College bulletin: 10 May
It is the perfect weather for a wander over to the Playing Fields to cheer on the Poulets as they battle to bring home the trophy in the Cuppers Final for the first time in more than a decade. They face St Catz at 5pm.
This week we’ve got news of the latest research by our scientists that has rewritten a fundamental law of physics, an explanation of why we should all be reading out loud, perhaps as we rewrite science, and we reveal the winner of the two trophies awarded at the College’s Annual General Athletics Club Colours Dinner.
College news
The new ‘recipe for light-emitting molecules’ that rewrites a fundamental law of physics
St John’s scientists have designed a molecule ‘recipe’ that could advance display and solar technology as we know it – from medical imaging equipment and smartphones to how sunlight is converted into electricity.
Read me a story: why reading out loud is a joy for adults as well as kids
Professor Usha Goswami, founding director of the Centre for Neuroscience in Education and a Fellow of St John’s, explains the science of reading aloud – and the benefits in adulthood too.
Full story
Dean’s book sings praises of the human voice
A debut book by The Rev’d Vicky Johnson, the College’s new Dean of Chapel, explores the world of the human voice, from cathedral choirs and football chanting to protest songs and artificial intelligence.
On Voice: Speech, Song, Silence, Human and Divine (Darton, Longman and Todd, 2024) studies the human voice as a spoken, sung and heard phenomenon, through the lens of Christian worship, theology and culture, and has been described by Dr Rowan Williams as ‘a book full of insight, empathy and joy’.
Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert 2024
The 18th annual Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert will be given in Oxford by world-renowned British organist, pianist and conductor Wayne Marshall OBE on Thursday 20 June 2024 and will be livestreamed online.
Double trophy win for football captain who ‘enriches the fabric of College sports culture’
PhD student James Clark has scored a two-goal win in the College’s Annual General Athletics Club Colours Dinner for his significant contribution to sport at St John’s.
James, who is captain of the SBR football team, was presented with both the Bob Fuller and Jim Williams trophies by the Master, Heather Hancock, at the Colours Dinner on Saturday 4 May. The dinner is held every year and recognises exceptional achievements and good character in the sports women and men of St John’s.
James (pictured), who is doing his postgraduate research in Biological Anthropology, has captained the SBR football team for two years. In both seasons the team has finished runner up in the competitive Cambridge MCR League and last season reached the final of the MCR Cup.
A citation from The Eagles’ and Flamingos’ Clubs said: “The reason James deserves to win this award is independent of the team’s success on the field. He has transformed our team into a bastion of inclusivity and camaraderie, fostering an environment where every member feels valued and supported. He has dedicated an enormous proportion of his own time to the team. James Clark epitomises the spirit of the Bob Fuller Trophy, embodying the essence of sportsmanship, dedication, and community. His indelible impact extends far beyond the field, enriching the fabric of our College sports culture.”
Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert 2024
The 18th annual Andrew Chamblin Memorial Concert will be given in Oxford by world-renowned British organist, pianist and conductor Wayne Marshall OBE on Thursday 20 June 2024 and will be livestreamed online.
Disciplinary procedure review
The College Council has approved some minor amendments to the Guide to Student Behaviour.
The published version of the updated guide is also now available on the College intranet.
Student health coaching workshop
A workshop is being held later this month for undergraduates to learn new stress management skills.
‘The Stress Management in Real Time’ workshop will be presented by neuroscientist and wellbeing coach Bianca Armitage (pictured) of Live Brighter Now.
The workshop takes place in the Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School, on Friday 24 May from 2-4.30pm. Places are limited: apply by emailing the College’s Health and Wellbeing Centre. If you are given a place and then cannot attend, please let the centre know so another student can join the workshop.
See your photos of College life featured in The Eagle
The Development team is inviting College members to submit photographs for this year’s edition of The Eagle.
Students, Fellows and staff can send in photos from all aspects of College life but the team is particularly interested in photos of the College grounds and active shots of people enjoying the collegiate environment.
Examples of the sort of images it is looking for can be found in previous editions of The Eagle. Images need to be high resolution images (preferably 1MB+) and any relevant credits and permission from those who appear in the photos.
Submit your photographs to Ellie, Publications and Project Manager.
What’s on
Chapel
Student Communion – Sunday 12 May, 8.30am
Students are warmly invited to attend Holy Communion. Stick around after this half-hour service for a subsidised cooked breakfast in Hall.
Sung Eucharist – Sunday 12 May, 10.30am
The Sung Eucharist includes music by Mendelssohn, Juan Gutierrez de Padilla, and Samuel Scheidt.
Organ recital – Sunday 12 May, 6pm
Andreana Chan of Pembroke College plays Stanford, Howells and Vierne. Organ recitals are open to all and admission is free.
Evensong with sermon – Sunday 12 May, 6.30pm
This week’s sermon in the ‘Brave New Worlds’ series will be delivered by Professor Richard Gilbertson, Fellow of St John’s. He will address the future of Medicine.
The service includes The Truro Service by Russell Pascoe, God is gone up by Gerald Finzi, and an organ voluntary by Jean Langlais.
For all other regular services, see the Chapel webpage
Other events
Conference: Philosophy of Art and Aesthetic Normativity – Friday 10 May and Saturday 11 May 2024, 9am-7pm
Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School, and online.
Annual conference of the Society for German Idealism and Romanticism co-organised by Gerad Gentry, St John’s and University of Mainz PhD student, and Professor Angela Breitenbach, Professor of Philosophy at Cambridge University, sponsored by DAAD Cambridge research hub for German studies.
The conference brings together established and junior scholars from around the world. Gerad will be chairing some sessions and giving a talk, Kant and the Problem of the Idealism of Art.
Admission free. To attend all or part of the event, submit the registration form.
St John’s College Association Football Club in the Football Cuppers Final – Friday 10 May, 5pm
St John’s Playing Fields.
Cheer on the Poulets as they look to bring home the intercollegiate cup in the Cuppers Final for the first time in more than a decade. Match programmes will be available at the match.
Open to all, admission free.
Conference: Debate and Dissent: Histories of Christian Approaches to Disagreement – Saturday 11 May, 10.15am-4.45pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
In a world where it can be hard to have robust conversation on difficult topics, in this one-day conference renowned historians will explore the rich and varied history of how the Church has handled debate, disagreement, and the freedom of speech.
Suitable for everyone interested in intellectual history and political thought or who just love learning. Speakers include Prof John Coffey (Leicester), Dr Emma Macleod (Stirling), Prof Eugenio Biagini (Cambridge), Dr Jonathan Chaplin (Wesley House, Cambridge) and St John’s history PhD student Daniel Gilman, who helped organise the conference, and other Cambridge postgraduates.
Open to all College members, friends and family: register for free to attend all or part of the day.
Student Art and Photography Competition entries – runs until Thursday 13 June, 9am-5pm
Library Exhibition Space.
Entries will be exhibited on weekdays, during staffed hours. Judging will take place next week.
Open to all College members, admission free.
Dirac Lecture 2024: Lessons from a Warped Fifth Dimension – Monday 13 May, 2.30pm
Wolfson Room (MR2), Centre for Mathematical Sciences, Wilberforce Road.
Annual lecture in memory of Professor Paul Dirac, the Nobel Prize-winning physicist and former Lucasian Professor, who was a Fellow of St John’s. This year’s speaker is Professor Lisa Randall of Harvard University.
The Dirac Lecture was established by St John’s College and the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics.
Open to all College members with an interest in theoretical physics, admission free.
Wellbeing walk – Tuesday 14 May, 2pm
Meet at the Great Gate.
A weekly opportunity to enjoy some gentle exercise and being outside. Walks go to Stourbridge Common, along the Backs and around Lammas Land.
The day of the walk alternates between Tuesdays (2pm) and Thursdays (3pm). If it is raining heavily, it will be cancelled, if rain is light just bring an umbrella or raincoat. For queries email Karen, Health & Wellbeing Nurse.
Old Library opening – Tuesday 14 May, 2-4pm
Enter via E staircase, Second Court.
View manuscripts and rare printed books from the collections in the Upper Library. Requests for material to be exhibited can be emailed to Special Collections
Note that for next week only the opening will be on Tuesday instead of the usual Wednesday.
Open to College members and their guests. Admission free, no booking required.
Aquila rehearsal – Tuesday 14 May, 5.15-6.45pm
New Music Room.
Aquila is a friendly a cappella singing group for female students, Fellows and staff. It welcomes new members – no audition is necessary, simply drop in to one of its Tuesday evening rehearsals to try before joining. The choir is currently rehearsing for the May Concert.
Real Tennis Event – Wednesday 15 May, 5-7pm
Cambridge University Real Tennis Club, Grange Road.
Starting at 5pm with a 45-minute ‘have a go’ session. Players should wear sportswear and trainers and can turn up any time during the session. All equipment will be provided. There will then be a short introduction to the courts and the game by Dr Victoria Harvey, Tutor for Undergraduate Admissions, with authentic refreshments.
At 6.15pm Cambridge alumni and recent UK amateur champions Jamie Giddins (St John’s, Economics) and Ed Kay (Emmanuel, Engineering) will play an exhibition match.
Open to College postgraduates, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests as part of the Sans Frontières programme. To participate, email the Postgraduate Administrator by 8 May, indicating how many sessions you wish to attend.
Newell Classical Event: Message from a Lost Play – Thursday 16 May, 7.15pm
Palmerston Room, Fisher Building.
The Newell Classical Event 2024, celebrating the classical world, presents award-winning poet Alice Oswald, Oxford Professor of Poetry 2019-2023, in Message from a Lost Play, a lecture based on the fragments of the Psychostasia of Aeschylus.
Open to all, admission free, no booking required.
Palaeography for beginners – Friday 17 May, 3pm
Via Zoom.
Weekly 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.
Sessions are held on Fridays at 3pm and take place online using photographs of the documents. If you are interested in joining, please email the archivist, Dr Lynsey Darby
Open to all, admission free.
Save the date
Talk: The History and Development of Cambridge University – Tuesday 21 May, 6pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
A presentation by the Senior Tutor, Richard Partington, for College postgraduates, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests. Part of the Sans Frontières programme.
Admission free, no booking required.
Workshop: ‘The Stress Management in Real Time’ – Friday 24 May, 2-4.30pm
Lightfoot Room, Old Divinity School.
Workshop presented by neuroscientist and wellbeing coach Bianca Armitage of Live Brighter Now.
Open to undergraduates at St John’s. Apply for a place by emailing the College’s Health and Wellbeing Centre. Places are limited so it you are registered and cannot attend, please inform the Health and Wellbeing Centre so another student can join the workshop.
Pre-Dinner Lecture Series talk – Tuesday 28 May, 6.15pm
Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity School.
Talk given by Dr Diala Lteif, College Research Associate in History, followed by drinks in Central Hall. Lecture title to be announced.
Pre-Dinner Lectures will also take place at the same time and place on 4 June with biophysical chemist Dr Kadi Saar, a College Fellow, and on 11 June with Dr Anastasia Stylianou, Munby Fellow in Bibliography and a Visiting Fellow at St John’s.
Open to Fellows, affiliates and postgraduate students and their guests. Admission free, booking not required.
Cheese and wine tasting – Wednesday 29 May
Wordsworth Room.
Open to College postgraduates, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests. Part of the Sans Frontières programme. Further details to be confirmed.
Postgraduates Dine with Fellows – Wednesday 5 June, 7.30pm
Hall.
Open to College postgraduates. Attendance at Postgraduates Dine with Fellows events is restricted to one per academic year.
Free, limited places, register via Upay.
Tour of the College gardens – Wednesday 12 June
A tour of the College gardens by members of staff from the gardening team. The tour will focus on sustainability.
Open to College postgraduates, Fellows, Visiting Fellows and their guests. Part of the Sans Frontières programme. Maximum 15 people. Further details to be confirmed.
May Concert – Monday 17 June
May Ball – Tuesday 18 June
And finally
Onlookers gathered in First Court yesterday to hear The Choir of St John’s College perform the Ascension Day carol from the top of the Chapel Tower, a popular tradition dating back to 1902.
