region.

Peter Manfield, who graduated from St John's College last year, will begin an MPhil in Environmental Design in October. He's having a busy year out of his studies, also in the Balkans. Working for the International Rescue Committee, he was in Kosovo until NATO airstrikes began. Since then, he has been in Macedonia, helping to establish refugee camps. Previously, his research has been sponsored by Oxfam, which has also adopted some of his designs for shelters.

State Visit to Korea

The University was well represented on the recent State Visit by the Queen to South Korea in April. In addition to the Chancellor, the British Mission to Korea had amongst its members Lady Pauline Perry, President of Lucy Cavendish, and Richard Stibbs of Downing College
and the Computing Service. Lady Perry was co-chair of a joint British/Korean conference on Education in the New Millennium, whilst Richard Stibbs was an invited speaker on the subject of The Role of the University in Education for the Information Age. During the visit education was high on the agenda. The Queen announced two Queen Elizabeth II Scholarships and one Duke of Edinburgh Fellowship, to enable Korean students to come and study in the UK. Lady Perry hosted a lunch for the winners of the three awards, two of whom have decided to come to Cambridge.

Royal Academy of Engineering Changes

The Royal Academy of Engineering has changed its post-nominal letters from FEng to FREng, which all Fellows, both existing and newly elected are encouraged to adopt. The requirement that all Fellows be Chartered Engineers on election to the Academy has also been relaxed, and it is now recommended that any Fellow wishing to denote his or her Chartered status should use CEng in addition to FREng.

Blood, Sweat and Sand

In March, East Anglian vet Mario Pampanini 57, went to North Africa to run the toughest marathon on earth, the Sahara marathon, a gruelling 143 miles spread over 6 days. Mario, a partner at Swayne and Partners in Bury St Edmunds, chose CAMVET to benefit from this challenge of a lifetime. Around £10,000 has been raised so far, which will help CAMVET contribute towards some urgent projects such as the £1M redevelopment of the Small Animal Surgical Facilities and the second phase of the £1.2M Equine and Farm Animal Hospital. Mario completed the challenge successfully, and requests that any further supporting donations be sent direct to CAMVET. For further information contact Sara Garnett (CAMVET), tel: (3)37630.

Garrod Day Celebrations

Dorothy Garrod (1892-1968) was the first female Professor at the University of Cambridge. She was an undergraduate at Newnham, before studying prehistory at Oxford under the tutelage of the Abbè Breuil. From 1925 until her appointment as Disney Professor of Archaeology in 1939, she had undertaken extensive excavation at Gibraltar, Kurdistan, Mount Carmel and Bulgaria. She retired as Professor in 1952, four years after women became full members of the University, and continued to work in the Near East and France until her death.

Dorothy Garrod, star of the recent Garrod Day.

Photo: The Principal and Fellows of Newnham College

Garrod Day marked the 60th anniversary of her appointment to the Disney chair, on 6th May, 1939. A series of events was planned, comprising an international conference, films of her excavations, a re-union of her relatives, friends, students and colleagues, and the launch of a book in tribute to her legacy. Over 120 attendees made the day go with a swing.

Boost for Bridget's

Bridget's, the city's hostel for students with a disability, was delighted to be presented with a cheque for £25,000 during a visit from the Provisional Grand Master of the Freemasons, Mr Colin Hutchinson, in April. The gift was presented by Mr Hutchinson on behalf of the Freemasons Grand Charity and will go towards the current £1M appeal to support the long term future of Bridget's. As Patron of the appeal, the Countess of St Andrews received the cheque on behalf of the hostel. The presentation was also attended by Mr Jim Whitehead, Secretary of the City & University Joint Masonic Trust, which has supported Bridget's again this year with a further donation of £1,000.

To date around £500,000 has been raised for the hostel, which supports students with a range of disabilities who come from all over the country to study in Cambridge. If you would like further information about Bridget's or the appeal, please contact Dr Pam Davis, tel: 367706.