Dear Jesuan,
As we draw towards the end of Lent Term, we have much to be thankful for My term began at full gallop; a pace that has been matched by Fellows, students and staf f Whether due to pent up demand for in-person meetings, an enthusiasm for returning to our beloved Hall, or the attraction of our wide range of events, there is so much going on at Jesus
In Januar y we welcomed back alumni from matriculation years 1986 through to 1990 I enjoyed the Glanville Williams Society Reception, which allowed past and current law students to meet and share their experiences. One of the highlights this term was the annual Graduate Conference; it was a real privilege to hear our postgraduates present their research and continue to enhance the College’s intellectual life
Student activity is flourishing I enjoyed watching Ultimate Frisbee this term –the rules are easy to follow, and it’s incredibly fast-paced and great fun. If I was younger, I’d have a go! I made it to the last day of the Lent Bumps to see our W1 boat gain Head of the River and our M1 bump up two places to take third. Jesus was the most successful College
overall on the river, following a courageous few days delivered with true grit. Especially pleasing was the number of novice rowers who took par t
Our creative communities are also flourishing. They are a wonder ful chance for our students to reconnect with or discover creative practice It’s refreshing to see the Jesus College Music Society work with staf f to programme a variety of live bands in the Roost Café. The Creative Writing Club is home to our burgeoning community of Fellows, staf f and student scribes, and we now have a newly established Drama Society and Ar t Club I’ve enjoyed seeing our students per form at the ADC Theatre in plays and the latest Footlights revue. Film at Jesus has had a fantastic term delivering a shor t film competition, weekly screenings, workshops and a booked-out Q&A with Cannes prize-winning Director, Céline Sciamma
New additions include our inaugural song writing competition Hook, Line and Lyric and a newly approved initiative for an architectural build space (see opposite).
Finally, I’m delighted that Jesus College will soon be the new home for radio station Cam FM, which will provide oppor tunities for our community to get involved and learn the craft of radio broadcasting
I’ll keep you posted on the impact of our endeavours to make Jesus College a place where creative people can thrive Sonita
Alleyne Edited by Kate Coghlan Designed by Nikki Williams“Students continue to find their people through spor t and creativity at Jesus”
Novelist and memoirist Emily Winslow led weekly writing sessions for the whole community of students, Fellows and staf f She shared stor ytelling skills such as how to plot a novel, and how to write relevant and vivid descriptions The club launched this year ’ s shor t stor y competition with the theme Sci-Fi and Futurism It received a record number of submissions, judged anonymously by Emily and fellow writer, Tabitha Siklos. The four winners were Arabella Tedder, Deborah Omolegan-Obe, Ella Curr y and Kate Coghlan
The Ar t Club established a committee this year and gained status as an of ficial JCSU club The club is led by Emeritus Fellow and Director of Studies, Jean Bacon, and welcomes students, Fellows and staf f in the Pavilion ever y Tuesday The numbers attending var y from week to week, from 10 to 26 people! Our Chapel session proved par ticularly popular. Ar t enthusiasts can now follow our work on Instagram @jesuscollegear tclub
The College launched a new bi-annual songwriting competition called Hook, Line and Lyric @Jesus to encourage aspiring songwriters to submit their songs, meet fellow songwriters and get exposure and feedback from a panel of professionals (including judge Preye Crooks from Sony Music Enter tainment) The competition is open to all Cambridge University and Anglia Ruskin students in Cambridge, and it is suppor ted by the Centre for Music Per formance
The inaugural winners were announced as Iona Luke (1st year, Magdalene College) who won First Prize for her
song Spinning. Second prize went to Eli Bre (PhD student, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute) for Ceasefire
Third prize was awarded to Aker Okoye (1st year, Jesus College) for Run
A new initiative has been approved to create an architectural build space within College grounds for students to collaborate, design and build a pavilion from scratch ever y year from recycled materials (all of fers of useful building materials are welcome!)
The Music Society arranged a full schedule of recitals from jazz, rock and pop to classical per formances by individuals and ensembles playing music by a huge range of composers including Beethoven, Vaughan Williams and many more. A Freshers’ Recital in October introduced the audience to the incoming music talent and the annual David Crighton concer t by the JCMS Orchestra brought out the crowds
In November, the Cambridge Jazz Festival came to College for the first time Multi-award-winning UK vocalist Zara McFarlane per formed as par t of a duo in the Frankopan Hall, and the following day Professor Benjamin Walton and the Master hosted master musician Orphy Robinson in a free session discussing perspectives and experiences on developing creative practice. The events were well-attended and great fun
The Cambridge Literar y Winter Festival returned from 17-20 November The programme included two anti-racism events chaired by Sophie Marie Niang (PhD Sociology, 2020): Dismantling Racism In Education and Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race. Meanwhile, new Honorar y Fellow, Helen Macdonald, chaired Birdgirl, an environmental event about birdwatching.
A group of students, staf f and Fellows went carolling in the city centre on Friday 9 December, in aid of homeless charity Jimmy’s Cambridge. They had lots of fun and raised a total of £182 for the charity.
The Cambridge Festival is an annual event run by the University’s Engagement Team. The Intellectual Forum was proud to host five events this March.
Beyond online safety: AI, web3, and the Metaverse. This panel discussion considered emerging forms of online harm, and what can be done to mitigate them, in the context of the Online Safety Bill Cohosted with the Bennett Institute for Public Policy
The power of storytelling: care survivors and reparative justice. Dr Véronique Mottier examined how the powerless can make their voices heard, the personal cost of stor ytelling, and whether reparative justice can ever be fully achieved
Romanticism and the Black Atlantic. Dr Mathelinda Nabugodi drew on her current work-in-progress, The Trembling Hand: Reflections of a Black Woman in the Romantic Archive, to explain how poets’ relics can prompt wide-ranging reflection on the Romantic period’s legacy in our own time.
Would I Sci to You? In this Cambridge Festival science comedy show, our two teams of science communicators, university researchers, and local STEM professionals dealt with current af fairs, crazy tales, and bizarre research and applications. Cohosted with the Cambridge Science Centre.
The universe in an atom: atoms as quantum sensors for fundamental physics. Professor of Many-Body Physics Ulrich Schneider discussed atoms’ power as quantum sensors and explained how we can turn seemingly limiting influences we cannot shield atoms against – for instance, gravity or dark matter – into a new tool to explore the universe and fundamental physics
What will the past look like in the future? Who controls how we perceive the past? What would the future look like if the past never existed? Does either future or past ever exist? The 2023 theme of Retro Future explored all these questions and visitors to the festival which ran from 10-12 Februar y were blown away by the results.
Congratulations to the Jesus College University Challenge team for reaching the quar ter finals of the BBC Two competition after their impressive per formance against University College, Oxford Hamish MacGregor (2015, Cancer Genetics), Juliette Tindall (2018, Modern and Medieval Languages), Joshua Kaye (2020, Mathematics) and Sameer Aggar wal (2018, Engineering) will represent the College again as one of the final eight teams. We’re all rooting for them!
The JCSU and MCR Green Of ficers, Ezra Grosz and Hannah Comfor t, organised events in College for the University-wide Green Week in November Students, staf f, Fellows and alumni were invited to attend a discussion at the Intellectual Forum about what we can do as a community about the climate crisis, as well as a plant-based Formal, an intercollegiate green pub quiz and a houseplant sale
The JCSU Freshers’ Reps organised a successful Refreshers Week for undergraduates at the beginning of
Lent Term Events ranged from a film night, a trip to escape rooms, a pub crawl, a Refreshers Week formal, a walk to Grantchester, a trip to see Hamlet at the ADC, Just Dance and Mario Kar t games, a board games night and a pub quiz swap with Sidney Sussex College A par ticular highlight was a 70s disco-themed inter-college Superbop that Kieran and Lizzie organised with help from the Freshers’ Reps and Ents Of ficers at 10 other Colleges
During a tour by the Domestic Bursar, Haajrah (the JCSU Ethnic and Religious Minorities Of ficer) visited the multifaith space during its construction works, gaining insight about what the room will
look like once renovations are complete
It involves a generous space that can be divided by a cur tain for segregated prayers, as well as a kitchenette area for preparing drinks The multifaith space will be fully carpeted and include showers and bathroom cubicles for people to prepare for prayer and reflection. There will be two entries for segregated prayers, as well as a shoe rack, cloak pegs and lockers to store any belongings required for faith-related events A notice board will allow dif ferent groups to signpost meetings and prayer times and online booking may be available in the future.
Nicole Ling Yan Lee, JCSU PresidentWe welcomed new students with a Freshers’ For tnight including tours led by the Por ters, taster events in cricket, rowing and football, a nature walk led by Rhona Watson and a Welcome Formal Hall Trips to Grantchester, the Botanical Gardens and Jack’s Gelato showed some of the highlights of life in the City of Cambridge
The MCR was ver y pleased to return to the Hall for our Christmas Dinners, the first main College events held back in the Hall. The kitchen staf f did an excellent job of supplying great food
William Ashton (2019) organised a two-week tour of Hamlet, per forming in Belgium, Germany, Switzerland and London. Fellow Jesus students Laurie Ward (2020) and Tonye Igali (2020) were par t of the production Laurie played the par t of Ger trude, and Tonye designed the costumes They per formed at the ADC Theatre in Januar y as the final destination of the European tour and received a five-star review from Varsity Laurie took her own play Real, Mad World to the Edinburgh Fringe, where it received excellent reviews.
PhD student Ariel de Fauconberg (2020) was awarded the prestigious Bracken Bower Prize, for the best business book proposal by an author aged under 35 Ariel was named winner of the £15,000 prize at a ceremony at the Victoria and Alber t Museum in London in December for her book proposal Before the Dawn: Racing to net zero on the front lines of climate innovation
PhD student Amy Wolstenholme (2020) per formed her prize-winning poem for peace at the London Peace Symposium. Her poem won first prize in the Poetr y Society’s Young Poets Network earlier this year You can read Amy’s poem and more about her experience on our website
Engineering undergraduate Katy Car tlidge (2018) featured in the Depar tment of Engineering magazine for her four th-year project on whether an ice volcano can help restore Ar tic sea ice
The Boat Club finished Michaelmas Term with strong per formances in the Fairbairn Races The men ’ s first crew came second, the women ’ s first crew came four th, and the men ’ s first novice crew and the women ’ s first novice crew both came second Following the Christmas break, 24 rowers, four coxes and four coaches headed to Por tugal for a week’s warm weather training camp. Training twice a day on a purpose-built rowing lake, good progress was made by all. Well done to the Jesus Ultimate Frisbee team, who won the Frisbee ‘Indoor Cuppers’, the end of term tournament against all other College teams in December The team went into the tournament seeded four th out of 14 teams, and won all of their 6 matches, with a decisive 10-2 win in the final
and we all had a lot of fun. Thanks to the Por ters for leading the singing after dinner The New Year got of f to a great star t for the MCR with the Burns Night Dinner This was a real success, with special thanks to Jake Moscrop for the Address to the Haggis, Oscar Cor tés Azuero for the Address to the Lassies and Sara Crozier for the Address to the Laddies As usual the kitchens did an excellent job, with dinner highlights including Haggis bon-bons and Neaps and Tatties
Mark Turner, MCR PresidentPar ticular congratulations to ‘Most Spirited Player’ Imogen Perkins (2020, co-captain), ‘Most Improved Player’ Jago Foord (2022), and ‘Most Valuable Player’ Luke Piggott (2022), all voted for by the team
Jesus Women’s and Non-binar y Football (photo above) is through to the Cuppers finals for the second year in a row They won the semi-final 3-1 against PCCH (Peterhouse, Clare and Clare Hall) Not to be left behind, the Men’s Football team smashed it with a 13-0 win against Peterhouse in the Plate Well done to the Jesus Rugby team, who won 28-21 against the All Greys in the first round of Cuppers. It was a close match with excellent play from both sides.
As fans geared up for the World Cup in November, we enjoyed our own football contest here with the annual staf f versus students football match (photo below) Rain and a shor t burst of hail failed to dampen spirits. It ended in a resounding 3-0 victor y for the students. Team captain, Head Gardener Lee de Grammont, is already planning the staf f comeback!
In memor y of Jesuan and talented travel writer Tom Parkinson (1997), we ’ re of fering grants of up to £2,500 for young alumni to help develop their writing while exploring the world. The first grant winners were Leah Yeger (2019, HSPS) and Sophie Beckingham (2019, Histor y of Ar t). Applications for the next round of funding are open until 30 April 2023 Many thanks to ever ybody who donated during our recent Telephone Campaign Seven student callers took par t, raising over £100,000 for their College including for undergraduate bursaries, teaching, and access and outreach
We are grateful for your continued suppor t
Ryan Cullum and Maisy Smyth, Development Officers
As par t of the kitchen project we have planted three tulip trees in Pump Cour t and have positioned four large pots for camelias Fur ther planting and lawn construction will take place ahead of spring. Our winter displays included ornamental grasses, vibrant coloured dog woods and heucheras, and annual bedding plants such as wall flowers, primroses and violas Snowdrops and winter aconite bulbs appeared,
followed by daf fodils Our winter flowering plants have been a real showstopper for appearance and winter scent Congratulations to Danny Lawler who has recently been promoted to Deputy Head of Grounds and Gardens. Danny has been here since 2019 and has also worked as a Gardener at Clare College and Robinson College
Lee de Grammont, Head of Grounds and Gardens
It has become customar y in Michaelmas Term for the Por ters to play host, providing hot chocolate, tea and cof fee in First Cour t at a meet and greet for all our students and College members It was wonder ful to meet with the newest members of our community, to learn a little more about them and the journey that brought them to Jesus The cream and marshmallows were par ticularly well received!
In December, it was my privilege as Head Por ter to reprise the historic tradition of leading the carol singing at the Christmas Formals Ever yone joined in with the physical ups and downs that are required during The Twelve Days of Christmas! It was ver y special to return to our beloved Hall, where the acoustics are far superior
Simon Durrant, Head PorterCambridge Business Improvement District (BID) facilitates two ‘myster y shopper’ visits to par ticipating businesses in the city centre each year, allowing them the oppor tunity to understand how they are viewed by their current and prospective customers. We were delighted to be awarded 5 stars for our Bed and Breakfast ser vice across College. Comments included, “The buildings each have individual character and style and continue to be presented in excellent condition externally”, and “housekeeping continues to be of an excellent overall standard” Cleanliness of rooms was rated at 100% and praise was also given to the maintenance of the gardens and grounds and to the welcome provided by the Por ters’ Lodge Alexis Moreau, Manciple and Sonia Horton, Housekeeping Manager
Before the star t of Michaelmas Term, we renovated a total of eight houses and two flats, including four par tner units and six multiple-occupation houses This included installing new kitchens, new IT cabling, renovations to bathrooms, new flooring, redecoration throughout and new furniture. Our furniture supplier planted 42 trees in Hampshire on behalf of the College as par t of their sustainability objectives and all the wood used in the furniture was from sustainable sources
Isabel Harrison, Housing Manager
Following the death of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, flowers and a condolence book were opened in Chapel for College members and visitors to pay their respects Our Ser vice of Special Commemoration was the first time for many of us to sing God save our gracious King.
The Chapel team organised a College Getaway to King’s Lynn in November, allowing postgraduate students to visit the town museum and get in touch with their medieval side! The College Getaway of fers the chance a few times a year to take a break, explore somewhere new and make new friends
We returned to a full programme of Advent and Christmas ser vices, welcoming around 1,000 College members and staf f, their families and guests, for candlelit carols sung by the
We welcomed new Director of Music, Mr Benjamin Sheen His previous roles include Sub-Organist at Christ Church Cathedral in Oxford, Organ Tutor at the University of Oxford and Associate Organist at St Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue in New York City
To celebrate the 150th bir thday of
British composer and Cambridge alumnus, Ralph Vaughan Williams (1872-1958), we released a combined Choirs’ recording of the Five Mystical Songs, with soloist Andrew Thompson and string ensemble CantiaQuorum
The Revd James Crockford, Dean of Chapel
In conjunction with the Gardens Depar tment, we recently launched a Seed Librar y for people to donate to and take seeds, encouraging sustainability, biodiversity and wellbeing for the whole community The collection contains flower seeds (including those from the Nor th Cour t wildflower meadow), vegetables and even microherbs for those who might have windowsills but no garden We also of fer gardening advice and a collection of gardening books
The Old Librar y is now fully open and accessible following the Kitchen
Our events included panel discussions with alumni and talks by industr y exper ts in our ‘In the business of ’ series, including two ver y special guests –David Braben (1982), CEO of Frontier Games and co-founder of the Raspberr y Pi Foundation; and writer and per former Ellie Kendrick (2009) who starred in
We welcomed our new Senior Tutor, Dr Paul Dominiak, who many will remember from his role as Dean of Chapel and Welfare Tutor from 2015 to 2019. It has been a year of transition, with four out of six roles seeing a change of personnel Our student ambassadors toured Nor th East England as par t of our outreach programme, visiting 28 state schools and delivering 45 sessions to over 1,100 young people to suppor t them in learning about fur ther education and applying to Cambridge
Jenny Jenyon, Tutorial Manager
project works Chris Barker, the Assistant Keeper, continues to work on the cataloguing project which is revealing new information about the provenance and histor y of the collection This work will hopefully make the Old Librar y ’ s collections more accessible to researchers now and in the future Conser vation work on the manuscript collections continues, alongside the use of the OL for teaching and research
Rhona Watson, Quincentenary Librarian and Michael Edwards, Keeper of the Old Library
Game of Thrones. We hosted our second annual Speed Networking event, inviting 10 alumni from dif ferent industries to meet with current students, preceded by a session on ‘How to network successfully’ run by Lene Hansen (1996), founder of The Glass Ceiling Project. Our LinkedIn/CV workshops
and individual clinics remained popular, led by two recruitment exper ts, Jesuans Mohan Yogendran (1982) and Douglas Board (1975) If you’d like to contribute to our programme do get in touch – we’d love to hear from you!
Sarah Richey, Careers MentorAr tist Melissa Pierce Murray explored meanings and roles we ascribe to aesthetics, arguing that beautiful things often mask ugly realities If we concentrate on presentation, she said, we might miss the realities of material production, context and politics. In the absence of absolute values, truth and beauty of concept become apt solutions to arbitrar y sets of rules which we have ourselves constructed The question underpinning her talk was: is beauty in an object, or in a concept? The talk was followed by a popular workshop using experimental drawing techniques to explore perception, cognition, value and intent, including drawing without seeing.
28 October: An evening with Lemn
Renowned poet, playwright, memoirist, per former and broadcaster Lemn Sissay OBE read from his memoir
My Name is Why and discussed his life and work
Lemn captivated the room with his electric deliver y and power ful intimacy We’ve never had more laughter at an IF event, but there were also moments of deep seriousness as Lemn spoke candidly about what he went through and what others continue to suf fer. The many people who attended were ef fusive in their feedback, citing the profound impact the talk had on them The Q&A was par ticularly moving and gave rise to extensive reflection and connection
December: We launched a new edX course, Digital Wellbeing and Productivity
The Intellectual Forum teamed up with Senior Research Associate Tyler Shores to create a new edX course on Digital Wellbeing and Productivity The course addresses the challenge of finding a healthy balance between productivity and downtime, and asks: how can individuals and institutions learn from research-based knowledge to create digital habits and skills to help us flourish together?’ This course joins our other free online edX courses: Preventing and responding to sexual harassment and violence and Managing conflict and polarization in the workplace and beyond These courses achieved global success this year, with over 2,000 students from 170 countries enrolling
12 January: Book launch with Dr Paul Dominiak
Charlotte Proudman and Lakshmi Sundaram
Many assume that the right to an abor tion is enshrined in law in most of the UK, but that’s not the case As reproductive rights for people with wombs are being challenged around the world, Charlotte and Lakshmi outlined the current legal situation in the UK, and how the law and other tools can be utilised to create change They drew on their experience of fighting for – and achieving – progress in the UK and globally around other aspects of girls’ and women ’ s rights, and their talk led to lively and productive discussion from multiple perspectives in the room.
The Intellectual Forum hosted the book launch for The Falling of Dusk, Dr Paul Dominiak’s new book on religious doubt Paul’s book explores how each of the seven last words of Jesus on the Cross attends to doubt as the refining fire of faith, rather than as its enemy. Paul elaborated on his book’s central questions: why should Christians embrace suspicious doubt, and can a suspicious Christianity challenge doubters? With this talk aimed at those who embrace, reject, or are uncer tain about faith, Paul invited us to reflect in unconventional ways on our assumptions, anxieties, suspicions and beliefs
9 February: Lisa Jardine Memorial Lecture
– Archival pursuits: unediting lives and letters with Professor Nadine Akkerman
In memor y of Professor Lisa Jardine, eminent scholar and the College’s first woman Fellow, Professor Nadine Akkerman spoke on editorial practice She asked: what do we do when editors and archivists wilfully mislead us, and does it matter if their sins are merely those of omission? Nadine discussed M A Green’s work, following Lisa Jardine’s arguments in her final collection of essays, and compared it with J A Worp’s omissions from his edition of Constantijn Huygens’s correspondence She concluded that cer tain inter ventions, especially when under taken silently, are not only prescriptive and presumptuous, but can easily erase entire networks. Find out about past and upcoming events at www jesus cam ac uk/research/intellectual-forum
The new Kitchen and Hall have been in the pipeline for many years, and previous ar ticles online and in our publications explain the benefits in terms of sustainability and architecture But now that we ’ ve moved in, how does it feel to work and dine here?
The old kitchens were tired and outdated They had little natural light and a ver y low ceiling There was not enough workspace and the fridge and freezer space was limited and often overloaded The temperature control was also problematic with chefs having to wear additional layers and woolly hats in the winter, as well as using bar heaters In the summer, the kitchen could be unbearable The power levels were also a major issue, preventing us from using additional high-power equipment
I was included in planning from the star t and attended many monthly Kitchen Development Working Par ty meetings, which were essential to make sure that ever y element of the build was scrutinized and understood Architect, Paul Vonberg, listened to ever y requirement. It was a real privilege to be included in so much of the process and it gave me a chance to inform my team in the process from planning to completion.
It has been amazing to see the plans on paper be made a reality The new kitchens are a great space, meticulously planned by all par ties involved It will be a great experience for apprentices and work experience placements to learn in such an amazing environment The additional space will make it a much more pleasant experience for them where the team can give them
1-to-1 training I love spending time in the new kitchens The equipment, facilities and layout must make the Jesus College kitchen one of the most desirable to work in, in the local area
I’m honoured to have star ted work at Jesus College in March. I think the new kitchen has been designed extremely well I am ver y excited to work with the kitchen team to create mouth-watering menus, and to focus on seasonal and sustainable catering.
It was great to be involved in planning the changes and impressive to see the kitchen's journey from a dusty building site to a modern and unique new kitchen. The kitchen is now a lot more spacious and bright with the new equipment and facilities There is plenty of oven space for cooking and the separate preparation rooms help keep production to a high standard as each room has its own equipment and storage space, helping keep each area well organised In the future, it would be a
“It will be a great experience for apprentices and work experience placements to learn in such an amazing environment”
“I am ver y excited to work with the kitchen team to create new mouth-watering menus ”
great oppor tunity to see an apprentice chef come on board. It would be interesting to see how they develop using the new equipment the kitchen has to of fer I feel positive, proud and excited to be working in the new kitchen, having the new equipment, facilities and space we will be able to continue providing a high standard of food and ser vice I look for ward to tr ying out and learning new things with the equipment the kitchen has to of fer As a team we are spoilt for choice!
The old kitchen was cramped, with a low dark ceiling and a tight staircase up towards the Caf f We had lots of involvement in the development of the new kitchen. We learnt how to read Architect drawings, and we received constant updates and tours in hard hats
It’s been a disruptive and challenging time, but the team has embraced changes well The best par t of the new kitchen is the natural light and improved equipment I’m looking for ward to the new kitchen having all the finishing touches completed
West Cour t has treated us well during our exile from Hall, but what a pleasure to be back in the ancient College dining spaces For the reunion, my friends and I (from that great vintage, 1989) were seated in Upper Hall –an exceptionally beautiful room, which dates back to the foundation of the College The food was excellent and, at my end of the table, mostly vegetarian. I must ask the chefs for their kale chowder recipe Great ser vice too, though disarmingly, I’ve known some of the waiting staf f since they were babies Maybe I’ve been in Cambridge too long?
I was delighted to be involved in the project as an MCR Committee member who sat on both the Buildings Committee and the Kitchen Development Working Par ty. It is always a pleasure to dine in the Hall and the improvements look fantastic The Caf f area looks ver y sharp and modern, and there is much more room than before The new benches in the Hall are significantly more comfor table for the taller individual, which is ver y welcoming! Crucially, the improvement in accessibility is going to massively benefit current and future generations of Jesuans. This new development strengthens the progress that students and staf f are making towards reducing waste and minimizing our impact on the environment
“The best par t of the new kitchen is the natural light and improved equipment”
Jesus College welcomes Dr Mary Augusta Brazelton as a new Fellow. She is Director of Studies for History and Philosophy of Science (HPS) and Associate Professor in Global Studies of Science, Technology and Medicine
1. How long have you been working in Cambridge?
I moved to Cambridge from the USA in 2015
I’d previously visited the Needham Research Institute, a centre for the study of East Asian science, technology and medicine (I’m a Research Fellow and Trustee)
I’m a Director of Studies and a University Associate Professor here, so in addition to super vising small groups, I lecture to large groups of students, including some from the 1B Natural Sciences Tripos and medics I hope that people who take my course are shaped into stronger scientists I encourage them to think about the implications of their work and how they’re contributing to science and to society
2. Jesus College welcomed you as a Fellow this year. What does it mean to join us?
Cambridge is over flowing with talented and knowledgeable people and the same can be said for Jesus College It’s great to join a friendly academic community that really cares about its members. I’m enjoying getting to know people and forming new connections
3. How did you first become interested in the history of science?
I was interested in science and humanities as an undergraduate at Har vard, where there was a whole depar tment dedicated to the histor y of science. The subject appealed on an intellectual level, and I became fascinated by the relationship between science and society I’m interested in the lessons we can learn from the past and from dif ferent cultures, especially from East Asia. One professor gave me some great advice, which was to figure out what I enjoyed reading and to keep on reading it
4. Your first book was about vaccinations and learning lessons from China. Did it open doors for you professionally?
My book was published in November 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic and the extraordinar y events that followed I was invited to join a Pandemic Histor y Thinktank at the Western Pacific Regional Of fice of the WHO, where we discussed how to use experiences of past pandemics to help manage future outbreaks Our conversations were dif ficult but productive. We produced a White Paper for WHO, and I was invited to speak on a panel at the WHO Health Futures Forum. I’ve also just published a small Cambridge Element book called China and Global Health, an accessible over view which I hope will appeal to a wider audience.
5. What are your hopes and predictions for the future of global health?
It’s striking how quickly people moved to declare this pandemic over I’m ver y positive about vaccines and new technologies; they’ve played a transformative role in managing this pandemic and it’s impor tant to acknowledge their huge success We should be careful though to recognise that they don’t solve all the problems that pandemics cause. Examples throughout histor y show the long-term repercussions of diseases, such as long-term chronic illnesses and mental health problems. We need to ask who’s being left behind, and how can we respond in a mindful way to look after ever yone in society.
6. How do you unwind outside of work?
My family lives in Washington DC, so I take regular trips back to visit I like reading fiction and occasionally I play the piano My husband and I enjoy exploring Cambridgeshire by foot and by bike. We love our jobs and we feel settled here
Professor of Christian Theology, Simeon Zahl, has taught in the Faculty of Divinity since 2018. He recently published his second book, The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience, on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit
1. How long have you been in Cambridge?
I studied here for a total of seven years, for my doctorate and my post-doc I was born in New York and when I first arrived in the UK from the USA, I was detained at the border then sent back home due to a change in student visa laws! I star ted a week late, but my Director of Studies was understanding and welcoming As a student here, I experienced the joy of one-to-one learning for the first time I returned to Cambridge in 2018 for a permanent post in the Faculty of Divinity.
It means a lot to me to join an intellectual community beyond my own area of study. It’s a big Fellowship and I’m still meeting people; I’ve attended three dinners in the last eight days! Ever yone has been relaxed, welcoming and friendly. The most rewarding aspect of my role here is engaging with students over time, from admissions through to undergraduates, postgraduates and beyond. I deliver all my super visions one-to-one, so I get to know students in a ver y helpful way The College system encourages a wonder ful depth of understanding, both intellectually and on a personal level
Although my dad is a Vicar and a Cathedral Dean, it didn’t occur to me to study theology until after I’d star ted my first degree in German histor y and literature at Har vard As an undergraduate, I found myself drawn to theoretical questions around histor y and philosophy and found that it was really generative to view them through the framework of religion – something of a forgotten angle at the time in humanities scholarship I tried one year of theology and found it to be a great fit because it linked histor y and philosophy and was closely connected to people’s day-to-day lives My dad taught me that Christianity can help us to ask questions and to open discussions, rather than shutting them down
The publication opened lots of doors, including my recent promotion to Professor It has received 18 reviews, and students from around the world have been in touch to discuss it I think the subject has wide appeal because it provides a template for how to approach theology, bringing questions about religion into the mainstream. It allows you to ask interesting questions about the relationship between ideas and human experience which are at the hear t of theology, but also relevant far beyond it. I’m writing my third book now It’s about the doctrine of sin, a concept which has become almost implausible to a lot of people in the modern world. I reframe the idea of sin as a diagnostic framework aimed at healing and hope, rather than a tool for judging people Theologians have been thinking about what Mar tin Luther King Jr called the ‘ gone-wrongness ’ of the world for a long time I think that theology can provide some power ful tools for thinking about the world’s problems in a compassionate and hopeful way
5. How is the discipline of theology developing?
Theology has had a fantastic year for applications at Jesus, despite the general dip in interest for small humanities subjects Our postgraduate community is thriving, there’s a huge amount of interest from around the world My current six PhD students are fantastic. We’re all engaged in related projects, which creates a great sense of energy I find it exciting that theology is becoming more interdisciplinar y. We engage in dialogue with many academic disciplines including psychology, literature and social anthropology
6. How do you unwind outside of work?
I was a runner, but I cycle more often now I enjoy reading and playing video games with my three children. I’m also interested in architecture; Cambridge is a great base to travel and explore beautiful, interesting, historic buildings.
I’m grateful to Jesus College Cambridge Society for funding my trip to Greece in May 2022 I visited many impor tant archaeological sites including Mycenae and the National Archaeological Museum in Athens
The place I was most excited to go was the citadel of πολυχρύσοιο Μυκήνης (Mycenae), the famous ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον home to Agamemnon in Homer’s Iliad. As a student studying Mycenaean Greece, it was excellent to visit the place I’ve read so much about Of fame here are the ‘Lion Gate’ and the shaft graves of ‘Grave Circle A’, in which Schliemann (the original excavator of the site) located his Agamemnon
Of course, these Shaft Graves dated from around 1650-1550 BC (the dates are vague and were revised half a centur y either way ever y decade or so), whilst the Trojan War was supposedly 1250 BC, so this identification is clearly incorrect, to leave aside questions about the historicity of the Trojan War
The citadel itself was in use for half a millennium in the Bronze Age, so there is plenty to see. The museum at the site is extensive, well-laid out and enlightening Some of the remains within the site of Mycenae, but outside the actual citadel, were much neglected by the other visitors These included: the ‘Lion Tomb’, the less well-known tholos (‘beehive’) tomb at the site, still impressive (in scale and acoustics) despite missing its dome; the more famous tholoi known as the ‘Tomb of Aegisthus’ and the ‘Tomb of Clytemnestra’; the Mycenaean town, including the ‘House of the Sphinx’ amongst others; the shaft graves of Grave Circle B I consider this last point to be the most egregious omission by tourists (and indeed the site’s own signage) Grave Circle B –prominent in both the Mycenae and National Archaeological Museum collections – is tucked away on the right of the entrance and is visible from the car park through the fence, essentially hiding in plain sight. These graves, from the 18-17th centuries BC, are the immediate predecessors of the grander graves of Grave Circle A and mark the site’s emergence as an impor tant Bronze Age centre. The ‘Treasur y of Atreus’ is the largest and most famous of the tholos tombs and can be found a five-minute walk from the site entrance
The National Archaeological Museum in Athens has an impressive collection from various par ts of the ancient Mediterranean The main area of interest for me was the entrance hall, which displays the Mycenaean finds from Mycenae (the more impressive and shiny ones absent from the Mycenae Museum), as well as from other Mycenaean sites around Greece Whilst in need of updating and re-organisation, there are lots of objects and plentiful information – though some background knowledge is required to make sense of some of it
Probably the most famous item in the collection is the ‘Death Mask of Agamemnon’, though a minority of scholars have suggested Schliemann actually identified the mask displayed next to it as Agamemnon
The ground floor has an impressive selection of Greek, Hellenistic and Roman statuar y, as well as a temporar y exhibit and one on bronze casts The famous ‘Antikythera Mechanism’ can theoretically be found on this floor, if one can locate it in the labyrinthine halls (and variously obser ved one-way system). To my surprise, as well as an over whelming selection of potter y, the upstairs contains a collection of finds from Thera, the ‘Aegean Pompeii’, destroyed by a volcano around the 15th centur y BC.
“As a student studying Mycenaean Greece, it was excellent to visit the place I’ve read so much about.”
My placement gave me the oppor tunity to gain insight and experience as an integrated par t of a unique and historically successful wildlife rehabilitation operation.
FreeMe Wildlife KZN is a unique rehabilitation group that deals with a diverse array of indigenous South African wildlife, par ticularly reptiles, raptors, and ser vals
Unlike many wildlife rescue centres, they run a par ticularly private operation, prohibiting all public access, whilst implementing a treatment policy that is founded on the principle of only admitting animals that have a legitimate prospect of full recover y and successful release Such a strategy prioritises two key elements to best prepare the animals in their care for life after release Firstly, they are committed to replicating each patient’s natural environment as closely as possible to ensure that their animals can continue to express and develop normal behaviour; this is especially impor tant for juveniles. The second is a focus on keeping human interaction to a minimum wherever possible This prevents dependency and imprinting from occurring – associations which could hinder an animal’s chances of sur vival post-release
Throughout my stay I kept a comprehensive journal of each day’s events. I was able to take on an active role within the organisation administering treatments and conducting clinical examinations. Treatments included electrolyte tor toise baths; vitamin K injections for a spotted eagle-owl with suspected internal bleeding; deliver y of Doxybiotic (containing Doxycycline) and Midazole (containing Levamisole and Albendazole) to red eye doves, olive pigeons and other small birds in care I also oversaw a jackal buzzard’s flight practice (admitted with a broken coracoid); tube feeding chicks, hatchlings and a hadeda (with suspected concussion); bottle feeding a young duiker (severely burnt during firebreak burning)
Fur thermore, I was able to sit in on a few lectures delivered on site, concerning morphic fields and epigenetics The objective of these classes was to emphasise the influence of environmental factors on an animal’s behaviour and capacity for recover y as demonstrated by the way the team dealt with the admission and diagnostic investigation on a secretar y bird that was admitted during my stay
The most unique par t of my experience came in the form of the post-mor tem necropsies I was tasked with carr ying out I was able to dissect a range of exotic species that I would other wise have never had the oppor tunity to investigate in such detail These included birds of prey, geese, doves, pigeons, tor toises, snakes, a chameleon, two duikers and a rock monitor lizard (known locally as Leguaan). This provided a per fect oppor tunity to consolidate my exotic species anatomy knowledge and develop it beyond the bounds of the lecture syllabus Additionally, it gave me immersive problem-solving experience as I had to discern healthy features from those that were potentially pathological, to decide upon a likely cause of death Following each necropsy, I had to write a full repor t which was then digitally transcribed and filed in the FreeMe database
I am immensely grateful to have received a Jesus College Study Grant towards this trip – I would not have gained such rewarding experience without it. Thank you.
“I would not have gained such rewarding experience without it.”
There has been a tradition of communal eating on the site of Jesus College since c. 1150. To mark the opening of the new kitchen, our Archivists put together an exhibition that traces the histor y of food and feasting from the time of the Prior y of St Mar y and St Radegund to the present day It celebrates the Hall as a place to socialise, create friendships, and as a setting for the intellectual exchange of ideas, none of which would be possible without those who buy, cook and ser ve the food. This ar ticle gives a small taste of the exhibition, which you can read about in greater detail on our website blog.
The medieval prior y of St Mar y and St Radegund was established c. 1150 and was situated on this site before the foundation of the College on 12 June 1496, when Henr y VII issued Letters Patent to Bishop Alcock of Ely authorising him to suppress the nunner y of St Radegund and to use its proper ty to found a College. The College Hall is still located in the same position as the nuns ’ refector y: above a butter y and cellars which is now the new kitchen During the medieval period, a bell would have summoned the nuns to meals in the refector y and they would have ritually washed their hands at a laver located in cloister walk. During the meal, a nun read spiritual texts from an elevated pulpit whilst the others ate in silence. The nuns were seated according to seniority, with the Prioress and senior nuns seated on a raised dais at the eastern end, similar to a High Table
The College Archives hold several account rolls from the time of the Prior y of St Radegund that give researchers an interesting insight into the day-to-day lives of the nuns. The account roll shown below is the earliest of the accounts that is known to sur vive. It covers the years 1449-1450 and contains information relating to all aspects of life in the Prior y including a detailed record of amounts spent on food The list of food purchased by the nuns includes bread, beer, the flesh of cows, pigs, sheep, veal, piglets, chicken, fowl, lambs, butter and fish.
Once the College was founded in 1496 the tradition of communal eating continued with students taking their meals together in Hall However, the experience was not the same as it is today. In the 16th Centur y, dining in Hall was obligator y for all – a quasi-monastic occasion with grace and Bible readings, followed by modest conversation (during which nobody was to be ‘noisy, wordy, quarrelsome or abusive’) Anyone who dared to speak in any language other than Latin was to be rebuked ‘with moderation’ and that rebuke was to be received by the of fender ‘with patience and mutual charity’. College members were also warned to ‘abstain from tippling and drunkenness’
The earliest statutes of the College (1515-16) provided for one Fellow to act as Seneschal with ‘knowledge and super vision in the purchase, preparation and laying out of all victuals’. Food for Master and Fellows was not to cost more than 14d a week, for ‘boys and other Scholars’ 8d; but things improved on festival days, and at Christmas ever yone got to feast on boar
The 17th Centur y Stewards’ Account Book, shown above, contains a list of Fellows, their meals and notes of prices of items such as butter, sea-coal, charcoal and sugar
In the mid-nineteenth centur y the food generated horrified protests at a number of Colleges including Jesus Ar thur Gray (Master 1912-1940), who was an undergraduate at Jesus in the 1870s, claimed that Hall was ‘deadly cold’, that ‘bleeding bullocks hear ts’ were ser ved twice weekly, and that ‘frozen gravy and caterpillars supplied with the vegetables were principal constituents in our diet’ (Ar thur Gray, ‘Some memories of 50 years ’ , The Chanticlere: Lent Term 1922, p 11) We are all delighted how much the food has improved in quality since then!
Total donated: £1,788,747
Student financial support 47% £838,363
Core purposes 24% (i.e. unrestricted) £431,920
Academic support and teaching 12% £218,267
Buildings, facilities and collections 11% £190,289
£College initiatives 6% incl outreach and widening participation & Choir £109,908
Total number of donors: 1,596
Undergraduate alumni 83% 1,323 (participation 18.9%*)
Participation rate for all alumni 15.2%*
Total raised: £100,000+
Alumni contacted: 191
Number who gave: 108
Proportion who gave: 56%
Current donor 77%
Total raised: £150,000+
Number of donors: 370
Postgraduate alumni 8% 125 (participation 5.2%*)
Other alumni 0.1% 3 (participation 2.8%*)
Non-alumni 9% 145
Total raised: £186,452
Proportion of all donations: 10.4%
Lapsed donor
£10.20 raised for every £1 spent on fundraising
10.2
I never thought it would be possible for me to study in Cambridge I’m not from an educated family; my parents didn’t have the oppor tunity to pursue higher education. I was born and raised in Hong Kong, and when I took the entrance tests to study GCSEs and A-Levels at Lancaster Royal Grammar School in the UK, I failed my first English exam! It was dif ficult but I improved quickly. After A-Levels, I joined a Year-in-Industr y programme and worked at GlaxoWellcome hoping to become a scientist But, after two weeks they transferred me to the engineering depar tment which turned out to be a better fit. My project ended up winning awards and a scholarship to suppor t my education at university
It was when I visited a close friend from Hong Kong in Cambridge that I star ted to understand the great oppor tunities here. He encouraged me to apply, and I was ver y ner vous at the inter view Getting an of fer was quite an achievement!
I was attracted to Jesus College because ar t and spor ts have always been a ver y impor tant par t of my life I love basketball and the Alternative Student Prospectus showed that Jesus was one of only two Colleges with a cour t From my first phone call with someone at the College, I knew that it was a warm, welcoming and inclusive place I had a wonder ful and inspiring Director of Studies, Professor Geof f Parks I played for the College basketball team and I ran the Cambridge University Chinese Society and produced shows at the ADC Theatre
Cambridge transformed me into the person I am today, and the College played a big par t in that. It is an unmatched and unique environment, leading the way in spor ts and ar tistic pursuits, as well as academically I’m ver y grateful for my experience here because it opened doors for me, and now I want to open doors for other people. I’m an external advisor to the Intellectual Forum and I’m so impressed by the huge range of talks and events; I wish it had existed when I was a student. My advice to current students is to make the most of ever y oppor tunity. Enjoy your time here and stay for as long as you can!
I’d have liked to stay longer but my mum, who happened to be my best friend in life, became unwell, so I returned to Hong Kong to spend time with her I worked in the
energy sector, first as a management trainee and then running a business for 12 years. My mum knew that I wasn’t happy or fulfilled In her final days, I promised her to do something more meaningful with my life. I star ted as a volunteer advising charities on governance, strategy and processes, which eventually led to my current role.
I’m now Secretar y-General of the Yidan Prize Foundation, a global philanthropic organisation which awards two international prizes for innovative research and projects to advance education globally I also ser ve in the Cambridge University’s Networks and Volunteers Working Group to help build engagement with alumni in Asia, and I chair the means-test committee of the Prince Philip Scholarship which provides full scholarships for underprivileged but bright students from Hong Kong to read any subject in Cambridge I enjoy my work ver y much It’s fulfilling to know that we ’ re enabling more people to benefit from the transformative power of education
My wife and I met in Cambridge, and we love to visit regularly with our two children We tell them that we spent some of the happiest days of our lives here. We hope that they’re inspired by the place and the people. I tr y to recreate the close relationship that my mum and I enjoyed growing up with my children, by spending time together doing ar t and crafts, playing spor ts, sharing jokes and having great chats
Giving through your Will is an af fordable way of suppor ting the charities of your choice Once you have provided for your loved ones, leaving a charitable legacy is such a meaningful way to contribute to the causes that are impor tant to you. If Jesus College has had an impact on your life, please consider giving back through your Will.
Why do I need a Will?
Having a Will gives you control over what happens to your assets and family Many people leave it too late in life: you should write your Will when you buy your first house, or have a child A Will can reduce the impact of Inheritance Tax, and makes sure your money goes to the people and charities you care most about. You should seek legal advice when making or revising your Will.
Can I specify how I want my legacy to be used?
34% of donation income in the last five years was from legacy gifts
Yes Legacies can be directed to specific aspects of the College, in suppor t of our core mission of providing an environment for the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest levels of excellence It is best to describe your preferences broadly, and make your gift subject to an expression of wish, rather than a binding obligation. Please contact Development and Alumni Relations to discuss how you would like your legacy to be used, to ensure the College is able to administer your gift according to your wishes.
Contributions marked ‘for general purposes ’ are par ticularly beneficial, as they allow the College to respond to changing needs in years to come Unrestricted legacies are usually added to the permanent capital of the College, meaning your gift could impact the lives of generations of Jesuans
Does leaving a legacy to Jesus affect my tax position?
As a registered charity (1137462), a bequest to Jesus College is deducted from the net value of your Estate before Inheritance Tax is calculated In addition, if you leave at least 10% of your net Estate to charity, the rate of Inheritance Tax on the remainder of your taxable Estate is reduced from 40% to 36%
I give to the Master, Fellows and Scholars of Jesus College in the University of Cambridge (registered charity number 1137462) the residue / [a propor tion] of the residue of my estate / the sum of £[amount] free of tax for the general purposes of the College and I declare that the receipt of the Bursar or other authorised of ficer for the time being of the College shall be a good and suf ficient discharge to my Executors.
If you have left a legacy gift to Jesus, you are warmly welcomed to join the 1496 Society. Named after the year the College was founded, the 1496 Society honours and acknowledges the many generous donors who recognise the impor tance of Jesus College’s mission with a gift in their Will 1496 Society membership benefits include a letter of thanks from the Master, a special membership pin, and invitations to an annual lunch exclusively for those who have left a legacy, as well as the annual Donors’ Garden Par ty. Jesus College was built on legacy gifts, and they remain vitally impor tant today
We are ver y grateful to the 184 members and friends of the College who have chosen to remember Jesus in their Will.
To discuss leaving your legacy at Jesus, contact Maisy Smyth in the Development and Alumni Relations Of fice development@jesus.cam.ac.uk or +44 (0)1223 339301.
40t h Anniversar y of t he College Choir Reunion
Saturday 22 April
1496 Society Lunc h
Wednesday 3 May
JCCS Annual Buffet Lunc h
Saturday 17 June
Society of St Radegund Annual Dinner
Monday 26 June
Donors’ Garden Par ty
Saturday 1 July
Anniversar y Dinner (1983, 1993, 2003, 2013)
Saturday 1 July
Anniversar y Dinner (1991, 1998, 2001, 2011)
Saturday 2 September
JCCS Annual Dinner
Saturday 23 September
70 Years on Anniversar y Lunc h (1953)
Monday 6 November
60 Years on Anniversar y Lunc h (1963)
Monday 13 November
50 Years on Anniversar y Lunc h (1973)
Monday 20 November
Further details, including information on how to book, can be found on the College website If you have any questions please do not hesitate to get in touch with us.
We are ver y pleased to be able to of fer a wide range of gifts and mementoes, including cuf flinks, silk ties, silver pins, tote bags, paper weights, playing cards, tea towels, prints and books, cuddly teddy-bears, embossed Moleskine notebooks, the College flag and CD recordings of the Choirs of Jesus College –and not forgetting our new College Gin!
www.jesus.cam.ac.uk/alumni/gift-shop
“Ar t for Tomorrow”, a por tfolio of 10 original prints specially curated for the College, including works by world-famous ar tists; a limited-edition silk square scar f designed by Stephen Chambers RA and printed by the Armani silk printers, Maver of Como; and Thirty Years of Contemporary Art: Jesus College, Cambridge 1988-2018 by Jean Bacon and Jim Roseblade, a richly illustrated photographic memoir of three decades of Sculpture in the Close and the development of the permanent sculpture collection.
To purchase, please contact the Development and Alumni Relations Of fice, Jesus College Tel: +44 (0)1223 339301 or E-mail: development@jesus cam ac uk
Booking your next event with us of fers you another way to suppor t your College, as well as impressing your guests with an exclusive experience Our exceptional standards are demonstrated by our AIM Secure and 5* Visit England accreditations The College has an excellent reputation for repeatedly delivering outstanding events for clients such as the Judge Business School, AstraZeneca and Microsoft Research, as well as a plethora of public sector organisations, University depar tments, societies and associations
Discounts on bookings are available for alumni Please email conference@jesus cam ac uk and our friendly team will get back to you
Our West Cour t development also of fers a range of luxur y accommodation in the centre of Cambridge
To make a booking please contact us directly on +44 (0) 1223 760571 or email reception@jesus cam ac uk
