The Mildertian 2015

The Mildertian

1965

Van Mildert College

2015

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The Mildertian

Contents 6 | Alumni

Find out how you can stay involved with Van Mildert College as a member of our vibrant alumni community.

23 | University News

An introduction to our new Vice-Chancellor and Warden.

29 | VMC Trust

Information about Van Mildert College Trust, and the work it does promoting College excellence.

13 | Research & Scholarship

24 | Outreach, 35 | Destination Sport and Arts 2015

19 | Environment

27 | Student Support

Overview of scholarly activity, including VM50 SCR Lectures and the MCR Personal Research Journeys Conference.

The Environment Committee provide an insight into the range of environmental initiatives adopted in Van Mildert College.

Hear about our latest outreach project (ECC), sporting successes and performances.

Dr Victoria Brown introduces the student support team.

Find out about the range of activities and events organised to mark the College’s 50th Anniversary in 2015.

Cover | Keep in Touch

Discover the many ways to keep in touch with the College.

Welcome

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The ThePrincipal’s Principal’sPiece Piece

Anno Domini 2015 is a very special year. 800 years ago the Magna Carta was agreed, 200 years ago Napoleon was defeated at the battle of Waterloo; in celebration there was the �irst Durham Regatta. William Smith published the map that changed the world, the �irst ever geological map. 100 years ago the world was embroiled in the Great War with, in 1915, the disastrous Dardanelles campaign and the sinking of the Lusitania.

But 50 years ago the Graduate Society at the University of Durham was established and, much more importantly, our own College was opened in that year, during the expansion of the British University system. We have reached Destination 2015 and now look to the future. This

year has been a great time of celebration and engagement but also an opportunity to pause and re�lect on the journey ahead.

Van Mildert College was established in the wake of the Robbins Report in 1963. The massive expansion of the university sector in the mid-1960s was built on the principle that undergraduate places should be available to all on the basis of ability and attainment, very much part of our own College ethos. In opening Van Mildert, the then Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Michael Ramsay, pleaded for adequate numbers of ‘characters and eccentrics’ to populate the College; the new intake of students should ‘be prepared to be custodians of a world in a

terrible mess’, sadly an all too enduring message.

The original College buildings were designed by Middleton, Fletcher & Partners of Middlesbrough at a time when heating and lighting costs were relatively low. To effectively insulate buildings was an unnecessary expense.

Although refurbishments have been focused on various parts of the estate over the last ten years, most notably Wear Block, and light refurbishments to Derwent and Middleton Blocks are planned in the summer of 2015, the bulk of the buildings fall far below the aspirational ‘Category A’ for all residential blocks.

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In all these discussions the future of our magni�icent main building, with its impressive concrete �ins backing onto the Lake and the largest dining room, by volume, in the University, looms large. The massive mid-1960s kitchen and servery, the huge windows that face onto the Lake and distinctive frontage with an incongruous car deck, all have substantial charm and endearment but now, some 50 years on, appear a bit tired and are liable to failure. The Lake emerged from a bog, to its present status as a focus for recreation and research.

Nevertheless our College community is more than a sum of its buildings and grounds. It is stronger than ever, built on our motto, sic vos non vobis, dating back to the Roman poet Virgil, subsequently adopted by Bishop William Van Mildert (founder of the University of Durham) and by our own college.

By happy coincidence and through the good of�ices of one of our key alumni, a member of the original Van Mildert stem has been tracked down. We were delighted to welcome Vanessa Van Mildert as my guest to the Principal’s Formal and hope this will be the start of a long and valued relationship with College.

A phenomenal host of celebratory events have punctuated the year already. The JCR have organised a signi�icant number of Committee Reunions, across the 50 or more clubs, committees and societies (including the newly established VMKnit) we have in College; the MCR have hosted the ‘Research Journeys Symposium’ and the SCR Climate Impact Lecture Series is running throughout the

year. Victoria, Martin and I have participated in alumni events in London, Liverpool, New York and Washington DC. In early July, College will be presenting ‘Opera by the Lake’ with the Chancellor, Sir Thomas Allen, singing various arias including some duets together with our own Bridget Tomlinson and with support from a choir dominated by Mildertians; this to coincide with the Van Mildert Association Alumni Reunion Weekend.

The Mildert Feather (specially crafted by the Danish sculptor Erik Heide) has landed, the Trust’s Jubilee Garden, an initiative of trustee Abbie Bennington (née Dobson) is planted, one of the two books planned to celebrate our anniversary, ‘A Place of Water’ (edited by Maureen McCorry and Ruth Tanner), is already published and another on the ‘Prowse Years’ (by Arnold Bradshaw) will be released soon.

College Council have resolved to establish a cohort of College Fellows and Honorary Fellows to expand a fellowship which already contains our visiting Institute of Advanced Study, Prowse, COFUND and Bradshaw Fellows together with Prof. Brian Tanner, the �irst Fellow of Van Mildert College. And many more events are planned.

During this special year, the wide range of themed formals has continued from the induction of our Freshers and Hallowe‘en (this year the centre of High Table was populated by the grim reaper and at least a couple of witches), through Christmas, Burn’s Night (with the Principal addressing the haggis), St Valentine’s and St

Patrick’s days, into the Sports’ (celebrating sporting achievement in a boisterous atmosphere) and Principal’s (a night to mark contributions to College) formals and ultimately to Mildert Day and the congregations.

Our degree results are again an object of great pride and satisfaction. College has again excelled on the sport’s �ield.

There have been some outstanding performances on stage of Sweeney Todd, High School Musical, Midsummer Night’s Dream and of course the Carol Service and Pantomime.

And the Trust’s Annual Lecturer, Professor Richard Fortey presented, in his own inimitable way, a unique insight into survivors from deep time.

And last but certainly not least our already substantial portfolio of outreach and volunteering projects has grown this year to six, including now a new focus on the environment.

I would like to personally thank all Mildertians, staff and students alike, from near and far, who make our inclusive community so special and unique. To Sharon Swainston, the Principal’s EA and Of�ice Manager for organising most of my work life, my deepest gratitude. I especially thank Martin Brader for his outstanding work, assembling and editing this landmark edition of the Mildertian. Our motto is as relevant today as it was in Virgil’s time: Sic vos non vobis.

Professor David Harper Principal, Van Mildert College

Welcome

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Fraser Burt, JCR President Celebrating our 50th anniversary, it’s been a vintage year for Van Mildert JCR. While many things have changed over the JCR’s lifetime, one that hasn’t: the calibre of its students. The 2015 graduates will be sorely missed, having enriched this community beyond measure; their contributions a constant reminder of just how special a university Durham is.

I never ceased to be amazed by the enthusiasm and dedication of the JCR to everything it does, something that is epitomised by the dif�iculty in �inding an unbooked room most evenings of the week. We’ve seen the Arts further developed, with the

addition this year of outdoor Shakespeare using the Jam By The Lake stage, weekly crafts lessons and Dec Soc, who have brightened up Formals and countless events this year.

We’ve once again competed with the best in the sports tables and cups. Special mentions must of course go to VMAFC, who have kept the As in the Premiership for the �irst time in years, seen the Bs and Fs promoted, and created a G Team; VMBC, who have taken Mildert rowing to the elite of colleges, winning more trophies than my word limit will accommodate; and of course Cheer, now inter-collegiate champions �ive years running.

Our outreach projects are more cohesive than ever, with the creation of an Outreach Of�icer demonstrably a sage move. YPP kindly shared its large fundraisers with smaller projects

The social calendar has been bigger, better and brighter than ever. From a legendary Holi Fest in Freshers Week to an incredible Summer Ball, to countless VM50 reunions and loose bar parties, everyone has made �ine use of the free time being a student allows.

I feel privileged to have been allowed to be the President of such a wonderful community, working for such wonderful people. I, like anybody reading this, will hold this place very close to my heart for many, many years to come.

Hannah Bolt, MCR President students studying for both full-time and part-time postgraduate degrees at Mildert.

2014/15 has been another incredibly busy year for the Middle Common Room! The MCR has continued to expand and we represent a diverse group of

this year, following more kind donations to the project (thank you, whoever you are!). With projects in such a sustainable state, we are in the process of setting up a sixth project, which will focus on the environment.

This year the scholarly activities of the MCR have continued to �lourish. A particular highlight of the year was the MCR Conference, Destination 2015: Personal Research Journeys.

Organised as part of the College’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, we welcomed back lots of alumni

from Van Mildert who are current academics, alumni who are currently undertaking postgraduate research at other Universities and also current MCR members. The afternoon featured oral presentations and two poster sessions and was well received by all. The successful Postgraduate Seminar Series has also continued, with presentations on a wide variety of research being undertaken by

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current MCR members. These seminars provide a valuable opportunity for MCR members to discuss their work in a friendly environment. Topics have ranged from the development of drone technology to knots in mathematics and the translation of British Sign Language. In Epiphany term, the MCR also worked with the College’s visiting IAS Fellow, Prof. Garry Marvin, to host an event where his documentary about bull�ighting in Spain was shown, followed by a debate.

Our members have continued to

The Epiphany term saw the start of the College’s 50th anniversary year and it was therefore �itting that this term also saw a number of important and interesting events taking place in college.

At the start of February, Professor Richard Pancost from Bristol visited College to present the �irst of the SCR Anniversary Lectures. The overall theme of this Lecture Series is climate change, and Richard gave a fascinating insight into how modern geochemists are reconstructing past climate events by analysis of organic molecules present in ancient rocks. For me, a particularly interesting aspect of this work

enjoy our social events, such as regular �ilm nights in College, the recent Easter egg hunt and Livers Out Coffee and Cake events.

Events such as the Van Mildert College SCR Guest Night and JCR events have been enjoyed by all members. Also, attendance at Inter-MCR Formals hosted by other colleges has been particularly popular.

Of particular note, is the new research centre in Elvet Hill House, which postgraduate students have been able to use.

This includes a group study suite and a computer room �itted out

with wide screened PCs and one high performance PC for research purposes. This is a fantastic addition to the facilities available to MCR members so we thank the College for their support with this.

With the busiest term of the year still yet to come, we are looking forward to a few more exciting events, including a trip to the historic seaside town of Whitby and in particular the College’s 50th Anniversary Weekend.

Stuart Wilson, SCR President was Richard’s description of complex lipids that had once been part of ancient bacteria – I had never imagined that I would learn so much about membrane structure from a lecture on climate change.

Other academic events included the annual Van Mildert Lecture on Confessional identity in Early Modern England by Prof Alexandra Walsham, and the IAS lecture on human – animal relationships by Prof Garry Marvin.

The term also saw a number of highly successful social events.

The Burns Night Formal was a huge success as was the College’s Guest Night dinner. The SCR jazz evening in February gave our student musicians the chance to showcase their evident talents.

The College also hosted a music recital which included performances from JCR and SCR

members. This event provided a perfect solution to the eternal problem of “what to do on Sunday afternoon” and was very much enjoyed by everyone.

The Easter term saw a number of interesting events. Mike Hulme presented the second of the SCR anniversary lectures. This gave a fascinating look at the way that modern society deals with the entire concept of climate change.

We had a great Annual SCR Dinner and the College Sports’ Formal – a lively event that recognised and rewarded the achievements of the College’s sportsmen and women.

Further information about the Senior Common Room and how you can join can be found on our website: community.dur.ac.uk/vm.scr

Alumni

Your connection with Van Mildert College doesn’t end when you graduate. In fact, leaving Durham marks the beginning of your lifelong membership of our vibrant alumni community, with many opportunities for remaining engaged with College.

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Events for Alumni

Van Mildert College organises a range of events each year for alumni of the College, including a series of informal regional gatherings and activities. In addition, a number of wider alumni activities are co-ordinated by the Development and Alumni Relations Of�ice (DARO).

In February 2015, the Principal, Professor David Harper, and Development Of�icer, Martin Brader, joined over 50 alumni for a casual gathering at The Counting House, Cornhill, London. Alumni and friends of the College joined together to hear about the plans for the 50th Anniversary celebrations, to network and re-connect. A second London event was organised in May 2015 at the same venue. There are plans to host additional London-based events later in the year, visiting new and exciting venues.

In May, the Deputy Principal, Dr Victoria Brown, and Martin were

joined by alumni from the northwest at The Philarmonic Dining Rooms, Liverpool. This was our �irst College alumni event in the region. We are currently exploring the possibilities of additional events in the northwest, possibly at a venue in Manchester.

The College has also been involved in the annual Dunelm Days celebrations organised by DARO, with two events hosted by Van Mildert College staff.

Dave was joined by a number of alumni at Lost and Found DC, Washington DC, USA and Victoria met Durham alumni at The Churchill Tavern, New York City, USA. Dunelm Days are organised as a celebration of Durham, with events organised across the globe.

Later in the year, the College hopes to host a suite of additional regional events, continuing the celebrations of Van Mildert College’s 50th Anniversary.

These events take place in addition to those organised by the Van Mildert College Trust and Van Mildert Association.

Further information about the range of events and activities organised by the College in 2015 can be found on the Destination 2015 webpages: www.durham.ac.uk/ van-mildert.college/ destination-2015

In addition, you can �ind out more about the range of DARO events online at: www.dunelm.org.uk

We are always looking for new ideas and venues for events. If you have any ideas, or would like to help with organising a regional event, please contact the Development Of�icer at:

vm.development@durham.ac.uk

Alumni

To mark the 50th Anniversary of Van Mildert College, a sculpture by renowned Danish artist, Erik Heide, has been commissioned and installed within the College grounds.

Based on a mallard feather, The Mildert Feather celebrates the achievements of generations of Van Mildert College students, alumni and staff.

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The Mildert Feather

Installation of the sculpture began in early 2015, with the sculpture unveiled in late February. The sculpture has been situated close to Van Mildert College Lake, in a position which allows it to be viewed from various locations around the estate.

The Mildert Feather is designed to rotate gently in the wind, providing a relaxing artwork in

the centre of the Van Mildert College grounds.

The artwork was developed in collaboration with the University’s Keeper of Fine Art, Dr Henry Dyson, who arranged for the commissioning of the piece.

We hope that The Mildert Feather will remain as a lasting monument to this milestone occasion.

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The Mildertian

Main Building, Van Mildert College (1966)

Photograph: Geoff Jones

View from Tees Stairs, Van Mildert College (1966)

Photograph: Geoff Jones

Alumni

Main Building, Van Mildert College (2015)

View from Tees Stairs, Van Mildert College (2015)

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Much more than just a place to live

At the recent Pre-application Open Days, through which we welcomed several hundred prospective students and their parents to Van Mildert, I very quickly lost count of the number of times that I was asked ‘so what is the difference between a College and a hall of residence?’. Of course, as current Mildertians or alumni, the answer to this question is quite obvious. De�ined by a former Vice-Chancellor, as the ‘Durham Difference’, the answer can be dif�icult to convey quickly and effectively and without the ‘text book’ response. This is quite simply because the role of a Durham College is not only wide ranging but also continuously evolving.

As Van Mildert celebrates its 50th Anniversary in 2015, there is no doubt that the College has changed dramatically since its opening in 1965. Indeed, our offering of over 50 clubs and societies, with many more on the way, is a perfect illustration of the depth and variety of our student experience. Van Mildert’s commitment to Community Outreach is also ever expanding, with a sixth ‘environmental’ project having been lauched this year, and we continue to lead the way amongst the Durham Colleges. However, Mildert’s outreach is perhaps also a clear illustration of how, despite huge changes within UK higher education since 1965, the ethos of the College taken from the College motto ‘Sic vos non vobis’ (thus we do not for ourselves) is still at the heart of College life in our 50th year.

The many aspects of the Van Mildert student experience sport, the arts, and outreach to name a few - provide a perfect platform for our students to �lourish during their time in Durham. The opportunities for personal development are vital to ensuring the success of our students upon graduation. 2010 graduate, Sarah Baillie, was named by the student newspaper ‘Palatinate’ as one of 25 graduates to watch for the future.

From the tender age of 8, Sarah had a passion for opera. Van Mildert gave her the opportunity to pursue and expand that interest. Five years on from graduation, Sarah has been hugely successful having trained at the Royal Academy of Music and with English National Opera.

She has gained a MA

(Distinction) in Vocal Studies and a DipRAM for her �inal recital, and now works professionally as an opera singer.

Sarah says…

"College performance, especially in my �irst year, was hugely important when it came to building up my con�idence on stage. Performing in College gave me the ability to push myself further at University level in second and third year. In my �irst year I was involved in the College Musical ('Fame!') as well as a cabaret concert and the 48-hour production.

These all encouraged me to get involved in University level productions, and even to become president of the University Opera group. Without VM music and theatre I wouldn't have been involved in nearly as many of the wonderful groups and events that made my Durham experience so amazing."

Sarah will be performing along with fellow Mildertian, Hannah Noone, at The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle as part of the Durham Dales Festival of Performing Arts in August.

Sarah Baillie, Van Mildert, BA (Hons) Music (2010)

Alumni Beyond the arts, the College continues to offer a range of scholarships and bursaries. These include travel bursaries which enable students to pursue vacation projects, sometimes related to their �ield of study but which are more often about gaining skills, and experiences of different cultures and environments around the world.

Recent awards of up to £1000 have supported projects in India, Cambodia, Iceland, and Nepal.

In addition, the College’s careers mentoring system, The Mildert Link, which will launch in September 2015, is another aspect of our commitment to ensuring our graduates are well equipped with the knowledge and skills to be successful in their chosen career paths. The system offers alumni the opportunity to connect with current students to offer ‘voices of experience’ and mentorship as students seek to calve out their futures in todays competitive job market.

Join the Senior Common Room The SCR of Van Mildert College represents a diverse group of University staff, mentors, alumni and local professionals.

Throughout the year, the SCR organises a series of events including termly dinners, theatre visits, art tours and lectures.

Furthermore, the SCR supports a range of student events and activities, such as JCR Productions, and MCR Speaking Evenings.

Along with this scheme, we hope that 2015 will also see the expansion of our ambitious programme of careers and employability events a Mildert.

This will include talks and workshops run by alumni, in addition to further opportunities for skills development through the provision of mock interviews, assessment centre workshops and, perhaps most importantly, internships.

From driving the minibus as part of outreach activities, to running a mock interview, offering mentorship or even an internship to a current student, the alumni and friends of Van Mildert remain a key part of College life through a wide range of activities. For this support, we are incredibly grateful and we would be delighted to hear from others who would also like suggest activities or be involved by giving time or skills to our projects.

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Our alumni community is vital to the success of much of our ‘personal development’ agenda at Van Mildert and is indeed a key reason why, 50 years on from our opening, we remain much more than just a halls of residence Sic vos non vobis.

To get involved with any of the projects detailed above, please email: v.h.brown@durham.ac.uk

Dr Victoria Brown Deputy Principal

Stay Involved

Alumni are welcome to join the SCR and enquiries should be directed to the SCR Membership Secretary in the �irst instance (vm.development@durham.ac.uk)

Further information about the SCR can be found on their website:

community.durham.ac.uk/vm.scr

Keep your details up to date

If you want to hear about the events and activities organised by the College and wider University, please make sure that your details are up-to-date with DARO, the Development and Alumni Relations Of�ice. Registration via Dunelm allows you to sign up for events, receive monthly e-updates and access to a range of publications and bene�its. You can access the site at: www.dunelm.org.uk

Research and Scholarly Activity

Academic activities have escalated during College’s jubilee year. This year we were delighted to welcome a brace of eminent anthropologists as Institute of Advanced Study Fellows, namely Prof. Howard and Dr Frances Morphy (Australian National University) together with Prof.

Garry Marvin (Roehampton University). The Morphys illuminated key areas of Aboriginal culture, sometimes with song and dance, in some lively presentations, whereas Garry focused on the community aspects of blood sports through his earlier career as a �ilm producer. The fellowship is set to grow as College will be inviting a

number of distinguished researchers to join College, marking our 50th anniversary.

Links with the Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC) have been strengthened with the SCR Anniversary Lecture Series on climate change (Profs Richard Pancost and Mike Hulme have already lectured us on contemporary and future climate change and its consequences whereas Prof. Mike Benton will focus on deep time, ‘When Life Nearly Died’, later in the year).

The Annual Bishop William Van Mildert Lecture is now in its third year and Prof Alexandra Walsham

(Cambridge University) informed us about how the reformation was domesticated, in a beautifully illustrated and stimulating lecture.

The MCR’s ‘Personal Research Journeys’ enticed back a large variety of Mildert researchers, past and present, this against a background of regular evening presentations by research students.

The research centre in Elvet Hill House is now used routinely by our postgraduate population and visiting researchers.

Academia The VMC Trust has continued to support research with the provision of two concurrent PhD scholarships together with numerous bursaries and travel grants. Prof. Richard Fortey entertained a large audience with his Trust lecture on ‘Survivors – the animals and plants that time has left behind’. And the rolling programme of PhD students funded by the Christopher Moyes’s Foundation continues through the Institute for Hazard, Risk and Resilience providing

opportunities for graduate students from developing countries.

As part of the growing number of scholarly activities in Van Mildert College, a new scholarly journal was launched in November 2014: Quaesitum.

In addition to these submissions, the two Van Mildert College Trust Scholars and recipients of the Principal’s Awards provided an overview of their research projects.

Quaesitum has been developed to demonstrate the breadth and depth of research undertaken by the College’s undergraduate, postgraduate and academic communities. Articles were submitted from a variety of �ields across the University’s three faculties.

Submissions from the JCR ranged from the evolution of fairy wings to a feminist poststructuralist exploration of the post-pregnant body. MCR articles outlined treatment for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis and sea-level changes in Iceland. The Senior Common Room contributed a range of articles on astrophysics, climate change and the psychology and literature of grief.

The end of 2014 came to a super climax with publication of the �irst volume of our scholarly journal Quaesitum. It is not only, however, our students and staff who provide a key research resource, but also our Lake, with frequent visits from biologists engaged in a variety of research projects.

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Finally, we are delighted to announce that our College Development Of�icer, Martin Brader was awarded the degree of PhD for his research on Late Glacial to Holocene relative sea-level changes and the deglaciation of northwest Iceland.

Professor David Harper Principal

Quaesitum launched

It is hoped that the publication will be produced each November, following publication of The Mildertian in June.

We are always looking for new research articles for inclusion with the journal, whether from the JCR, MCR, SCR or alumni. If you would like to contribute to the next volume, please contact the Development Of�icer to discuss the required speci�ications

(vm.development@durham.ac.uk)

Copies of the �irst edition are available from the College Reception. It is hoped that an electronic version of the second edition will be published online.

Further information about the range of publications produced by the College, including The Mildertian and Mildert Messenger can be found at: www.durham.ac.uk/ van-mildert.college/alumni

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Postgraduate Research Centre In 2014, Van Mildert College took possession of a suite of rooms in Elvet Hill House, situated across Mill Hill Lane, which have been allocated as postgraduate research space.

The Research Centre comprises a small of�ice for use by the MCR Executive Committee, a main computer suite and a boardroom for group meetings and discussions.

The development of the Postgraduate Research Centre has

been generously supported by the Van Mildert College Trust.

The main computer suite has been equipped with a number of high speci�ication PCs, as well as a printer and scanner. All of these machines are networked, allowing students to access key pieces of software for research, dissertations and theses.

One PC has been specially designed for computational modelling, which is a growing research area for members of the

Middle Common Room.

The Research Centre is a valuable addition to the space available to postgraduate students in Van Mildert College, allowing the MCR Common Room (or Bankside Room) to be used as an exclusively social space.

This has a number of advantages including improvements to work-life balance, as well as alleviating concerns over contrasting activities within these communal spaces.

Personal Research Journeys In February, the Middle Common Room welcomed current and former postgraduates to present their work in a celebration of postgraduate research.

Destination 2015: Personal Research Journeys was held as part of the College’s 50th Anniversary celebrations and was designed to demonstrate the breadth of postgraduate research

undertaken in Durham’s Colleges.

The event was divided into three distinct sessions, including science, social sciences and the arts and humanities. As a result, presentations ranged from the treatment of Cutaneous Leishmaniasis to wallpaper design and cataloguing. There was therefore a range of interests represented at the event, which

included work undertaken in each of the University’s three faculties.

The conference was attended by members of the JCR, MCR and SCR, as well as members of the local community. A limited number of the abstract books from this event are available from the College.

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SCR Anniversary Lecture Series

To mark the 50th Anniversary of Van Mildert College, the Senior Common Room (SCR) has organised an Anniversary Lecture Series in collaboration with the Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC). The Anniversary Lecture Series focuses on climate change, with lectures given by leading experts in the sciences and social sciences. Lectures are held in the Ustinov Room, Van Mildert College and are followed by a Dinner, at which members of the JCR, MCR, SCR and CIRC can further explore the topics covered within the series.

The �irst SCR Anniversary Lecture was presented by Professor Richard Pancost (Cabot Institute, Bristol) on ‘The Uncertain World: How examination of past climate and biogeochemical processes can

help us to understand the future’.

The lecture was well attended by students and SCR members and provided valuable insights into the uncertainties surrounding climate observations and projections.

Professor Mike Hulme (King’s College London) gave the second lecture ‘Climate Change: One or Many?’ which outlined the complexity of climate changes and the different experiences of this phenomenon felt by different groups of people. There was an excellent discussion following the lecture, with strong representation from the student body, SCR and related academic departments.

The third lecture in the series will be presented by Professor Mike Benton (University of Bristol) and will focus on ‘Death

and destruction in the red beds of Russia; the greatest mass extinction of all time’. This lecture will take place on Monday 2 November 2015 at 6pm in the Ustinov Room, Van Mildert College. Students and alumni are very welcome to attend the dinner following the lecture and places can be booked by contacting the Development Of�icer.

Further information about the SCR Lecture Series can be found on the College’s Destination 2015 webpages.

If you would like to join Van Mildert College SCR, please visit: community.dur.ac.uk/vm.scr

Climate Impacts

Research Centre

Durham University

Academia

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Van Mildert College Lake: an educational resource

Situated within the grounds of Van Mildert College our Lake is a central (focal) point for all residents and guests to the College. Developed in 1965, it is a naturally fed lake from surface water.

Its size and potential is substantial as a learning environment for both school and university students alike, as well as providing a pleasant and relaxing environment for residents.

The College community work hard to preserve this feature and, where possible, improve and enhance the Lake and immediate surrounding area. This hard work and involvement of the community encompasses the Van Mildert ethos: generosity and vision, participation and space to be yourself.

Student involvement through a newly formed outreach project, Environmental Conservation Committee, will add to the long term vision of the Lake. The project will work to enhance not only the appearance of the Lake but also encourage wildlife, by

supporting the existing rich biodiversity.

The Project will measure success Bottle traps to measure species biodiversity in Van Mildert College Lake

With the support of staff, students and alumni the Lake will continue to �lourish and remain a focal point for all to enjoy.

Environment

Over the past few years, there has been an increased interest in reducing our environmental impact and energy usage. As a result, a number of projects have been undertaken at Van Mildert College, resulting in improvements to our estate, as well as reducing our environmental impact.

Solar panels have been installed on Tunstall Block, producing environmentally friendly energy which greatly reduces our carbon footprint.

Within Deerness Block, fridges and kettles have been removed from bedrooms. This has led to a reduction in energy consumption within the block.

LED lighting has been �itted in the JCR Foyer, JCR Common Room and Lakeside Room, which is more energy ef�icient than the existing units.

Eco-kettles have been installed in kitchen spaces within each accommodation block. These kettles allow the user to boil the amount of water required for a particular use thus reducing the amount of water and energy consumed.

Within all College bathrooms, shower timers have been installed to inform users when two minutes have passed.

Recycling information boxes have been placed around the College Lake (more information overleaf), promoting behavioural change. This �its into the wider work promoting

recycling within the College.

In addition to these improvements to the College’s facilities, Van Mildert College has also been awarded a Green Tourism Gold Standard Award in 2014/2015. The Gold Standard is awarded for outstanding levels of sustainability.

Van Mildert College also received the Most Improved Green Moveout Award from the University. This award is given to the College with the greatest increase in the proportion of waste reused or recycled at the end of the academic year.

In Epiphany Term 2015, Van Mildert College also saw the greatest reduction in gas and electricity consumption within the Colleges.

This achievement highlights the impact of the schemes adopted within the College, both in terms of improvements to the College facilities and behavioural changes.

In addition to these achievements, there has been an improvement in the condition of the Lake and its surroundings (see pg 18). New additions to the estate are being found around the Lake, including the marsh orchid (bottom left), alongside the popular yellow irises and bog bean.

The wildlife in Van Mildert College also continues to thrive, with another group of Mildert ducklings enjoying the estate. We are now also frequently visited by the Mildert Otter, who even has his own Facebook account!

Environment

Litter awareness campaign As part of a suite of new environmental initiatives at Van Mildert College, the Environment Committee and Environment Champion, Ian Jackson, have developed an innovative new scheme to highlight the impact of litter on the estate, based on an idea imported from the beaches of Denmark.

A series of information boxes have been installed around Van Mildert College Lake, containing common items of litter. Alongside these items, information about degradation rates can be found, highlighting the importance of recycling.

The �ive boxes contain pizza boxes, glass bottles, crisp packets, plastic bottles and aluminium cans.

Through highlighting the rates of decay, it is hoped that the scheme will lead to behavioural change and reduce the quantities of litter found around the estate.

The boxes have been designed to allow easy extraction and re-installation, meaning that the display can be continuously refreshed and relocated to problem areas.

The scheme forms part of the suite of initiatives designed to promote behavioural changes.

Further information about the scheme can be found on the College’s environment webpages: www.durham.ac.uk/van-mildert. college/about/environment

Right: an example of the display boxes found near Van Mildert College Lake.

20

Durham University News

Durham University appoints a new Vice-Chancellor and Warden Professor Stuart Corbridge, currently Deputy Director and Provost at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) will be Durham University’s 24th Vice-Chancellor. He will take up his position on 1 September 2015.

Professor Corbridge has an impressive personal research record and extensive experience in a range of leadership positions.

He has overseen LSE’s research portfolio and led the School’s outstanding Research Excellence Framework (REF 2014) submission. He has also driven transformation in both the academic career structure and the student experience through the development of innovative new courses.

A Fellow of both the Royal Geographical Society and of the Royal Society of Arts, Professor Corbridge has previously held

roles at a number of universities, both nationally and internationally, including the University of Cambridge and the Maxwell School of Public Affairs at Syracuse University.

His major research interests include geopolitics, governance and public service delivery in India, forest politics and forest protection in India and the history of development thought.

Major new building for Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics

The University has unveiled new plans for a £10 million new building to house the world-renowned Ogden Centre for Fundamental Physics. The new building has been made necessary by the Centre's rapid growth and academic success, and will enable it to maintain its leading global position in the decades ahead.

The new building will be located next to the Department of Physics on South Road, Durham and will be home to the Institute for

Computational Cosmology, one of the world's premier theoretical cosmology groups, and the only Institute for Particle Physics Phenomenology globally.

Durham University named in Top 5 for seventh consecutive year

Durham University is ranked in the top �ive UK universities in the 2016 Complete University Guide, securing its position as one of the �inest all-round universities in the country, delivering excellence in education and research across all its disciplines.

This is the seventh consecutive year that Durham has achieved a top �ive position.

Over 90% of Durham’s subjects are ranked in the top ten – one of only four broad-subject universities to achieve this result with the English department securing �irst position for the third consecutive year.

Durham University News

Congregation 2015

22

JCR Outreach, Sport and the Arts Van Mildert College JCR is well known for its community outreach projects, which include the Community Visiting Scheme (CVS), Primary School Project (PSP), Prison Project (VMPP), Carers Respite Committee (CRC) and Young Persons Project (YPP).

An increasing number of students are interested in participating in these projects and as a result, they continue to �lourish.

In 2015, a sixth outreach project was launched by the JCR called Environment Conservation Committee (ECC). This project is outlined in greater detail overleaf.

The projects provide a valuable personal development opportunity, as well as strengthening links with the local community. They are well supported by our alumni body.

If you would like to know more about the outreach work undertaken, please contact the Deputy Principal, Dr Victoria Brown, in the �irst instance.

Outreach Showcase Event In November 2014, Durham University hosted the �irst international ‘Collegiate Way’ conference, which focused on collegiate university life and communities.

As part of the conference, delegates were hosted by individual colleges to get an insight into the Durham collegiate experience.

During their stay, delegates were invited to hear about the community outreach work undertaken by the JCR. They were joined by members of the the JCR, MCR, SCR and the public, who were also

interested to hear about this work.

Each project gave a �ifteen minute presentation on their work, as well as producing a stand containing information on the activities undertaken.

The projects also developed posters outlining the aims and objectives of their support work, which are now on display in the College.

The event provided a great opportunity to disseminate information about the projects and the impact of their work with the local community.

Outreach, Sport and the Arts

24

Environmental Conservation Committee Our latest outreach project

Recently, a sixth outreach project has been added to the portfolio: Environmental Conservation Committee (ECC). Hannah Pittaway, JCR Outreach Of�icer 2014-2015, provides an introduction to the project: “ECC will promote the environment in three distinct ways. Firstly, the project aims to help assist the local community, by working with ongoing conservation projects and also establishing new ones.

The �irst site which the project is looking to help is St Oswald’s graveyard and it is hoped that through the conservation work, we will be able to help give the community a tranquil place in which to re�lect, visit loved ones

and explore the history of the area.

Secondly, the project will be working with school children to educate them on the importance of looking after and respecting their environment. To do this, the project will work with the Department of Geography, Durham University and also with Van Mildert College.

We hope to offer school trips to the College, where we can teach them about a range of environmental concerns, the environmental steps taken in College and help them design and plan some of our environmental projects.

Finally, the new ECC project will

incorporate the College’s Greenspace Team and will continue to work within College to promote environmental concerns.

The beauty of this project is that it enables members to get involved in a range of environmental issues speci�ic to the areas with which they are most concerned.

The Environmental Conservation Committee is the �irst environmental project of its kind set up by a Durham University College and further highlights how Van Mildert is leading the way in College Outreach.

This project aims to give back to the community in a variety of ways and to a large range of people of all ages.”

25

The Mildertian

Sports Roundup

This year has been another outstanding one for sports at Van Mildert. The importance of our sporting communities and the high regard in which we hold friends we train and compete with is spoken for by the referendum to make the position of Sports and Societies of�icer an Executive position.

We’ve had new �irst time achievements: the Fat Ducks rugby team (2nd XV) notching up their �irst win in two seasons with a 40-0 blasting. Some say the other team didn’t turn up.

The boat club contributed to VM50 by holding a Head Race on the Wear, donating a proportion of proceeds to outreach. On top of this for the �irst time in Mildert history VMBC sent a crew to BUCS to compete against England’s �inest rowing universities, �inishing an honourable 20th nationally in their division.

Meanwhile, carrying on longstanding dominance are the

Cheerleading Club, winning the intercollegiate competition for the �ifth year in a row and taking home the Team of the Year award.

Womens’ Basketball, not far behind racked up their fourth consecutive victory in the Festival of Sport held in early June and our Darts club are in the �inal of the Darts Cup with only days of the year left.

College sport is all about �inding a group of like-minded sociable types so spend Saturdays with, and it is excellent to see the less competitive side of sport also becoming roaringly popular: the aforementioned Fat Ducks have again welcomed absolute beginners, training them to play, mostly to lose, and to enjoy some outrageously fun socials.

The Men‘s Football G Team blew away opposition tearing their way to the top of the league and promotion and even became strong contenders for team of the year and the Male Netball Club is an ongoing enigma.

If we can top this next year then we’ve done an awfully good job, and this is only possible with the time and effort that our very own JCR members put into running these clubs.

David Joseph JCR Sports Of�icer

As in previous years, the achievements of Van Mildert College’s sports teams were celebrated and honoured at the annual Sports‘ Formal. A number of awards and prizes were presented by the Principal, Dean of Experience Durham and the Mayor of Durham.

In addition to their sporting commitments, a number of individual sports teams have also held VM50 Team Reunions this year, with alumni returning to Durham to hear about the current teams’ achievements.

More information can be found in the Destination 2015 section.

Outreach, Sport and the Arts

The 2014/2015 Academic Year has seen a number of JCR Productions, including VM Variety, Sweeney Todd and High School Musical.

VM Variety was hosted in the Ann Dobson Hall and demonstrated the talent, fun and enthusiasm of our JCR members. Acts ranged from modern music and West End musical classics to comedy sketches and dance. The show was well received by all, with the contrasting styles of performance ensuring that the audience remained entertained throughout.

In addition to the performances from the JCR, the SCR President, Professor Stuart Wilson led a rendition of the Hippopotamus song - Mud Glorious Mud!

26

Theatre and the Arts

Sweeney Todd received rave reviews in student media, following a series of excellent performances by the cast and crew. The dramatic opening scenes caught the audience’s attention, which signalled the start of a series of outstanding individual and group performances.

In Easter Term 2015, the JCR presented High School Musical to a packed Ann Dobson Hall. The musical again demonstrated the breadth of talent of our musicians and performers.

Easter Term also saw an outdoor performance of ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ as part of the JCR’s 1965 Week celebrations, following the exam period.

theatrical performances, the Art Committee has

In addition to this suite of theatrical performances, the Art Committee has hosted a variety of other events, in order to increase the diversity of arts activities on offer.

The Committee organised a series of art classes and workshops, providing JCR members with an opportunity to develop their artistic skills with acrylics and clay modelling.

In addition, the Arts Committee has gone through a rebranding exercise, now known as Van MildArt.

Van Mildert College Photography Committee have also been working hard to record the many events and activities taking place within the College. This has allowed the development of an excellent collection of images and memories of 2014/2015.

Photography courtesy of Van Mildert College Of�icial Photography

Student Support

The last 12 months have seen signi�icant changes to the student support staff at Van Mildert. After 11 years as Senior Tutor and Vice-Principal, Petra Points left Van Mildert in 2013, and in 2014, Catherine Paine (Assistant Senior Tutor) moved to St Mary’s College to take up the position of Vice-Principal and Senior Student Support Of�icer. With these changes came new appointments and changes to the delivery of student support at Van Mildert including a re-structure of the Student Support Team in the newly named Principal’s Of�ice (formerly the ‘College Of�ice’). The Principal is now supported by a Deputy Principal (50% FTE) who manages the Student Support Team: the Assistant Principal and Student Support Secretary. This 2015 publication of The Mildertian provides no better opportunity to introduce you to this team.

Dr Victoria Brown Victoria joined Van Mildert as Deputy Principal in August 2014. She is responsible for the oversight of the student support provision at the College but also has responsibilities to other areas such as alumni relations, scholarship, postgraduate student experience, and deputising for the Principal as required. Victoria is a graduate of the College and has a PhD in Geography.

Before taking up the position of Deputy Principal, Victoria held the role of Postgraduate and Scholarly Experience Of�icer at Josephine Butler College.

However, she is a familiar face to many, having been SCR President in recent years. Victoria also works as a part-time teacher in the Department of Geography and in her spare time is a keen musician and tennis fanatic!

Deborah Monk Debs works part-time at Van Mildert as Assistant Principal (Student Support).

In addition to this role she is the Policy Support Of�icer to the Chief Operating Of�icer, working in the Executive Of�ice in the Palatine Centre. Debs joined Van Mildert following a 12 month post at Josephine Butler College as their Assistant Senior Tutor. She also has several years of experience as a College Mentor. In her spare time Debs loves the great outdoors, horses and spending time with her dog, Jethro, and cat, Tigger!

Jillian Turnbull Jillian joined the Van Mildert family in 1992 as a member of the housekeeping team. She joined the Principal’s Of�ice staff in 2002 as Admissions Secretary; a role that has recently evolved into her current position as Student Support Secretary. Along with the Principal’s Executive Assistant and Of�ice Manager, Sharon Swainston, Jillian supports Victoria and Debs in their work with both the undergraduate and postgraduate members of the College and is often the �irst point of contact for student enquiries (vm.student-support@durham.ac.uk).

Student Support and Welfare

The 2014/2015 JCR Welfare Team Aside from the staff of the Principal’s Of�ice, the JCR Welfare Team continue to add a vital and hugely valued aspect to the student support provision at Van Mildert. They are led by a JCR Welfare Of�icer and run campaigns on a wide range of issues which raise awareness of the many facets of student health and wellbeing; each done with ever increasing �lare and creativity. The Welfare campaigns board located just outside of the

JCR has, in recent months, been decorated with everything from a board game for Alcohol Awareness Week, to adverts for free Zumba classes, Indian Head Massages, Cake by the Lake and a Bouncy Castle as part of the pre-exams ‘Stress-less’ campaign!

Vicky and Debs see students on a daily basis, usually by appointment, but also try to operate an open door policy as much as possible. A whole range

tor? a College Men ng Could you be e Mentors duri g e ll o C s it u cr en Van Mildert re t there are oft u b n o ti ca a v r the the summe m throughout a te e th in jo to ll opportunities porting a sma p su s e lv o v in g year. The role ents by offerin d u st r a e y t rs 5 �i hile group of 10 -1 l perspective w a n io it d d a ic a non-academ . College University life to in le tt se ey in the th ed to be based e n y ll a e id rs ring’ Mento ‘careers mento r e th o t u b a mni both Durham are ilable to all alu a av re a s ie it n �ind out opportu u would like to o y If r. a e n d n far a toria touch with Vic in t e g love o d , re o m k). We would u c. .a m a rh u d (v.h.brown@ ou! y to hear from

Further information: www.durham.ac.uk/ van-mildert.college/undergraduate/support/

28

of issues are dealt with by offering a non-judgemental listening and sign-posting service.

In conjunction with the Counselling Service, Disability Support Service, Student Finance and Immigration Of�ice, along with the team of College Mentors, we hope that students at Van Mildert have the best possible support available to them in order to ful�il their potential during their time with us.

Contributing to the Studen t Support Fun At Van Mildert d we are lucky to be able to call upon the Stud ent Support F und at times w other support hen is unavailable or when emerg funding is req ency uired. Just a sm all amount of �inancial supp ort from this u nique Mildert resource, whic h is generousl y provided thro alumni donati ugh ons, can some ti mes make a w of difference to orld a student in �i nancial need. of up to £50 a S ums re regularly off ered either as grant or a loan a . The fund is a lso used to off in-full, or contr er ibute to, the ex panding range scholarships a of nd bursaries p rovided by the College. Contr ibutions to the fund can be m by contacting ade the College De v elopment Of�ic (vm.developm er ent@durham .ac.uk) and w received with ill be grateful thank s from all at th Mildert Colleg e Van e!

Van Mildert College Trust

Van Mildert College Trust was established in 2007 with the aim of supporting excellence in all areas of College life, with a particular focus on promoting the energy and talent of our students.

Over the course of the past few years, the Trust has supported a number of key projects, including the restoration of the Bechstein piano, development of a series of

scholarships and bursaries and the establishment of an Annual Lecture Series.

The strategic objectives of the Trust can be divided into four themes:

- enhancing research; - promoting learning; - facilitating career building; - enabling cultural enrichment.

Trust Initiatives

Van Mildert College Trust webpages: www.durham.ac.uk/van-mildert.college/trust

Enhancing research

Promoting learning

Van Mildert College Trust has supported a range of initiatives associated with research, including four Postgraduate Research Scholarships, which provide accommodation, tuition and research support to PhD scholars.

The development of a Postgraduate Research Centre in Elvet Hill House has been supported by the Trust. The Centre now has a suite of high speci�ication computers and research facilities. This development has been a key addition to the postgraduate facilities within the College.

In addition, the Conference Attendance Fund has supported students in presenting their research at national and international meetings, raising the pro�ile of early career researchers.

The Annual Lecture remains a key event in the College’s calendar, bringing world leading academics to the College to explore issues of importance.

The Trust has a Board of seven Trustees including alumni and members of staff. Further information about the Trustees can be found overleaf. A number of current projects are highlighted within these pages to provide an overview of the Trust’s activities, including the exciting Jubilee Garden Project, which has been developed to mark the College’s 50th Anniversary.

Facilitating career building

The Internship Support Bursaries continue to provide assistance to undergraduate students undertaking internships at a variety of leading companies, institutions and charities during the summer vacation period.

Enabling cultural enrichment The Trust has initiated and supported a number of important cultural projects with the College, such as the purchase of the Lord of the Dance by Thetis Blacker, which hangs in the Ann Dobson Hall.

A number of recitals and performances have been undertaken using the restored Bechstein Piano, which was another key cultural initiative.

Recently, the Trust has developed a Jubilee Garden to mark the College’s 50th Anniversary.

Further information about this project can be found on Page 33.

VMC Trust

Professor David Harper

Principal and Chair

David is Principal of Van Mildert College, Chair of Van Mildert College Trust, Deputy Director of the Climate Impacts Research Centre and Professor of Palaeontology in the Department of Earth Sciences, Durham University. His research interests include brachiopods and major events in Earth’s history. He has undertaken �ieldwork in Greenland, Chile, China and Russia.

Mrs Abbie Bennington

1995 - 1998

Abigail Bennington is an alumna of Van Mildert College who worked in local radio and television for the BBC in Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

She subsequently worked as a producer at television centre for the Six and Ten O’Clock News.

She currently is a senior wine consultant for an educational wine company.

Dr David Ellis

1973 - 1977

After leaving Durham with a degree in Spanish, David went to work in the City as a Lloyd’s insurance broker. He then went to America to get an MBA in 1981, and stayed for about 25 years! He became a trader on Wall Street, before going back to graduate school to get a PhD. The decade of the 1990s he spent as a

30

Meet the Trustees

�inance professor, then in 2000 went into consulting. David is currently a Senior Managing Director at FTI Consulting, in their London of�ice where he is head of the Financial Services disputes group. He has been actively involved with Durham University since returning to the UK in 2006, working with the Vice Chancellor’s of�ice and the Business School prior to becoming a Trustee.

Alderman (non-party political) in the City of London in 2002 and this brings her into further contact with the business City, Westminster and local government leading particularly in road safety and sustainability.

Professor Brian Tanner

Chair of College Council

The Bursar has overall responsibility for the operational management of the College. This includes �inancial and domestic administration, including hospitality services, and the repair and maintenance of all buildings and facilities.

Brian is Chair of Van Mildert College Council, Dean of University Enterprise and Professor of Physics, Durham University. He was made the �irst Van Mildert College Fellow in 2012. He has published over 375 research articles and four books.

Brian was awarded the Queen’s Medal for Enterprise Promotion in 2012 and the 2014 Gabor Medal and Prize. Brian is also the Chair of the Destination 2015 Working Group.

(until June 2015) 1974 - 1977

Chair of Van Mildert Association 1974 - 1977

Mrs Paula Dawson

Bursar

Alderman Alison Gowman

Alison read law at Van Mildert and graduated in 1977. This gave her the best grounding to enjoy a legal career culminating in nearly 30 years as a partner at the world's largest law �irm.

Commitment to the community was also part of the Mildert brand and she has been involved in many charities including now, as Governor of the Museum of London and Deputy Chairman of the City Bridge Trust. Durham was not known for its politics, but she became an elected

Mr David Ellery

David Ellery is an alumnus of Van Mildert College and has been Chair of the Van Mildert Association for many years. He was a Foreign Of�ice of�icial with extensive �irst-hand experience of strategic policy-making and its implementation at the national and international level. He is now Senior Directing Staff Emeritus at the Royal College of Defence Studies, London.

31

The Mildertian

Van Mildert College Trust Jubilee Garden As many of you will be aware, Van Mildert College celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year. To mark this hugely important milestone, the Van Mildert College Trust created a Jubilee Garden, in collaboration with Durham University Botanic Gardens. This growing monument at the heart of College will provide a valuable space for relaxation and re�lection for students, staff and visitors alike.

This exciting project has been unfolding over the past year and will provide a living monument to the College’s past, present and future achievements - a truly remarkable space that will mature in the coming years for all to enjoy and appreciate.

Specially selected trees and shrubs are now being released for sponsorship, any pro�it from which will be used to develop further the growing needs of the Trust’s objectives, which include the support and development of students and projects key to College enhancement.

The location of the Anniversary Garden is close to the Lake and comprises a series of �lowering trees and shrubs. Plant species have been chosen to provide a focal point of colour and interest throughout the year. In total, �ifteen trees have been planted – a combination of Sorbus and

Malus – alongside 165 shrubs of various varieties, representing the �irst comprehensive re-stocking of the site in living memory.

Sponsorship is therefore sought for the range of plants which make up the Jubilee Garden.

Trees can be sponsored for £500 per specimen and shrubs for £50 each. Donors who provide sponsorship for a tree will be recorded on a plaque as part of the Anniversary Garden. A full list of the range of trees available for sponsorship can be viewed below. Information on the varieties of shrub available can be sought from the Development Of�icer via: vm.development@durham.ac.uk

Demand for the trees and shrubs is expected to be high. Please contact us soon for further information or if you wish to sponsor the garden and become part of the College’s living history as it unfolds.

To make a donation in support of this scheme, please visit the Dunelm donation pages, selecting Van Mildert College Trust and including ‘Jubilee Garden’ in the comments box. If you would like to support a particular variety of tree or shrub, please contact the Development Of�icer who will make the necessary arrangements wherever possible.

Anniversary Trees:

2 x Sorbus Joseph Rock 2 x Sorbus Sunshine 2 x Sorbus arn Salmon Queen 1 x Sorbus arn Golden Wonder 1 x Sorbus commixta 1 x Sorbus auc Cardinal Royal 1 x Sorbus auc Rossica Major 1 x Malus Golden Hornet 1 x Malus John Downie 1 x Malus Red Siberian 1 x Malus Mokum 1 x Malus Rudolph

33

The Mildertian

Update from the Trust Scholars

Maria Luisa Sánchez Montes

My second year of PhD started in September 2014. At the beginning of it, I attended few conferences to present the results after the �irst year of my PhD. I �irst presented the poster “Climate-ice sheet interactions through the Pliocene-Pleistocene: Preliminary results from Expedition 341 (Gulf of Alaska)” at the Multiproxy approach to the reconstruction of the Pliocene climate workshop organized by the Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) in Barcelona.

After increasing their accuracy by installing a new analytical method in our laboratories, a Gas Chromatography-Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometry (GC-CIMS), which increases the alkenone signal, I presented these results again at the International Ocean Discovery Program in the UK (UKIODP) Conference at the Royal Geographical Society, London, and at the 50th Year Anniversary Conference ‘Destination 2015: Personal Research Journeys’ at Van Mildert College under the title “Climate of the Gulf of Alaska during the warm Pliocene”. I also

presented a talk called “Understanding the present-Reconstructing the past-Predicting the Future” at the annual Van Mildert College Trust Scholar evening and talked about climate change at the Josephine Butler College’s Scholars Supper under the title "Reconstructing the past: a hint for future climate".

At the UKIODP Conference, I met Dr. Christian Maerz and Mr. Mark Zindorf who work in Newcastle University and conduct research in inorganic proxies from Site U1417 too and with whom meetings have expanded our mutual understandings of the environment of the Gulf of Alaska. In addition to alkenones, I am quantifying other terrestrial and marine biomarkers in U1417 sediments and comparing them with Dr. Oscar Romero’s diatom and Dr. Ellen Cowan’s ice-rafted-debris (IRD) proxies during the Pliocene-Pleistocene.

A co-author publication with the above scientists is currently underway and will compile these results.

I have also started the second part of my PhD which focuses on the analysis of biomarkers from Site U1418, another site of the Gulf of Alaska closer to the land than U1417, for the last 0.5 Ma. The goal is to compare the two sites (U1417 and U1418)

together and explain spatial variations in GOA’s environment, if applicable.

Further plans include taking part on the summer expedition JC123 Cruise around the UK where I will be helping with coring and monitoring geophysical data on board the James Cook.

Furthermore, I am the 2nd year PhD student representative in the Geography department and a Geography Postgraduate Blog co-administrator.

I also contribute to College life by advising undergraduate students as a College Mentor and co-organizing some events in College called Docu-Forum where a documentary of public interest is screened followed by an open discussion to which everybody is very welcome to attend.

VMC Trust Scholarships

Van Mildert College Trust PhD Scholarships provide support to outstanding doctoral students for a three year period. The scholarships cover tuition fees, accommodation costs, living expenses and some research costs. Further information about the scheme can be found on the Van Mildert College Trust webpages.

Trust Scholars Joseph Schultz

I am currently in the position of writing up my PhD on the symphonies and concertante works of the prominent Soviet composer Aram Khachaturian.

The in-depth musical examination of the nine chosen works (three symphonies, three concerti, three concerto-rhapsodies) is now complete, and the last term has involved the consolidation of my bar-by-bar analyses into the chapters which will trace Khachaturian's musical development over a course of nearly forty years.

My investigations have uncovered a subtle process of motivic transformation, which occurs from the earliest work (the Symphony No. 1, 1934) right through to the latest (the Piano Concerto-Rhapsody, 1968).

These transformations themselves—which range in consequence from the slight development of a motif upon its repeat, to a tonal relationship

spanning an entire symphony—form the majority of the structural processes in Khachaturian's works and give the music its unique qualities.

Khachaturian's oeuvre is often accused in the West of being largely derivative of the nineteenth-century Russian school (especially the Moguchaya kuchka) which repeated folk themes over changing orchestral background, but my research puts forward the contrary hypothesis that, in Khachaturian's music, the motifs themselves are subject to development, thus drawing closer parallels between Khachaturian and the Western schools of composition.

As well as the progress made with the analytical portion of the PhD I have also continued with my intensive Russian language lessons (in the Department of Russian at the University of Durham). These lessons have allowed me to consult primary Soviet texts concerning Khachaturian's biographical details and his music's reception in Russia. Furthermore, I have now visited Russia four times since the start of my PhD (three times to Moscow, once to St

34

Petersburg) and have given two conference papers on Khachaturian's music, one related to extra-musical interpretations of the Third Symphony (1947). Having the opportunity to visit Russia has also allowed me to consult original manuscripts of the composer's scores (in the Vsyerossijskoe muzyejnoye obyedinyenie muzikal'noj kulturï imyeni M. I. Glinki) and access other hard-to-obtain scores.

Most notably however this year has allowed me an extraordinary breadth of teaching experience in the Department of Music. I am now Course Assistant for two analysis modules (�irst-year 'Analysis' and third-year 'Symphonic Analysis') and was last term appointed Course Leader for the second-year module 'Russian and Soviet Music' while the normal leader was on research leave. This involved preparing and delivering weekly lectures, bi-weekly seminars, analysis groups and feedback tutorials (as well as marking formative exercises) and has been a tremendous learning experience for teaching work following the completion of my PhD.

Support Van Mildert College Trust

You can support the work of Van Mildert College Trust online at www.dunelm.org.uk/donations/colleges/vanmildert or via email to vm.development@durham.ac.uk to request a Gift Form. Post can be sent to: Development Of�icer | Van Mildert College | Durham University | Mill Hill Lane | Durham | DH1 3LH

The 50th Anniversary of Van Mildert College has provided an opportunity for the College to re-connect and engage with a large number of our alumni.

In order to co-ordinate the range of activities and events planned to mark this special occasion, the Destination 2015 Committee have been working to bring a number of projects into fruition. The Committee is led by Professor Brian Tanner, Chair of College Council, and comprises representatives from College Council and the three Common Rooms.

The Destination 2015 celebrations have three dimensions: celebration, development and fundraising.

A number of events have already been held to celebrate the College’s Anniversary, including a

Destination 2015 number of JCR Committee and Society Reunions, which have seen over 250 of our alumni returning to the College over the past academic year.

These Committee Reunions have been organised by the Junior Common Room, led by the VM50 Of�icer, Fiona Williams. They have provided an excellent opportunity for alumni to re-connect with the College, as well as hear about the successes of the current cohort of Mildertians.

We have also been treated to the �irst of the Van Mildert Association’s Global Perspectives Lectures, which seek to bring speakers of great international standing to the College - the �irst lecturer was the Norwegian Ambassador to the UK.

In addition, several key events are

still to take place, such as the Van Mildert Association Annual Reunion Weekend and Opera by the Lake with Sir Thomas Allen.

Opera by the Lake will be a highlight of the calendar, also featuring the New Tyneside Orchestra and a chorus of Van Mildert College alumni and friends.

A suite of regional (and international) events have also been hosted and planned throughout 2015, giving an opportunity for alumni based away from Durham to take part in the celebrations.

The full programme of events held at time of print can be found overleaf, demonstrating the variety of activities on offer.

Further activities are planned following the summer vacation make sure we have your details to keep up-to-date with our latest

Destination 2015 events and opportunities.

The development dimension of the Destination 2015 celebrations relates particularly to the intellectual life of the College. A further suite of events has been planned and held with this aim in mind.

In February, the MCR hosted the Destination 2015: Personal Research Journeys Conference and the SCR Anniversary Lecture Series will be taking place throughout the year, organised in collaboration with the Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC).

Additional information about these events can be found in the Research and Scholarly Activity section of this publication.

Several initiatives have been launched in order to secure �inancial support of students and key strategic projects.

Two books have been developed outlining the history of the College, which are currently available for purchase from the College Development Of�icer (vm.development@durham.ac.uk).

‘A Place of Water: Memories of 50 Years at Van Mildert College’ edited by Maureen McCorry and Ruth Tanner contains memories and accounts from current and former members of the JCR, MCR, SCR and College staff.

‘The Birth of a College’ provides an account of the initial development of the College community during the Prowse era (1964-1972), written by Arnold Bradshaw.

In addition, a limited edition of

prints of The Lake by Roar Kjærnstad are available for purchase in a variety of hues.

Information about each of these projects can be found overleaf.

Any contributions that you are able to make, whether in terms of time, expertise or �inancial support will be of great value to the College and its students.

The principal aim of the 50th Anniversary celebrations is engagement with our alumni community. We hope that you will be able to join us during 2015, whether in College or elsewhere, to re-connect with your fellow Mildertians and celebrate the achievements and community of this great College.

Full details of the suite of initiatives and activities co-ordinated by the Destination 2015 Committee can be found on the dedicated webpages at: www.durham.ac.uk/ van-mildert.college/ destination-2015/

Through these webpages, you will be able to register your interest in the VM50 Reunion events, as well as �ind additional information on the Anniversary Books, Prints and Van Mildert College Trust Jubilee Garden.

You can also follow Van Mildert College on Twitter @VM_Alumni and like us on Facebook at Van Mildert College Alumni and Van Mildert Association.

We look forward to welcoming you back to Van Mildert College very soon!

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Destination 2015 Events VM50 Cheer, Dance, Netball Saturday 24 January VM50 Outreach Saturday 31 January

VMC After Hours London Wednesday 4 February VM50 Basketball Saturday 7 February

VM50 Boat Club Saturday 21 February

Personal Research Journeys Saturday 21 February

VM50 Darts, Pool, Bar, JCR Exec Saturday 28 February VM50 Women’s Football Saturday 7 March

VMC After Hours London Wednesday 6 May

VM50 SCR Anniversary Lecture Monday 11 May VMC After Hours Liverpool Friday 22 May VM50 Men’s Football Saturday 30 May

VM50 Big Band, Jam Committee Saturday 6 June Dunelm Days Washington DC Saturday 6 June Dunelm Days New York City Thursday 11 June VMA Reunion Weekend Friday 10 - Sunday 12 July Opera by the Lake Saturday 11 July

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The Mildertian

Commemorative Items

To celebrate the College’s 50th Anniversary, the Destination 2015 Working Group has coordinated the development of a suite of exciting, limited edition commemorative products, which are now available for purchase.

Renowned artist, Roar Kjærnstad, was commissioned to produce a series of 50 prints of ‘The Lake’ which are available exclusively to alumni and friends of the College.

Two books have also been published as part of the celebrations. ‘A Place of Water:

Memories of 50 Years at Van Mildert College’ has been developed by Maureen McCorry and Ruth Tanner, who have coordinated numerous memories and recollections of alumni, staff and current students. The volume, which totals 217 pages, provides unique insights into College life throughout the past 50 years.

In addition, ‘The Birth of a College’ has been written by Arnold Bradshaw, former Senior Tutor and Master of Van Mildert College. This book provides an overview of the development of

The Lake

Roar Kjærnstad

ARTIST’S PROOF The Lake by Roar Kjærnstad (45 x 20 cm, print). * P&P will be charged at £3.50 for second class UK delivery. For delivery elsewhere, an additional charge may apply.

the College during its foundational years under the leadership of Dr Prowse, Van Mildert College’s �irst Master.

The books can be purchased individually or together at a reduced rate of £30 + P&P.

Information about these items and an Order Form can be sought from the College’s Development Of�icer via email to: vm.development@durham.ac.uk

‘The Lake’ by Roar Kjærnstad is available as an unframed print (45 x 20 cm) for £90 + P&P.

A limited run of 50 prints, many hand-tinted, has been commissioned, which will be sold on a �irst-come �irst-served basis.

To purchase one of these special prints, please contact the Development Of�icer.

Prints are available for collection from Van Mildert College or can be sent via post to a valid address.

Destination 2015 A Place of Water:

Memories of 50 Years at Van Mildert College Order your copy now for £20 + P&P*

‘A Place of Water: Memories of 50 Years of Van Mildert College’ has been developed to mark the College’s 50th Anniversary in 2015 and contains memories and accounts from current and former members of the JCR, MCR, SCR and College Staff.

A limited number of copies of this important publication are now available for purchase.

To order your copy, please contact the Development Of�icer via vm.development@durham.ac.uk, who will provide further details and an Order Form. * P&P will be charged at £3.50 for second class UK delivery. For delivery elsewhere, an additional charge may apply.

The Birth of a College The Prowse Years 1964 - 1972 Order your copy now for £12 + P&P*

‘The Birth of a College’ provides an account of the foundational years of Van Mildert College under the leadership of Dr Prowse, the �irst Master.

A limited number of copies of this important publication are now available for purchase.

To order your copy, please contact the Development Of�icer via vm.development@durham.ac.uk, who will provide further details and an Order Form. * P&P will be charged at £3.50 for second class UK delivery. For delivery elsewhere, an additional charge may apply.

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Van Mildert College Durham University Mill Hill Lane Durham DH1 3LH 0191 334 7100 Principal: Professor David A.T. Harper Email: david.harper@durham.ac.uk Deputy Principal: Dr Victoria Brown Email: v.h.brown@durham.ac.uk

Alumni and Development Of�ice Martin Brader Email: vm.development@durham.ac.uk 0191 334 7092

Van Mildert College Alumni and Van Mildert Association @VM_Alumni and @VM_Principal Van Mildert College, subgroup of Durham University Web:

www.durham.ac.uk/van-mildert.college/