No Images? Click here The President has just returned from the east coast of the United States, where she mixed her scientific activities with visits with alumni and students. Professor Jane Clarke, attended the Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society and then, along with the Development Director, Sian Cook, hosted a series of events in Washington, New York and Boston. Despite the cold weather, they received a warm welcome and were delighted to meet old Wolfsonians, current students and even a few students that we'll be welcoming to Wolfson next year. Read her blogpost about the trip on our website. Photo: The President, centre, and the Development Director, far left, with guests in Washington, DC. A year of Transformation at WolfsonWhat does it mean to transform? What does it feel like to be transformed? How do we transform society for the good of all? These are some of the questions we are posing at Wolfson College this year. Check our events listings to find out how we are examining the many facets of Transformation. Goodbye to the BursarAfter 12 years as Bursar of Wolfson College, Christopher Lawrence is leaving us to become Bursar at Newnham College. From his steady steering of the College finances, to the significant improvements made to the College infrastructure, to his musicianship and, of course, his expert captaincy of the President's XI cricket team, Chris has been a valued and much-loved part of Wolfson College. We will miss him, and wish him every success in his new post. Annual ReviewIn December, the Wolfson Review was sent to Wolfson Members in more than 80 countries. The 160-page Review looks back at a year of academic, sporting and cultural accomplishments. You can read the Wolfson Review online or, if you did not receive a printed copy and would like one, email the alumni office. Women of WolfsonFor International Women's Day this year, we featured a number of Wolfson Women, both alumnae and current students. Take a look on our website to read more about a filmmaker, an astrophysicist, an engineer working for the US Defense Department, a journalist and a current Gates Scholar who studies mother-infant singing. Women's Boat Club AppealGood news on the Boat Club front - the Women’s Boat Club appeal has met with a resounding success, which will see a new boat being commissioned in time for the May Bumps. The name and donor details are currently under wraps but more details will be forthcoming, so keep your eyes peeled. We’re looking forward to another enjoyable get-together at the May Bumps – as well as a spot of Wolfson sporting talent! New Education Society at WolfsonEducation is of course at the centre of Wolfson College’s mission, but locally, nationally and globally education is increasingly important. Since Wolfson’s founding in 1965, education has been subject to extraordinary changes: the expansion of higher education, use of technology, financialisation and marketisation are some of the key issues facing educators today. Beyond these are cultural, social, political and economic changes. The Wolfson Education Society was established in 2018 to provide a platform to discuss these wider issues. Building on our initial programme of talks and discussion, we are organising a series of future events to prompt discussion and thought around education. The Society is run by students and Fellows, and we plan to engage at all levels. Check the events listings on the website for next term's offerings. Policy in the Public InterestWolfson alumnus Muhammad Farouq Osman (MPhil, 2017) shares his experience of the Cambridge MPhil in Public Policy and the need to interpret data judiciously to make effective policy decisions. The piece, entitled Perspectives on the MPhil in Public Policy: interpreting the data, appeared on the website of the Bennett Institute for Public Policy.Farouq recently met with the President and the Development Director on their trip to Singapore. He says, "To me what distinguishes Wolfson from other Cambridge colleges is its refreshingly informal and open atmosphere. Everyone here is helpful and down-to-earth — from tutors and librarians to porters and kitchen staff! On the intellectual front, the annual Wolfson Research Event not only gave me the chance to present my work, but enabled us to bounce off ideas with peers from different disciplines."News from the CollegeWCSA President commended for outreach workWe are delighted to announce that David Izuogu has been Highly Commended for a Vice Chancellor's Social Impact Award. These awards, launched this year by student-led Cambridge Hub, recognise the achievement of outstanding students of the University of Cambridge who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to improving society and the wider world. David received the award from Vice-Chancellor Stephen Toope. Alumni EventsThe Development & Alumni Relations office enjoyed hosting two events for local members over the past few months. Around 100 alumni and members attended the festive drinks reception at Wolfson on 14 December. More than 70 joined the President and Fellows at the Oxford and Cambridge Club, London on 17 January for the annual New Year event. Photos from the events can be found on our Flickr galleries. To keep up to date with all alumni-specific events, visit the website. Student rowed for Wolfson in EuropeStudent and Wolfson College Boat Club member (and Novices' Captain) Jonas Thyregod Wilcks rowed in January at the European Indoor Rowing Championships in Gladsaxe Sports Arena in Denmark. Jonas competed in the University SPRINT Men's - 200 meters and came in 7th. Well done Jonas! For more sporting news at both Collegiate and Varsity levels, see our website. Wolfson Arts, Music & MoreAfter the success of last year's May Ball, Valhalla, we're expecting equally big things from this year's L'extase, which will take place on 21 June. The May Ball committee is headed up by law student Ruben Nijk and he is promising "upbeat music, lavish food, unquenchable drinks but first and foremost: an unforgettable party". Tickets are available on the May Ball website. We encourage alumni and members to get their tickets for what promises to be another memorable night at Wolfson! Past and Present: Abstract studies by Jonathan Meuli opened on 19 January with a discussion between the artist and Professor Phillip Lindley. You can listen again to that talk and see images from the exhibition. The next exhibition, Joseph Joseph, This is Where Ideas Come From, will open at the end of April. Later on this year, we are thrilled to be featuring the work of alumnus Tszwai So, who will be showing a selection of pieces on the theme of Emotional Architecture. Image: Anthony & Richard Joseph The Term Concert, The Feminine Mystique, was held on 17 March as part of WOLFSON EXPLORES Transformation. The event was a celebration of female composers including Clara Schumann, Fanny Mendelssohn, Judith Bingham and Kim Porter. Soloists included MPhil student Churen Li , who recently won the CUMS Concerto Prize, a signficant achievement! Churen will also play at our annual Mary Bevan recital on 16 June. MORE TO EXPLORE. Fellow Giles Yeo was delighted to run into Wolfson's first ever PhD graduate, Professor Suzanne Cory, in Auckland recently. A panel discussion and Q&A, The Lessons of Brexit, will take place in the Lee Hall on 29 March. The Wolfson Research Event will take place on 26 April. Professor Sir Richard Evans, Honorary Fellow and former President of Wolfson, has released a new book, Eric Hobsbawm: A Life in History. SAVE THE DATE: May Bumps take place the weekend of 15 June. If you have received Ring True from a friend and would like to subscribe, please sign up on our website. |