The Pembrokian News and Views from the Pembroke College Development Office
Issue XVI
Hilary Term 2001
Third Time Lucky Kathie Booth Stevens, wife of the Master, reminisces
AVING tried this role of 'wife a f...' twice before, I felt I onew a thing or two about it when we arrived at Pembroke. The first time, I was head of an institution in my own right, as Principal of Friends School Haverford, while Robert was President nnsylv mud. Most of the impact of being a sidekick passed me by in the whirl of marriage, hard work, and pregnancy. The second time was harder. Arriving in Santa Cruz as a pregnant, unemployed `Associate to the Chancellor', I never found the right balance between motherhood, 'associatehood', and selfhood. The Development Officer kept insisting on calling me 'First Lady' of the city, potential friends (most of them) clearly pigeonholed me as a local celebrity, and dinner party companions couldn't think of what to talk about once I said I was a full-time mother. Third time lucky. It's been a pleasure from the start. The Pembroke community has, from the beginning, been welcoming and accepting. I have revelled in the presence of more than thirty other women and men in Oxford, all in the same lob' of spouse, and I have treasured my anonymity as I walk down Cornmarket. But the two things that have made it all work were Robert's clarity with Pembroke about my role, and my involvement (part time) with the Ashmolean. In an early meeting with the Bursar, Andrew Wyndham Lewis, Robert said, `My wife doesn't wash dishes and she doesn't cook.' Although this was actually a truthful statement about my cooking ability in general (and probably a hidden jibe at my housekeeping), what he meant was that he would not exploit me on behalf of the college. I have, therefore, been able to support the important work that Robert and the fellows are doing with pleasure and with very little exhaustion. The Master's Lodgings is a wonderful place to entertain fellows, old members,
students and friends. Everyone appreciates the gracious ambience of the Oak Room and I have been fortunate to have a warm and considerate housekeeper, Nina Southam, who has done much of the thinking about details for me. She it is who remembers that we need more candles and flowers for the dinner party, who lays the table and talks with the Dining Hall staff about the food. I can then rush home from picking up Robin at school, feed her, feed the dog, get dressed and greet the guests with relative equanimity. There have been amusing moments, like the time I asked an apparently well-known novelist (whose work I hadn't read) whether he was res-earchibg a book if writing one, and his wife said, 'That's a silly question.' Or the time I sat next to a Japanese businessman who hardly spoke a word of English and he just nodded and smiled as I struggled to make conversation. Or the many times I called someone by the wrong name. WHY don't I remember that I should always say, 'It's good to see you'? As soon as I relax and say, 'It's good to meet you,' they are sure to reply, 'Oh, I met you the first day you arrived.' Having had my role formalized at the University of California, with a tide, staff privileges (parking and library use) but no salary (they would have had to conduct an open search and they might have found someone better qualified), the lack of formal acknowledgement of my role at Pembroke seemed strange at first. But I knew, from those first two times, that this job was primarily about being a presence, a resident and cheerful supporter of the community. It was obvious that things would work best if my role developed informally. And it was soon made clear that I was actually welcome on High Table beyond the statutory two meals a term. I thus learned that important lesson (which has been useful at the Ashmolean as well) that if you want to get something done in Oxford, you're better off just doing it, without trying to make an issue of it or change policy. When we went on sabbatical last year, Ann Knowland very kindly took on my role. At our lunch with the other spouses before I left, she heard the termly count of who was and who wasn't a member of their college's
Senior Common Room. My hand went up with the `wasn'ts'. She mentioned this to John. The next week I was voted a member of the Senior Common Room. I was touched by her thoughtfulness and by the generous gesture on the part of the fellowship. It may sound ungracious, but the second reason I have enjoyed my role has been my job at the Ashmolean. This is not because I wanted to get away from the College. Rather, it is because it meant that I could fully enjoy my involvement with the College without being frustrated by the necessarily marginal role that the spouse of a head of house must play. When we arrived, I went to Michelle Sykes, Education Officer at the Ashmolean, and told her that I had just completed Christies' course in the History of Fine and Decorative Arts since the Renaissance. I wanted to be a Western Art Ode. Fine,' said- he 'you can start with Egypt.' And so I began to take children around the Museum's Egyptian collection, explaining such delights as the removal of the brain of a mummified body through the nose, and the use of a scarab beetle in protecting the dead. After I had guided for a year (and moved on to guiding in the Western Art collection), Michelle Sykes retired. My background in teaching, administration and art history led to my taking over her position as part-time Clore Education Officer, the position I still hold. It has not always been easy trying to run an ever-expanding set of educational programmes for adults and children with limited resources of time, money and staff. It is, however, satisfying to watch visitors of all ages and backgrounds respond with pleasure and excitement to the Museum's collections, as they participate in tours, workshops, study days, craft activities, lectures, gallery trails, and a wide variety of other programmes. The amazing group of voluntary guides and Education staff have given me a community of loving and extremely competent women with whom to work: my own sphere in which to exercise my imagination and interests, in which to learn and grow. I think of myself as having three jobs: wife of the Master, Education Officer, and mother. It has been a joy to watch Robin grow up in the college and in Oxford. The college is, without a doubt, her college. It is her boat that comes head of the river, her flag that flies above the Lodge, her father who runs it all (such is the perception of a
"Writing one's profile is akin to writing one's own obituary" A personal profile by James Hester on page three twelve-year-old). She didn't like the institutional fire alarms that used to go off all too often in the house. And I have worried about the lack of neighborhood children for her to play with, but she has friends elsewhere (who have asked, 'Do you live in a museum, Robin?'). But she likes ithere; the trlditioris-afOxfard---aid of the Dragon School have given her a happy sense of safety and belonging. I've often said that it was a good thing that I had been a headmistress before I married a college president. Only that experience would have prepared me for the stresses he has faced and the demands on his time and energy. I know how hard it can be, but also how satisfying it can be. And I know how important it is to have someone around who understands what you face and can offer some support. I hope I have provided that support to Robert, as he has supported me in pursuing my own satisfying paths inside and outside the College. I shall miss the lovely walled garden, the wonderful big house (in which you can laugh and clown around with your daughter without waking up your napping husband), the 'room of one's own' (hidden beyond the Oak Room, which Moyra Bannister wisely made over for a studio), the friendly presence of Sue Embley in the house (and her dog Moseley), Christ Church Meadow (the only place where the path is confined on both sides by water so the dog can't stray too far, usually), and the convenience of shopping and parking in central Oxford. No longer will I walk in my front door, after next April, to find an unknown person washing dishes in my kitchen, or come downstairs without brushing my hair, only to find a team of academics coming in the front door for a meeting. But most of all, I shall miss the opportunity to meet so many interesting people and to feel part of a community of thoughtful and committed fellows and lively young people. Third time definitely lucky.
Here and There
Guest Speakers
JCR President' s Report quite overwhelming prominent aspect of Michaelmas term has been the lack of a JCR due to the tragicomedy of bones and beetle infestation that played itself out over the summer. Even with the most optimistic outlook it is difficult to ignore the looming 'Danger, Keep Out' sign but easy to underestimate the problems the unfortunate situation causes. Exiled JCR members roam college, bewildered by the pitiful sight of our much cherished Common Room and at a loss as to where to settle. It has been borne remarkably well though, with the Mac JCR and the Bar becoming surrogate JCRs and, despite the absence of the traditional venue, good humour is far from being sapped as meetings continue in their lively vein. The first ordinary JCR meeting of term saw the ex-secretary swept up in an irrepressible spirit of lyricism (although, regrettably it was established that the new President was not in fact his Muse). The secretary-cum-bard presented the minutes at first in poetic form, in an effort to incorporate all 25 of the motions that constituted the last meeting of the previous committee. The inspired rhyming couplets of the minutes that emerged in this first meeting have been replaced by prose as business starts in earnest with familiar themes of resounding significance: the ongoing problems of access into the university and the question of funding for Higher Education. This term sees a national demonstration in London where several members of the JCR will join the voice of other colleges and universities in the campaign against tuition fees and the spectre of Top Up Fees. Moreover, the welfare provided by the JCR grows ever more sophisticated with the Health and Welfare Committee being called at more regular intervals, allowing more conversation with the College as well as the continuation of peer support training sessions and first-aid courses. Last meeting saw the innovation of a Men's Officer to the welfare team to complement Women's Officer by giving men the same option to talk about matters that specifically concern them as males that women are afforded. In domestic realms, even the mundane matters of maintenance take on a more cutting edge this term as decisions, about how college will be reassembled after the building work on staircase 2, need to be made. This leaves an unsettling question mark over the location of regular features of the staircase, prompting a crusading spirit amongst many JCR members. In short, the JCR, despite pining for its home and weeping over its present bombsite status, still has humour and purpose pulsing through it. Gemma Stevenson
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The Kohler Medal
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R Savile Bradbury has been awarded the Kohler medal for the year 2000 by the State Microscopical Society of Illinois for `Services to Microscopy'. The medal was presented at a ceremony in Chicago on 28th June 2000 by the President of the Society, Dr Bill Mikuska.
Tembrokian' Corrigenda -year student Rebecca Birtwhistle, who designed last year's Christmas card for members, is the daughter of David (not John, as mentioned in the last edition, who is his brother and a Balliol man). The National Trust is among those who have commissioned work from David, a watercolour artist.
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Charlie Parsons (1976) will talk about his experience in business and in television. Charlie founded the TV Production Company Planet 24 and created and produced a number of controversial TV programmes including The Word' and 'The Big Breakfast'. He also invented the so-called 'reality' genre and last year, his show `Survivor' was the highest rated series in the US and its success, according to Variety magazine, revived the ailing CBS Network.
OD Rwas
Eddington appointed Chief Executive of British Airways on May 2nd 2000. Born in Perth, Western Australia, Rod was educated at the University of Western Australia and Oxford University (the 1974 Rhodes Scholar from WA). He completed his D.Phil in the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford, and then taught as a research lecturer at Pembroke College in 1978-79. In 1979 he joined Swires and worked with Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, Korea and Japan in a variety of roles, before being appointed Managing Director in early 1992. In January 1997 News Limited appointed him as Executive Chairman of Ansett Airlines in Melbourne. Rod is married with two young children.
New Sponsor for the Boat Club
Diary Dates
College Boat Club is delighted to announce our new partnership with UBS Warburg, a leading Swiss investment bank. This new sponsorship deal along with the combined support of our benefactors and the Friends will enable us to maintain the highest quality of equipment throughout the club. Michaelmas Term Training Camp We look forward to the O. Rutt I. Graham (President) T. Buss T. Clarke continuing success of the S. Forrest H. Edwards A. Chicken S. Khan M. Sayer (Captain) Boat Club which now has the highest placings in its long history and currently also the highest placings of all the Oxford Colleges. We hope to build on this new deal to create a long-term relationship between one of the world's fastest growing investment bank and the most successful boat club in College rowing.
12th February 2001 Media Reception (will be held in London) - for those alumni currently working in the media. Pembrokian Charlie Parsons (1976) has agreed to speak. Invitations will be sent out soon to those in the Media Group. Please let the Development Office know if you would like to join the Media Group (£20 a year) or if you are not a member but would like to attend this reception.
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FRS marmalade pot was 'discovered' by Geoff Crookes (1956) in a curio shop at Arnside, Cumbria, near to where he lives. Presumably it was originally bought by a Pembrokian, and Geoff says " it's most gratifying that the handsome, small ceramic has found its home again with a College member." We'd be very interested to know if anyone has used, or possesses a pot like this one - or other items made by the same pottery (Ed.)
6th March 2001
Pembroke Business Group - formerly known as the City Group. Mr Rod Eddington (Lecturer in Engineering in the 1970s and now CEO of British Airways) has agreed to speak at this function. Invitations will be sent out soon to those in the Business Group.
Please note, the following dates are subject to any necessary changes 26th May 2001
Garden Party - invitations will be sent to all members and friends of Pembroke.
22nd June 2001
Gaudy for years 1980-1985 (years to be confirmed) - invitations will be sent out two or three months in advance to the appropriate years.
21St September 2001 Pembroke Society Dinner 22nd Septernber 2001 Pembroke Activity Day
Pembroke Golf Society 6th April
Inter-Collegiate Competition at Frilford Heath
1st June
Match vs Oriel at Royal Ashdown Forest GC
29th June
Golf Society Meeting at New Zealand Golf Club
The photos were taken by Tom Stephen, Fellow of the Royal Institute of Naval Architects.
Os sulstone Arms HE shield on the front page and the crest on pages 2 and 3 can be found in the stained-glass on the west side of Broadgates Hall. John Benet, great-grandson of co-founder Teasdale's half sister, entered College in 1635 and became Baron Ossulstone of Arlington in 1682. Heraldic description: gules, 3 demi lions argent
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19th February 2001 Women's Reception - invitations will be sent to women alumni in the very near future.
WE ARE SEEKING MUCH-NEEDED SPONSORSHIP OF FUTURE PUBLICATIONS CA' THE PEMBROKIAN. IF YOU ARE ABLE TO HELP IN ANY WAY, INCLUDING PLACEMENT OF ADVERTISEMENTS, PLEASE CONTACT THE DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OR E-MAIL THE EDITOR
rogerbracey@hotmadeom
THE EDITOR WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO RECEIVE STORIES WORTHY OF PUBLICATION ABOUT PEMBROKIANS.
Pembroke profile
James M. Hester
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TING one's profile at age 76 is akin to writing one's own obituary. One may aspire to modesty, but the urge to make a favourable impression is strong. You have been warned. No doubt I have been exceedingly lucky. My luck includes fine parents, excellent educational opportunities at both Princeton and Oxford, a wonderful wife, Janet (see portrait), outstanding progeny, and a series of extremely interesting jobs that have exposed me to a wide variety of knowledge. Therefore I take keen interest in many subjects and read as much as I can. That is increasingly difficult, however, because I have lately become a part-time, professional portrait painter - a very time- consuming pursuit. I went to high school in California and then to Princeton from which (with a war interruption) I graduated with a BA in History. During the Second World War I served in the US Marines, became a Japanese language officer, and, after the war, served for nine months in military government in the Occupation of Japan. While there I was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship to attend Oxford. I went up to Oxford in 1947 and lived in College for two years, first in Dr. Johnson's rooms and then In a corner room above the JCR with a fine view of Tom Tower. I read PPE with McCallum, Ward-Perkins, and McNab, was active in the Johnson Society and Teasel Club, and rowed in the Second Eight my first year. My third year I lived in North Oxford and began reading for a D.Phil in international affairs. I was the only American in College my first term, which facilitated my making a number of good British friends, among whom were Graham McCallum and Michael Godley, both of whom and their exceptionally attractive wives, Margaret and Heather, Janet and I see regularly now. When I came down in 1950, I was immediately called back into the Marine Corps for two years for the Korean War. Afterward I resumed research on the D.Phil but soon got married and went into management consulting. This led to a stint in advertising research, during which I finished the D.Phil. I was then invited into academe as an administrator, first at Long Island University and then at New York University, where I was President from 1962 to 1975. This was a big exciting job that included all the adventures of seeking to strengthen a very large and lively institution centred in Greenwich Village, as well as the many trials of the period of student unrest engendered by the civil rights movement and protests against the Vietnam War. In 1975 I left NYU to become the first rector of the United Nations University with headquarters in Tokyo. During my time in the Occupation I had
"I was the only American in College" developed a considerable interest in Japan and the Japanese, which added to the attraction of starting a new kind of world-wide research and advanced training institution under the auspices of the United Nations. We had five fabulous years living in Japan, and I had an extraordinary experience organising international intellectual collaboration on a grand scale. Our work focused on problems of world hunger, human and social development, and the use and management of natural resources.
The UNU work on natural resources introduced me to the subject matter of my next assignment: president of The New York Botanical Garden, which is in many ways the US equivalent of Kew. (Most of the time I was president of the Garden, my vice president for science was Ghillian Prance, now Sir Ghillian, who was taken from us by Her Majesty the Queen to become a very distinguished director of Kew.) The Botanical Garden is a leader in research in the Amazon, and twice Janet and I visited that fascinating region. In addition to botany, I had to become knowledgeable about horticulture, which necessitated that we visit a wide variety of great English gardens - one of the finest of pleasures. After eight years in that splendid position, I retired at 65 to become president of The Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, a small but influential organisation that supports high level research on the causes of violence - a position I continue to hold. Here again I am being exposed to a variety of academic fields
including biology, sociology, psychology, anthropology, criminology, and political science, and though the problems we study are not quickly solved, it is rewarding to see gradual progress in filling gaps in understanding violent behaviour. The foundation assignment allowed me enough leeway to fulfil a long-time ambition and take part-time painting lessons at the National Academy of Design School of Fine Arts in New York for ten years. I have always enjoyed drawing and painting. (While we were at Pembroke, Michael Godley and I attended classes at an art school on Pembroke Street.) Two years ago I stopped taking lessons and began accepting portrait commissions. Whilst my first major portrait, that of Janet shown here, was done in 1997, I now have enough assignments to occupy the next several years. arung while I was president of New York University, I have served on a number of corporate boards. For the last fifteen years, I have been on the boards of a number of mutual funds associated with Alliance Capital Management, a large money management firm. This association keeps me alive to the world of business and finance and also entails some fascinating international travel. In 1953 I married Janet Rodes, whom I met when she was visiting Oxford in 1948, and we have three daughters, Janet, Margaret, and Martha, and six grandchildren. We have a comfortable home in Princeton, New Jersey, where we have reminders of the gardens of England and Japan outside our windows, and a small apartment in New York. . Like many others, my greatest satisfactions come from family - my wife Janet, our daughters and their families. We gather for family birthdays, national holidays, summer vacations and visits in between. Nothing matters more than these events. I take satisfaction from the progress of the institutions I have served. I know how fortunate I am still to be working at the foundation and still to have active business responsibilities on mutual fund boards. But the most unusual luck of all is the portrait painting When I was a teenager, I could capture
a likeness in a charcoal drawing of a family member or friend. I always did well in art classes in school, but in high school my academic aspirations did not
James and Janet Hester at the American Reunion 2000
allow time for art instruction. Though my desire to paint continued, I did not spend much time doing art until I got to New York University during a tense period that required a weekend release. On Saturdays and Sundays I painted portraits and still-lives in the attic in Princeton and landscapes on winter vacations in Marrakech, where Jannie and I had as a teacher - Margaret Nairn, the wife of the former British Consul General, Bryce Nairn. Margaret had often panned with' Wins on Churchill and was a superb art companion. Now I have a weekend studio in Princeton and a small weekday studio near our New York apartment where I work many mornings, painting portraits before taking the bus downtown to the foundation office. When a likeness and totality of a portrait develop quickly, I experience enormous pleasure. Sometimes, however, they do not come quickly and it takes many anxious days to achieve a satisfactory result. It is not all luck and pleasure, but at my stage in life it is not bad. Being able to enjoy an association with Pembroke, during student days and through the years, is an important part of my life's good fortune. In Pembroke College I have a point of focus in England which is filled with colourful memories and many continuing friendships. We usually go on an annual theatre tour to London and see old Pembroke friends then. I have been active in US Pembroke alumni affairs, and Janet and I have become friends with several of the Masters and their wives starting with Ronald McCallum, who had me made an honorary fellow many years ago. These friendships have enriched our lives tremendously. In recent years we have thoroughly enjoyed a series of reunions at the College for American alumni which this year happily included British friends. Needless to say, I am deeply grateful to the Rhodes Scholarships for introducing me to such a wealth of interest and pleasure.
Fellowship
Retiring Fellows Alan Jones
Ray Rook
Extracts from a speech by James McMullen at the retirement dinner
Shimizu Fellow in Mathematical Physics
the Master asked me to say a few words about Alan tonight, I felt a frisson. For some reason a compelling image came into my mind. It was of Alan at the cutting edge. As we all know, he has always been in the forefront of computer technology, but this was cutting of a different sort. This image was of Alan on return from one of his trips to the Middle East at the invitation of a royal house. He brought with him a gift from some royal friend. It was a remarkable object, a sort of dagger of awesome appearance. Though large, it was of a handy size that could be concealed about one's person. It disappeared mysteriously after Alan had shown it to his colleagues. If I seem a trifle apprehensive tonight, it is because I fear he may still have it with him! Alan has been a scholarly and administrative force in our academic community for more than four decades, since his appointment in 1957. He is, as everyone knows, a man of dervish-like energy. He has been active both on the University stage and in the Faculty of Oriental Studies, and within his Colleges; first, St Cross, then, for the last twenty years, Pembroke. On the University administrative side, he has served on the General Board for ten years; twice been Chairman of the Oriental Faculty Board; been centrally involved in the setting up of Wolfson and and St Cross Colleges; been at the forefront of the introduction of computer technology. He has been concerned with the running of the Hebrew Centre at Yarnton as a member of its governing body. While at St Cross, he served as Assessor. Alan has made a powerful contribution to College life. If Pembroke has a special reputation in Oriental Studies, it is incontrovertibly due to him. He is the founding Tutorial Fellow in Arabic, and a significant proportion of the University's undergraduates in that subject have always been at this College. Then, he handled the successful negotiations for the TEPCo benefaction for Japanese, which resulted in a tutorial fellowship, and made Pembroke the only undergraduate college with three orientalist fellows. On the scholarly side, Alan is a renowned Arabist; in some quarters of the University he is known as 'Arabic Jones'. This is a great distinction, so to bestride your subject as to have it used to identify you. As well as scholarly eminence, euphony has to be satisfied. Looking around the fellows of Pembroke, the double requirements for this honour are not easily satisfied. The first is easily met, but euphony is more problematic. 'Biology Kacelnik' will not do; nor will `Economics Mayhew', 'Legal Stevens', however, could just qualify. Alan is an expert in the Koran, where he has done ground-breaking work on the language, history and interpretation of the text. Secondly, he is a leading scholar of pre-Islamic poetry, of which he has published editions and translations. Moreover, true to what I imagine are his ultimately Welsh origins, Alan is a remakable linguist. In addition to Arabic, he knows Persian, Turkish, Urdu, Latin, Greek, Armenian, enough Hungarian (he says) to read the newspaper, Portugese and Spanish. It is his knowledge of Spanish that he has put to use in the third area of his scholarly achievement, the study of the romantic poetry in Arabic written in Andalucia. None of this quite conveys the sense of the man, of course. Alan has been passionately loyal in his service of both University and College. On this, the first day of his retirement, we wish Alan and Margaret health, happiness and a long continuation of the scholarly creativity that has marked a distinguished career.
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HEN
First Female Science Fellow , \ N ET Efstathiou joined Pembroke College in October 1998 as Fellow in Engineering Science. Janet is Pembroke's first female fellow in the sciences. She joined Pembroke from St Hugh's College, where she had been a Tutorial Fellow on a short-term appointment. "The vacancy at Pembroke came along at just the right time. I had less than a year left at St Hugh's and wanted to move to a permanent appointment. It was the luck of the draw that it happened to be Pembroke." Janet first joined the Department of Engineering Science at Oxford ten years ago, in August 1990. At that time, she had a research fellowship funded by EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council). This lasted for 5 years, just before she joined St Hugh's. While still a research fellow, Janet obtained some tutoring experience at Balliol, so has had links with a number of Oxford colleges, not forgetting her undergraduate days at Lady Margaret Hall, where she read physics. As a scientist, Janet spends most of her day in the Department, with her research group of three research assistants and four postgraduate students. Janet's research is on manufacturing systems, with two major current projects on complexity in the supply chain and mass customisation. Janet's current research grew from an early project to support the operators of complex automated manufacturing systems. "I was working on software to help the operators repair their schedules as things went wrong on the shop floor. What struck me was the persistence of these problems; and how they seemed to be much the same no matter what industry you talked to. So rather than look at ways to fix the schedules, I decided to find out what it was about the way the manufacturing systems were designed and operated that made it so difficult for people to stick to the schedule." Janet's research group is rather unusual for an engineering department — most of the members are women. It seems that the area of industrial engineering tends to attract women at other universities as well. Perhaps it's the combination of technical and social skills that are needed for this kind of work. Janet's team spend a lot of time in factories, measuring the flow of material and information around a facility. "When people expect to see a lab, I can only show them a room full of computers. Our real lab is the factory." The close involvement with factories means that the students and RAs have to be mature, resourceful and considerate. After carrying out an on-site study, which usually takes about 3 weeks, the team have to analyse the results, deliver a formal presentation and write up a report within the next two months. "If factory managers are kind enough to grant us access to their personnel and resources, we have to behave
J
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was born in 1936, attended Thornton Grammar School, Bradford, Yorkshire and Manchester University where he achieved a BSc Hons First Class, Prize and Scholarship for best performance in finals (1957) and a PhD (1960) with a thesis on the subject of Resonance Reactions and Models in Nuclear Scattering and Reactions. His academic appointments include Senior Research Officer in Nuclear Physics, Oxford University (1960-7). Lecturer in Physics, Pembroke College, Oxford (1962-5). Fellow in Physics, Pembroke College, Oxford (1965-2000). Summer programme, Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley, USA (1966). Lecturer in Physics, Oxford University (1967-2000), guest Professor Ludwig Maximilians, University of Munich, Germany (1972-3). Summer programme, Argonne National Laboratory, Illinois, USA (1974). Domestic Bursar, Pembroke College, Oxford (1974-5), Academic Bursar, Pembroke College, Oxford (1994-2000 ). In 1992 he was appointed Chairman, Faculty of Physics, Oxford University and is a member of the Institute of Physics Committee on Higher Education and Physics. Dr Rook has published over 100 papers in journals and conferences. In the area of research, Dr Rook' s period at Manchester University coincided with the early development of computers, where 'the University was a world leader. He was able to gain experience in their use when few others had the opportunity. On coming to Oxford in 1960 he originated a programme of work to use computers in the detailed development of theoretical models for the description of nuclear reactions. This proved extremely successful and Oxford became one of the two leading world centres in this field. This work used models and was in no sense a fundamental theory. However, Dr Rook took advantage of his stay in Munich (1972) to start to develop a fundamental theory of nuclear reactions based on knowledge of the forces between the protons and neutrons inside the nuclei. It took Dr Rook and his colleagues until 1987 to fully understand the theory and develop it to a workable form. Throughout his stay in Oxford Dr Rook had a secondary but substantial interest in the interactions of exotic particles (kaons and anti-protons mainly) with nuclei. He was particularly interested in the extreme surface region of nuclei and there are currently very advanced experiments at CERN giving information on nuclear properties at distances very considerably larger than that of the nucleus. This work has mainly been a collaboration with the University of Warsaw and work on the theory of the latest experiments is continuing. Dr Rook and his colleagues have gained a detailed understanding of the behaviour of quantal systems in the very extreme circumstances pertaining in the far surface region of the nuclei. Dr Rook also holds full Fencing Colours at Manchester University. He was a finalist in the British Universities Championship as well as NorthWest England Epee Champion and a finalist in the South England Sabre and Foil Championship. He represented Lancashire, Oxfordshire and South England at Foil and Sabre and is a senior member of Oxford Fencing Club. He also holds Chess Colours. He was Yorkshire Junior Chess champion, a finalist in the British University Championship and represented Lancashire and the North of England. Dr Rook is married with three adult children.
Janet finishes her first 10K Fun Run professionally and given them something useful in return as efficiently as possible." Although well-established in Oxford now, her early days did not suggest an academic future. Janet grew up on a small farm in Northern Ireland, eldest child of a family of six. Neither of her parents had received any schooling after the age of 11, but her parents encouraged Janet to work hard at school. When she first came to Oxford, Janet recalls that her Northern Irish country accent was so strong, many of her colleagues could barely understand her. It has softened considerably over the years, but is still easily detectable. After reading Physics at LMH, Janet gained her PhD in Computing at Durham. Then came a year at University of California, Berkeley, a year as a computer programmer in Cambridge, then a spell as a lecturer in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering at Queen Mary and Westfield College. From there, she moved to Cambridge for a year in a telecommunications consultancy, followed by a spell in the Computer Lab at the University of Cambridge. However, she felt like "a square peg in a round hole" in the computer lab and was keen to get back into engineering. Family reasons took her back to Oxford, where she spent a year working for the Oxford Trust. This gave her a wide range of contacts in Oxfordshire industry, as well as exposure to the challenges of starting science-based businesses and encouraging schoolchildren to study science. She moved then to the Department of Engineering Science. Apart from the research, Janet has a busy teaching schedule too. She runs a coursework module for engineering students in their second year. "We take about 15 students into a local factory and explain some of the problems that the factory faces. The students have to study the problem and apply their engineering knowledge to come up with some possible solutions. They have to discuss their ideas with the people at the factory, work out the details and cost them, then prepare and deliver a presentation by the Friday morning. It's quite a challenge for them, as some of the students have never set foot in a factory before. It certainly brings home to them what an engineer's daily life is about." It's a busy life, with a team of researchers and a large group of engineers in Pembroke to oversee, as well as her family of two teenagers. Janet is always impressed by life's possibilities. "It's great to work with bright, young people. You tell them what you want, then stand back and watch in amazement at what they achieve."