Figure 1 Torpids 2021
St Hilda’s Happenings Your Guide to Goings On
June 2021
Contents St Hilda’s Hurrahs! Catch up with news from our students, staff and Fellows. News from St Hilda’s Gardens Events College Library Updates In Other News
St Hilda’s Hurrahs Congratulations to: All College members who took part in our online Photographic Research Exhibition. While developing their research, our graduate students and academics have developed photos that provide a bridge from the worlds of their academic study to the world of art. Each of the pictures in this collection showcasing research at St Hilda's tells at least one story.
Figure 2 Images from St Hilda's Photographic Research Exhibition
Visit the online exhibition to find out more about the research undertaken by Anna Weber, who is reading for a MSt in English (1900-Present); Jakob Van den Eijnden, Lee Hysan Junior Research Fellow; Giacomo Bertuzzi, who is reading for a DPhil in Ion Channels & Disease; Catherine Schenk, Professor of Economic and Social History and Professorial Fellow at St Hilda’s; Professor Susan Jones, Tutorial Fellow in English, Dr Lisa Wedding, Lecturer in Geography, Anna James-Bott who is reading for a DPhil in Systems Approaches to Biomedical Sciences, Tatiana Spatola Rossi, who is reading for a PhD in Interdisciplinary Bioscience (DTP) associated to the Department of Plant Sciences, David Grainger, who is reading for a DPhil in Medical Sciences, and Dr Charlotte Cooper-Davis, a Departmental lecturer in French.
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Figure 3 The Venerable Jonathan Chaffey with St Hilda’s Chaplain and College members
Our Chaplain, Meryem Kalayci, has been awarded a British Academy Postdoctoral Fellowship in History. Meryem has organised many events this term, ending with Holy Communion on Wednesday of 8th Week with the Archdeacon of Oxford, the Venerable Jonathan Chaffey, sharing the service according to the rites of the Church of England. St Hilda’s choir will be performing, making this an extra-special event. Look out for Meryem’s weekly Sanctuary Mailing next term to find out what she’s got planned for Michaelmas.
Elliot Brooke is the winner of the 2021 Rachel McLean Award. This annual award goes to the member of St Hilda’s JCR who has improved College life and/or raised the profile of the College within the University. Students, staff and Fellows gathered together in our Pavilion for a dinner to mark the occasion and to present the 2021 Award. In this unusual year, the shortlist was a particularly strong one and Helen Micheal Youssef, Nikhil Kommineni, Zaynab Ahmed and James Bromfield were also nominated for the award by their fellow students. After a moving speech about Rachel McLean, whose memory the award honours, our Acting Principal, Dr Georgina Paul, announced Elliot as this year's very worthy winner.
Figure 4 Helen Micheal Youssef, Nikhil Kommineni, Dr Georgina Paul, Elliot Brooke, Zaynab Ahmed and James Bromfield.
Tutorial Fellow, Dr David Howey, spoke at the 46th Maurice Lubbock Memorial Lecture. Dr Howey gave a talk on How batteries are charging ahead and enabling clean electrification transport at this virtual event on 17 June. Professorial Fellow in Social and Economic History, Professor Catherine Schenk’s book, International Economic Relations since 1945, was published by Routledge on 17 June. This second edition has been updated to include an assessment of economic relations up to the COVID-19 pandemic. It focuses on three main threads that tie national economies together: flows of goods, of people and of finance.
IFigure 5 nternational Economic Relations since 1945 by Professor Catherine Schenk
Emma Gregory, our Undergraduate Admissions and Outreach Officer, has started the St Hilda’s Book Club. Attended and enjoyed by colleagues from various teams, so far the group has read Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens, The Midnight Library by Matt Haig and Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell. Email Emma to find out more if you are interested in joining. Many thanks to our outgoing JCR and MCR Presidents, James Bromfield and Katarina FossSolbrekk and all members of both committees. Congratulations too to our incoming Presidents, Mina Purdon and Angela Liu and the new committees. We look forward to working with them in academic year 2021/22. We are delighted to have been able to hold formal and celebratory dinners towards the end of this term. Many thanks to our Catering Manager, Garry Luke, and his team for providing these wonderful events. MCR Vice President, Eugene Lee, and Social Secretaries Laura Haas and Charles Zhang, have organised a full programme of virtual and, more recently, inperson events for our graduate students. These have included formal dinners in the new Pavilion, a virtual chocolate tasting, pretzel and beer event, cookie delivery and a wine tasting. Figure 6 MCR Formal Dinner in the Pavilion
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Our MCR and JCR members have run some wonderful welfare events this term, including a visit to College by our latest hildabeasts: some very welcome alpacas. Thanks to Nikhil Kommineni, Zaynab Ahmed, Daniel Syed-Chaudhry, Tasha Lovell, and Laura Haas for organising this event.
Figure 7 St Hilda's students with welfare alpacas
Our JCR Entz Officers, Caitlin Stark, Polly Lavelle and Charlotte O'Neill organised a soldout performance and meet and greet with A'Whora, one of the stars of Drag Race UK, for their fellow students in May at Plush, Oxford.
Figure 8 A'Whora with St Hilda's Entz Officers
Led by our Boat Club Captain, Anna James Bott, members of St Hilda’s Boat Club competed in Summer Torpids. While we missed being able to cheer them on from the banks, we watched the action on livestream and were very proud of our crews’ performance.
Figure 9 St Hilda's Boat Crew at Summer Torpids 2021
Katherine Ferris (Oncology, 2020) was appointed President of the 2021 Oxford University Women’s Lightweight Boat Club crew, taking on Cambridge on the River Ouse in May.
Figure 10 Oxford University Women’s Lightweight Boat Club crew and captain, Katherine Ferris
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Josh Greensmith (Physics, 2018) has founded the St Hilda’s Kayaking Club. This new activity will enable our students to get out on the water throughout the year and explore the beautiful sites on the Cherwell, from Holywell Mill to Parson’s Pleasure. There has been lots of interest in joining the club, with 30 students completing the required capsize drill to allow them to take a boat out. Many more are keen to take part in the next round of drills.
Figure 11 St Hilda's kayaking club out on a paddle
Good luck to this year’s telethon team! The telethon starts in 9th Week and will see our intrepid student callers ringing hundreds of alumnae to reconnect them with St Hilda’s, learn about their careers, and seek support for the College’s fundraising priorities. We’ve got a fantastic team and we can’t wait to get started!
News from St Hilda’s Gardens Tree Talks with Walter Our Gardens Consultant, Walter Sawyer, has continued to share his knowledge with his weekly tree talks, which were able to attend in person again towards the end of Trinity Term. You can watch Walter’s talks about the quince tree in Hall Garden and more on our YouTube channel. You’ll also be able to catch up with any that you missed from last term, including St Hilda’s cedar trees and the festive talks on holly and ivy.
Figure 12 Walter by the quince tree in Hall Garden
Join the Hildabugs! While you are enjoying our beautiful gardens, please keep your eyes open for bugs, birds and beasties, take a photo and email it to mailto:hildabugs@sthildas.ox.ac.uk If you know what the beastie is or what it is living on/in, please tell us. If in doubt, you can use the app iNaturalist to identify it. The more info the better e.g. juvenile/adult, or what they are doing or eating. We will add your beastie to St Hilda’s Figure 13 Bee enjoying the wildflower walkway in Hall Garden Biodiversity portfolio. Photos do not need to very high quality but if you are handy with a camera, that’s great. We may use your photos in the Gardens section of the College website! If you’d like to find out more about Biodiversity at St Hilda’s or to get involved with site surveys and initiatives, please get in touch via hildabugs@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk.
Creatures Caption Competition Send your captions for this photos from Audrone Jurkenaite-Epih, our Alumnae Events Manager, to hildabugs@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk. We’ll announce the winner and runners up in the next issue of St Hilda’s Happenings.
Figure 14 St Hilda's Creatures Caption Competition
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St Hilda’s Birdwatching Society St Hilda’s Birdwatching Society, led by Biochemistry student, Travis Peascod, and our Chaplain, Meryem Kalayci, is also welcoming new members. Travis describes some of the sightings so far below: "Summer has been an exciting season for the Oxford Birdwatcher. Lines of adorable Canada Geese goslings shepherded by their equally impressive parents have been a delight to admire. One might spot them gliding across the shimmering wavelets of the Cherwell on a warm afternoon. The Mallard ducks have also had quite a productive season. Ducklings playfully bobbing with the ripples of passing punts. Elusive waterfowl such as the Mandarin Duck, with its myriad of hues, have been sighted in Uni Parks. It would be a pleasure to experience more encounters with this remarkable specimen. Above the waterways, Red Kites provide a majestic contrast to azure skies and dainty clouds, while flocks of swifts decorate the crimson horizons of sunset. Indeed, there is much to reward the diligent observer." Contact Travis to find out more and get involved.
Developing our grounds Our lawn is coming back to life following the removal of the temporary Middle Common Room. The estoile will soon be full of wildflowers, adding to the biodiversity of our grounds. This symbol (star with wavy points) was included in St Hilda’s College coat of arms because it was often used on Beale family crests and so represents our founder, Dorothea Beale.
Figure 15 Wildflowers in the shape of an estoile on St Hilda's lawn
Events Dance as Grace: Paradoxes and possibilities TORCH Knowledge Exchange Fellowship project: Live Workshops/discussions with dancers of Yorke Dance Project You are invited to come and watch live dance with Yorke Dance Project and to join the discussion about 'what is grace?' at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building. Please email Professor Susan Jones, Tutorial Fellow in English, to book one of the following times: Noon-2pm on 18, 19, 29, 30 June 2021. Numbers are very limited and social distancing and COVID-19 measures are in place. Please book to ensure your seat and avoid disappointment. Figure 16 Yorke Dance Project image by Pari Nader
St Hilda’s Crime Fiction Weekend, 13-15 August The 28th St Hilda’s College Crime Fiction Weekend will celebrate that fictional city of dreaming spires and nightmarish crimes. This is a weekend with a difference. It offers crime fiction fans from all over the world the unique experience of hearing their favourite authors, including Val McDermid, Emma Smith and Mick Herron, exploring the genre, their own work, and the writers who inspired them. The event will be live and online. Find out more and register.
Figure 17 St Hilda's Crime Fiction Weekend
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If you’ve missed any of this term’s events or want to watch again, you can catch up here.
Enhancing confidence in the data used to make decisions in first in human studies This research workshop with expert speakers, including Professor Duncan Richards, Climax Professor of Clinical Therapeutics at the University of Oxford including took place on 10 June. First in human studies represents a critical milestone in drug development – the first opportunity to assess the human potential of the medicine. It is also the stage of development during which we are most dependent on pre-clinical data to inform clinical decisions, such as the doses to be given and safety parameters to be measured. Reliability of data is vital to the drug development process and the protection of volunteers and patients in that process. There are multiple aspects to reliability of data. This workshop focused on one aspect in particular - reproducibility. Watch Enhancing Confidence in the data used to make Decisions in First in Human Studies here.
Brain and Mind: Music and the Brain At the latest online ‘Brain and Mind’ seminar, three expert speakers, Professor of Neuroscience, University of Oxford, and Professor Nick Zangwill, Honorary Research Fellow, University College London, each gave a talk on the subject of Brain and Mind: Music and the Brain. Dr Anita Avramides then chaired a discussion and audience Q&A. Music and the Brain, and Brain and Mind: Understanding the Relationship, which took place in Hilary Term, are available to watch on YouTube.
The Inaugural Dr Joyce Mitchell Cook Memorial Lecture This lecture series will celebrate the life and career of trailblazing St Hilda’s alumna, Dr Joyce Mitchell Cook, the first African American woman to achieve a PhD in Philosophy in the USA. The inaugural lecture took place on 26 May. Professor Anita L. Allen delivered the lecture, followed by a Q&A session chaired by Dr Anita Avramides. Many watched and were inspired by the event but if you missed it or would like to watch again you can do so here, on St Hilda’s YouTube channel.
Figure 18 The Inaugural Dr Joyce Cook Memorial Lecture
'How different from us?' Miss Beale’s Life, Legacy and Library Find out about our founder, Dorothea Beale’s contributions to St Hilda’s Library collections, with our Librarian, Dr Jill Dye, and Library Fellow, Professor Daniel Wakelin, who will guide you on a tour through some of the library’s treasures.
Figure 19 How different from us?' Miss Beale’s Life, Legacy and Library with Dr Jill Dye and Professor Daniel Wakelin
Lunchtime Recitals at the Jacqueline du Pré Music Building The JdP Team has been delighted to be able to welcome audiences back to the JdP to enjoy our series of lunchtime recitals each Thursday. They are also available to watch online and you can catch up with any that you’ve missed on the JdP’s YouTube channel.
Women Making History: Shaping Oxford's Next Century Did you catch the final celebratory event marking the centenary of women’s formal admission to the University, aired on 19 May? If you missed it the good news is that it is now available to view online at your leisure. The panel, chaired by BBC broadcaster Reeta Chakrabarti, discussed their own experiences at Oxford, the significance of this milestone and the impact women have made. Watch here (the event starts at 07:12). Interviews with remarkable Oxford alumnae, including our senior members, Val McDermid, Zeinab Badawi and Professor Dame Anne Mills are being shared via Education & Activism: Women at Oxford: 1878-1920, a collaborative digital innovation project that commemorates the 2020 centenary of women’s formal admission to the University of Oxford.
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College Library Updates As we start to reach the end of term, please note the latest information about the College Library:
Opening hours
10am to 10pm daily up to and including Sunday 20 June. Monday 21 to Thursday 24 June: 10am-8pm. Friday 25 June: 10am-5pm.
After Friday 25 June we are likely to have to revert to our vacation hours (open weekdays 10am to 4pm, closed at the weekend) but we will keep this under review. Printing is available 24/7 in the JCR computer room. Our full range of remote library services are still available.
Stay COVID Safe! The current COVID-related library ways of working will continue until further notice, though we will seek to remove the limit on number of bookings per student as soon as demand allows. As a reminder, these rules include: Booking a desk should you wish to stay and study (no booking needed for browsing/borrowing and quick printing) Not rearranging the furniture. Wearing a face covering unless you have an exemption.
Figure 20 College Library
Vacation loans If you are continuing your studies at St Hilda’s next year, any standard loan books borrowed or renewed from now on will not be due back until Monday 11 October. Short loan books will also be borrowable over the vacation from Wednesday 16 June. Graduating students should ensure that all their loans are returned once their course ends. As ever, please don’t hesitate to contact the Library Team should you have any questions or concerns.
In Other News Bag it, bin it or take it home – keeping Oxford tidy As the weather warms up and restrictions on outdoor gatherings ease, littering in Oxford is increasingly becoming an issue in the city’s parks and green spaces, affecting natural wildlife. Please help to do your bit as you enjoy the outdoors to keep Oxford safe and clean. Bag it, bin it or take it home with you. Overflowing bins attract scavenging animals who spread the litter around creating a further problem. In recent weeks, a number of animals have been injured or killed as a result of discarded rubbish. Port Meadow Ranger Julian Cooper talks about the impact of litter on animals in this video from Oxford City Council.
New Alumnae If you are graduating this year, come back soon and often! Don’t forget to visit the alumnae/alumni website to activate your My Oxford Online account. You’ll get access to the exclusive series of events that the University will be hosting for you until September. You can also find out about the various benefits and discounts that you get as part of the community of senior members.
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Stay COVID-Safe
The latest COVID-19-related updates for staff and students can be found on the University’s website.
Have your say on College communications! How useful is this newsletter? Do you follow the College’s social media accounts? If so, which is the most useful to you? Are there others you would like to see St Hilda’s on? We need your views to help improve our internal communications so please send your comments to communications@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk. Do you have any news or events that you would like to share with the College community? Email communications@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk to tell us more!
Have a wonderful vacation!