Principal’s Letter

Hello to all existing and new 2020-2021 Ustinovians.

Firstly, let me totally endorse what Sarah Prescott has said about the 2019 – 2020 academic year and the great end-toend efforts made by all students, staff, mentors and alumni to make what was a challenging time as good as it could be. While the Covid-19 situation has certainly tried our patience and inventiveness, what I witnessed during the 2019-2020 academic year from a distance while

on research leave is testament to the tenacity and resilience of Ustinovians and their desire to ‘carry on’ with business-as-usual as best as possible. This onwards and upwards attitude is a manifestation of the greatness of all who make up the Ustinov community.

In the current academic year, matters continue as less than ‘normal’. We are very much in the hands of decisions passed down from the Government as to what we can and cannot do as a scholarly community dedicated to an active academic and social programme that thrives on building community through a range of interactive activities. Given this, we will need to continue to draw on all our inventive and entrepreneurial skills to make 20202021 a year to be remembered for one, when against all odds, all Ustinovians benefitted from an enriching year in which, through different ways of working, learning and experiencing, we achieved what we would aspire under ‘normal’ circumstances. As always, I

and the Ustinov staff will work with you all, especially our GCR and GCP teams, to ensure that what makes Ustinov a special place for postgraduates is not diminished. As I’ve said on a number of occasions, and as printed on some of our Ustinov merchandise, ‘I’m a Believer’ in Ustinov as a great College, whether you are a student, a mentor, alumnus or staff member. 2020-2021 will be no different. Lastly, and perhaps through some frustration that I have not had the opportunity to recite the Ustinov version of ‘I’m a Believer’ for the last 12 - 18 months at our enjoyable formals (dinners), I will leave all past, current and new Ustinovians with the following:

“I thought a postgraduate college was only true in fairy tales Meant for someone else but not for me Another college was out to get me That’s the way it seemed Disappointment haunted all my dreams

Then I saw Ustinov, now I’m a believer Not a trace, of doubt in my mind I’m in love with Ustinov and I’m a believer I couldn’t leave Ustinov if I tried”

We are very much in the hands of decisions passed down from the Government as to what we can and cannot do as a scholarly community.

(I’m a Believer was originally written by Neil Diamond and became a number 1 hit for the Monkees in 1966 and featured on their 1967 album entitled More of the Monkees).

To all those that have joined us anew in 2020-2021 thanks for choosing Ustinov!

Glenn McGregor

Professor of Climatology and Principal of Ustinov College