this issue
4–5
Fellows’ News
Welcome
21
MCR Update
Dear Members,
24
Upcoming Events
The past year has been like no other for all of us. Loss, fear and uncertainty have become part of our collective lives in ways few of us could have imaged. The impact on all areas of College life has been significant, and our students and staff have sometimes struggled but always worked exceedingly hard to make life, as it is, work.
REGULARS
FEATURES 3
he Year that Really was T a First
6
Mary Astell’s Books
7
Rhythms for Life
8–9
S cience and Loss in the Time of COVID-19
10–11 From Fuel Droplets in Jet Engines to Pathogen-carrying Droplets in the Air
12–15 The New Library 16–17 Discovering the Hole in the Ozone Layer
18–19 Order on the Court 20
agdalene Boat Club and M the Lockdown
22
ccess and Outreach When A You Have to Stay In
23
Novelist, Lawyer, Cassandra
6 12
The New Library, the focus of our fundraising efforts for so long, was quietly finished and even more quietly opened in Lent Term. A maximum of 60 students at any one time can use the Library at the moment due to the current social distancing requirements. You will, I hope, have read elsewhere how wonderful the New Library is, a building that has surpassed all expectations and has already settled into the landscape of the Fellows’ Garden, the vision of both the College and the architects beautifully realised and most generously funded by you, our Members and Friends. We are very much looking forward to the day when we can celebrate this magnificent achievement together in person. I know from talking to students who delight in using the new study space how much they value this truly wonderful addition to the College estate. We plan to celebrate our collective achievement and the end of the campaign in spring 2022, but for now, the Future Foundations Campaign continues for its final year and, we hope, for a final flourish. The whirlwind of the global events programme organised for the first three years of the campaign has unfortunately not been replicated this last year and is unlikely to be possible for most of this year, but we are getting ready for the end sprint! We are delighted with and grateful for the warm, generous and perhaps most importantly, the kind response from our Members and Friends to our appeal for help particularly during the pandemic. This issue of Magdalene Matters will be published both digitally and, albeit in reduced numbers, in hard copy. Please do let us know if you prefer to receive it by post or electronically so you can enjoy this and future issues in your preferred format. You will find a gift form enclosed with the newsletter or a link to a gift form in the digital issue of Magdalene Matters. This offers you the opportunity to assist the College in looking after our students or growing the Unrestricted Fund to allow the Senior Bursar to address the areas of greatest need. Every gift however modest makes a difference and is very much appreciated; thank you. Keep well, stay safe and keep in touch. We post regular updates on our website www.magd.cam.ac.uk. CORINNE LLOYD Editor and Director of Development Magdalene Matters is published by the Alumni and Development Office. For further information or if you would like to submit content for future issues please contact the Communications Officer, Mr Matthew Moon, or the Editor, Mrs Corinne Lloyd.
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The views expressed in this newsletter do not necessarily represent the views of Magdalene College Cambridge. Cover photo taken by Mr Matthew Moon.
