St John's College News
Water retention technology (TerraCottem) introduced into soil as part of lawn relaying
Water retention technology (TerraCottem) introduced into soil as part of lawn relayingSeptember 2012 was time for the College to relay the lawns in Second Court, as part of routine and necessary maintenance work. This provided an opportunity to introduce a water retention technology called TerraCottem. This is estimated to increase water retention by 50% and therefore reduce water consumption, alongside other benefits to the soil and turf such as stronger root development,…read moreNew Johnian Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering
New Johnian Fellow of the Royal Academy of EngineeringCurrent Fellow, Professor Serena Michelle Best, Professor of Materials Science, University of Cambridge was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering on 20 July 2012. The Royal Academy of Engineering writes:'Serena Best is renowned for her research on bioceramics. Her pioneering work on silicon substitution in hydroxyapatite is responsible for producing a new generation of synthetic…read moreDr Metaxas presented with Lifetime Achievement Award
Dr Metaxas presented with Lifetime Achievement AwardDr Metaxas has been awarded a 'Lifetime Achievement Award' at the 2nd Global Congress on Microwave Applications held at Long Beach, USA during July 2012. This award was presented at the gala dinner held at the RMS Queen Mary docked at Long Beach.This award recognises the outstanding contributions made by Dr Metaxas to the field of electrical engineering, specialising in the use of radio frequency…read moreNew Johnian Fellows of the British Academy
New Johnian Fellows of the British AcademyThe following members of the College were elected Fellows of the British Academy at the Academy’s AGM on 19 July 2012: Professor Peter Jackson (1966), Emeritus Professor of Medieval History, Keele University. Professor Simon Schaffer (Title A Fellow 1979-1981), Professor of History of Science, University of Cambridge. Professor Claudio Vita-Finzi (1955; Title A Fellow 1961-1964), Research…read moreIain Farrington performs at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games
Iain Farrington performs at the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic GamesIain Farrington (1996), former Organ Scholar, performed in the opening ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games on 27 July. He played the piano in a comic performance of Chariots of Fire with Rowan Atkinson (as Mr Bean) and the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Simon Rattle. 'Performing in the London Olympics was a very special experience, in a sketch that combined a great…read morePPS - Donna Hirsch
PPS - Donna HirschDonna began studying PPS in 2009 having studied History, English Literature, Maths, Physics and Religious Studies at school. She is about to begin an MPhil in Criminology at Cambridge. 'I originally applied to St John’s for History but decided to switch to PPS when I returned to college after an illness. The breadth of the papers, especially in the first year, appealed to me as I was still unsure…read moreRecent acquisitions
Recent acquisitionsRecent acquisitions RSS Feed AnthropologyGN 360.C8 Culture evolves/ edited by Andrew Whiten ... [et al.]. Oxford : Oxford University Press, c2012.Audio-VisualAV PN.clu Clueless [DVD]/ Paramount Pictures. [s.l.] : Paramount Pictures, c1999.AV PN.bri Bring it on [videorecording]/ Universal Pictures and Beacon Pictures ; produced by Marc Abraham, Thomas A. Bliss ; written by Jessica Bendinger ;…read moreInstallation of loft insulation in all available roof space in First, Second and Third Courts
Installation of loft insulation in all available roof space in First, Second and Third CourtsIn August 2012 the College upgraded its loft insulation in the First, Second and Third Court roof space. These buildings should now require less heat input to keep these buildings at a comfortable ambient temperature, and therefore less gas is used by the boilers that supply hot water to radiators. An estimate of the gas savings is not possible at this time, with the current metering…read more'Cha Stone' unveiled
'Cha Stone' unveiledOn 4 July, the Vice-Chancellor of the University and the Master of St John’s College, helped by two graduate students, Echo Ouyang and Selena Yuan, unveiled an engraved stone in the Rose Garden, north of the Scholars’ Garden. The five-foot high piece of Taiwanese sandstone is a gift from Mrs May Cha, whose husband, the famous martial arts novelist Dr Louis Cha (Jin Yong), received an Honorary…read moreJohn Challenger's Final Organ Recital
John Challenger's Final Organ RecitalWhile the Choir is out in Japan, we thought we would take a moment to mention our two Organ Scholars, Freddie James and John Challenger, and thank them for all the work they do for the Choir. Not only do they play for all of the services in Chapel (which require far more preparation than for the Choral Scholars) but they can also be found teaching the Choristers and Probationers most mornings at…read moreLaura Plant celebrates lacrosse gold medal win
Laura Plant celebrates lacrosse gold medal winLaura Plant, who recently graduated from the Natural Sciences tripos, is currently celebrating a gold medal win with the English Team at the European Lacrosse Championships 2012. Laura joined St John’s College in 2009 and became a midfielder in the Senior England Lacrosse Squad the following year. Since then she has been successfully balancing her National Lacrosse commitments, as well as…read moreJohnians receive awards from the Royal Society of Chemistry
Johnians receive awards from the Royal Society of ChemistryThree Johnians are among those awarded prizes by the Royal Society of Chemistry this year, each showing particular excellence in their field.Former Fellow, Professor Sir David King (1988) was awarded the Lord Lewis Prize for 'his seminal contribution to physical chemistry and his outstanding record as UK Chief Scientific Advisor to UK Government and Head of the Government Office for Science, 2000…read moreForgotten Revolutionary: Francis Hutcheson
Forgotten Revolutionary: Francis HutchesonDr Gideon Mailer is to appear in a BBC documentary about ‘the father of the Scottish Enlightenment’, Francis Hutcheson. Along with lecturing and running supervisions in American History and Historical Argument and Practice, Dr Mailer is also a Title A (Research) Fellow at St John’s College.During the documentary Dr Mailer is interviewed to explain the influence of Hutcheson’s ideas in the North…read moreLarmor Awards 2012
Larmor Awards 2012The Larmor Awards are presented to students who excel not only academically but in other areas of College life as well. The College would like to congratulate the following students who received awards this year: Hermione Mackay According to her Director of Studies, Dr Midgley, Hermione ‘has also contributed much - spontaneously and unstintingly - to our programme of events for linguists, and to…read moreLarmor Awards
Larmor AwardsEach year at St John’s, students who excel academically and contribute to the life of the College, can be nominated for the prestigious Larmor Awards, which are presented on the morning of General Admission, or “Degree Day”.The Awards, presented by the Master, are named after the twentieth-century physicist and mathematician Sir Joseph Larmor, FRS, a former student at St John’s who made great…read moreProfessor John Toland awarded Sylvester Medal
Professor John Toland awarded Sylvester MedalCurrent Fellow, Professor John Toland has been awarded the Sylvester Medal by the Royal Society, for his original theorems and remarkable discoveries in nonlinear partial differential equations, including applications to water waves. Professor Toland is NM Rothschild and Sons Professor of Mathematical Sciences and Director of the Isaac Newton Institute, University of Cambridge.read moreTenth anniversary for charity catering course partnership
Tenth anniversary for charity catering course partnershipSince January 2002 St John’s College, in partnership with Cambridge Mencap and Huntingdon Regional College, has hosted a vocational catering and hospitality course that gives people with learning disabilities the chance to study for a nationally recognised qualification. The College is proud to be part of such a worthwhile initiative which has seen many students go on to secure paid employment.…read moreOlympic Flame passes under the Bridge of Sighs
Olympic Flame passes under the Bridge of SighsOn Sunday 8 July, day 51 of the Torch Relay, the Olympic Flame passed through St John’s College under the Bridge of Sighs by punt. Despite the wet weather hundreds of spectators gathered in College to watch this historic occasion, a new first in the 501 year history of St John’s College.read moreTravel Award Holders 2012
Travel Award Holders 2012Members of St John's College granted Awards for travel during the Long Vacation 2012 can be seen in the list below. Reports of these travels will be available on the College website in early November. To get a taster of the types of adventures our Students undertake please read the exciting reports from last years Travel Awards by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.…read moreSamuel Butler Project: halfway there
Samuel Butler Project: halfway thereThis month the Library’s Samuel Butler Project celebrates its first birthday, and the halfway point in its two-year schedule. The Project aims to catalogue and to make accessible the extensive collection relating to Victorian polymath Samuel Butler (1835-1902), which includes manuscripts, books, music, photographs, paintings, drawings and personal effects, and is one of the most important…read moreGeneral Admission 2012
General Admission 2012On the 28th of June 2012 a fresh cohort of Johnians graduated. After the traditional graduation photograph and Chapel service, the graduands processed through the historic city centre towards the Senate House to be admitted to their degree.Although many will no longer be resident in College these students will always remain part of the Johnian community, and we wish them all the best in their…read moreJohnians in The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2012
Johnians in The Queen's Birthday Honours List 2012The College would like to congratulate the following Johnians, who are among those featured in the Queen's Birthday Honours List 2012. Dr Manon Bonner Williams (1983), Former Private Secretary for Wales to The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall. Lieutenant of the Royal Victorian Order (LVO). Mr John Ashton (1974), Foreign Secretary's Special Representative for Climate Change. Commander…read moreJohn Crook Scholarship
John Crook Scholarship'I never thought I'd be able to study at Cambridge, now I've got the chance.'If you meet the criteria below, you could be eligible for the John Crook Scholarship to study for a second degree at St John's College, Cambridge.The scholarship would cover all your costs, including fees, and would provide a grant of at least £1,080 a month for your living expenses for the duration of your course.If you…read moreLibrary refurbishment
Library refurbishmentLibrary refurbishment work takes place from Monday, 2 July to mid-September this summer. Some areas will be closed for access. These areas include the Library Seminar Room; Mezzanine Floor Garden Wing; Third Floor Garden Wing. For health and safety reasons, members of the College are requested not to enter these areas during this period. There may be restricted access to other areas in the…read moreEdward Ward, A step to Stir-Bitch-Fair: with remarks upon the University of Cambridge (London: J. How, 1700). Purchased Nov. 2009.
Edward Ward, A step to Stir-Bitch-Fair: with remarks upon the University of Cambridge (London: J. How, 1700). Purchased Nov. 2009.Stourbridge fair, held annually in late August and September in a field near Barnwell Abbey outside Cambridge, was one of the great medieval fairs of Europe and was run by the University from 1589. This delightfully bawdy pamphlet tells of Edward Ward's trip to the fair in 1700, travelling from London via Ware (where he feasted on eels), Barley (where the 'bouncing Maiden-Landlady'…read more