People

Following in famous footsteps

World-leading astrophysicist, Jeremiah Ostriker, has taken over one of the University's oldest chairs, becoming Plumian Professor of Astronomy and Experimental Philosophy.

Professor Ostriker will join the Institute of Astronomy in September, leaving his post as Provost of Princeton University, which he has held since 1995. The Plumian Professorship was founded in 1704, after a bequest by Thomas Plume of Christ's College, Cambridge, and Archdeacon of Rochester.

Professor Douglas Gough, Director of the Institute, is looking forward to Professor Ostriker's arrival. "Jerry is an extremely lively and inventive astrophysicist, who interacts with everyone," he said. "He will both strengthen the work that is already being carried out at the Institute, particularly in cosmology, and broaden our horizons."

Inaugural Lecture

The Hon Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, gave the inaugural lecture in the Sir David Williams Lecture Series at the University's Centre for Public Law.

The series was established in honour of David Williams, Emeritus Vice-Chancellor of the University and a leading public lawyer. Justice O'Connor's lecture, entitled "Altered states: federalism and devolution at the 'real' turn of the Millennium', aimed to engage with crucial issues for the constitutional development of the both the UK and the USA.

New Professors

Jonothon Crowcroft, Professor of Network Systems at University College London, will join the University in October as the new Marconi Professor of Communications Systems.

Hugh Willmott, Professor of Organisational Analysis at Manchester School of Management, has been elected to the Diageo Professorship of Management Studies. And Zygmuntg Baranski, currently Professor of Italian Studies at the University of Reading, will become Serena Professor of Italian from October 2002.

Sir John Takes Over

The retiring Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bristol is due to take over as Director of the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in October. Sir John Kingman will also be the first N.M. Rothschild & Sons Professor of Mathematical Sciences.

Sir John, who is currently also Chairman of the Statistics Commission, specialises in the theory and applications of probability and stochastic analysis, including operational research and population genetics. He gained his degrees at Cambridge and was later Fellow and Honorary Fellow of Pembroke College.

He will be taking over from Professor Keith Moffatt who will be retiring after having held the post since 1996. "Sir John is a distinguished mathematician with wide experience in scientific and academic administration," said Professor Moffatt. "His return to Cambridge is very much to be welcomed."

Distinguished Researcher

Cambridge Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Ageing (CIRCA) has just recruited a distinguished researcher, Dr Philip Taylor who is an international expert on the employment of older workers. He will be working closely with Dr Felicia Huppert in the Department of Psychiatry on identifying the factors which influence the well-being of older workers and their ability to contribute in the work place.

He will also be analysing the features of institutions which either value and encourage older workers or discriminate against them and the development of public policies towards this group. His position is part-funded by the Isaac Newton Trust.

Uncovering Cambridge Churches

University staff are offered a fascinating trip around some of the Cambridge's lesser-known architectural treasures.

Barnwell Priory can only be seen today if you know where to look, and the Leper Chapel in Newmarket Road is a long-forgotten part of Cambridge's past. These two places and others will be uncovered by Clare College night porter Robin Millerchip on a special coach tour organised to raise money for Marie Curie Cancer Care.

"These are places most people would never go to. This tour will be a chance to learn some fascinating local history - at the same time as doing a good deed for a very worthwhile charity," said Robin. Tickets for the tour cost £17, including lunch and tea. Contact Robin on 01223 504155 for more information.

Ancient Apocalypses

Dr Gopal Madabhushi, at the Schofield Centrifuge Centre, has been involved in a BBC scientific documentary, called Ancient Apocalypses. As part of the series, a programme was produced on 'Sodom and Gommorah', that was filmed at the Centre. The programme is due to be screened on BBC2, on Thursday 16 August, at 9pm.

Marsh Award

Dr Andrew Balmford, of the Department of Zoology, has been awarded the Zoological Society of London Marsh Award for Conservation Biology.

Dr Balmford has been involved in determining the criteria used by conservation biologists to assess priorities and ensure that objective criteria are used. Many of his papers have been published in major journals and he has also played major role in establishing the annual student conference in conservation biology that has attracted global interest.