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Floreat Magdalena
ISSUE 19 – 2021
Unl cking
lockd wn
1
The sun is already slipping lower in the sky and the
edges of the leaves are tinged with signs of autumn
2
Contents
Regulars Features
The big picture ................ 4 18
From the President ........ 6 Unlocking lockdown
Your view .......................... 7 Learn more about the members of
Fellows’ news ................... 8 our community who were at
Online ................................ 11 the forefront of the fight against
College news .................... 12 Covid-19
Outreach ............................. 14
Events..................................... 16
Donor impact ................... 17 26
The consolation of books
Inside job .......................... 48 Magdalen Librarian, Dr Lucy
Crossword ........................ 50 Gwynn, explains why so many
of us read for comfort during the
pandemic
30
Feeling unwell? Check your
horoscope
Dr Michelle Pfeffer explains that
without advancements in medicine
16 we might have turned to an
astrologer during the pandemic
34
Magdalen pioneers
We talk to Anna Lapwood (2013,
Joy Sutcliffe, and President Dinah
Rose (1984) about what it’s like to
be a pioneer
48
40
State of the art
Thank you to the alumni, We meet Magdalen Fellow and
students, Fellows, and staff fourth-plinth artist Professor
who contributed to this Samson Kambalu and two
issue of Floreat Magdalena. Magdalen Fine Art students
The opinions expressed in
46
Floreat Magdalena are those Changing rooms
of the contributors and do Discover some of our new,
not necessarily reflect those of
Magdalen College.
repurposed, and renamed
rooms
Magdalen College. Registered
charity number 1142149
3 FLOREAT MAGDALENA
The big picture
Mark Randolph from the
Development Office is the winner
of this year’s Magdalen College
Photography Competition with
his collection of beautiful shots of
College and Oxford.
5 FLOREAT MAGDALENA
From the President
I am told that it is usual to begin
an introduction to the Floreat by
summing up the year in a word.
But how do you describe a year like
2020/21? Perhaps “unprecedented” will
warmth by alumni and friends all over
the world.
We have had the benefit of a
fascinating series of webinars from
Magdalen Fellows this year, with
do. After a full year as President, I have topics ranging from Shakespeare’s
still not seen the College functioning second thoughts to computing and
as it normally does. the meaning of the universe. I have
The challenges faced by the enormously enjoyed the conversations
College community over the last 12 with Fellows and alumni which these
months have been immense. After a events have stimulated – at their
Michaelmas term in which we were best, they have had the intimacy of a
initially optimistic about the relaxation tutorial, but with a global reach. We
of restrictions, we found ourselves will be continuing this programme,
“
locked down for the second time from along with more in-person and hybrid
December until late April. Although events in the future.
there has been a gradual return to A particular inspiration to us
normality for students in recent This year may have been all this year have been those at the
months, the constraints and the lack of difficult, but it has also forefront of the fight again Covid-19,
social contact have been particularly including Professor Adrian Hill
tough on them.
been inspirational.” K.B.E. (1978), Director of the Jenner
We know that it has also been a Centre, and Dr Maheshi Ramasamy,
challenging year for you, particularly Principal Investigator at the Oxford
for those of you who are frontline Vaccine Group, an integral part of the
workers, so we are grateful to the team that developed and trialled the
alumni in the health and social care I remember one Sunday morning Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine. You can
sector who took the time to share their in late January when snow fell. From learn more about them and others on
experiences of life at the height of an apparently empty College, students page 18.
lockdown on page 20. magically appeared on the New More than anything, this year
This year may have been difficult, Building lawns in little household has been transformative. The
but it has also been inspirational. groups. By lunchtime, we had an obstacles of the last 12 months have
My own memories include the array of impeccably socially-distanced at times seemed insurmountable,
commitment, resilience, and snowmen, a snow deer, and a snow but we tackled them together, drew
cheerfulness of the Fellows, staff, igloo kennel for Scrumpy, the College inspiration from one another, and
and students, and the unwavering dog. It was a sudden expression of transformed and strengthened our
support we have received from you, joy that lightened our mood in a dark College and our community in the
our alumni community. I am proud time. process.
of the fact that our libraries remained I also remember services in the Our priority next year will be to
open throughout the year, thanks to Chapel, which operated a wonderful build on the strength and support
the determination of Lucy Gwynn array of online services, as well demonstrated by our community over
and her team, and that we have also as remaining open for hauntingly the last year and look forward to new
maintained catering, gardening, beautiful candlelit evening prayers, and exciting opportunities ahead.
and other services at all times. I am sung by a single voice. Our May
extremely grateful to our staff, who Morning celebration, secretly filmed at Floreat Magdalena!
have kept the show on the road in very dawn at the top of the Tower a couple
difficult circumstances. of days early, was received with great Dinah Rose
6
Your view
“
I have only one desire for 2021:
To take Magdalen ever higher.”
Quatrain contest
Earlier this year, we asked you to
write a quatrain on what you were
most looking forward to following
lockdown.
Dear Alumni Office, And the winners were…
Just a quick e-mail to thank the College and the Alumni Office for their efforts My dream is for the world to open to
in arranging the webinars offered to alumni. It has been a most enjoyable travel,
experience to sit in on the vaccine discussion between the President and And for everyone to be safe and
Professor Adrian Hill and to anticipate the next one with Professor Simon secure in the knowledge,
Horobin on A Day in the Life of the English Language. That the masks and vaccines work and
nothing will unravel,
I hope that these events will become a regular feature of College life! So we can come visit our boy at
Magdalen College.
Thank you very much once again for organising these events. Katherine Blass Asaro
William Lawrence (1976) I have missed my friends’ dear faces,
Their old habits and their smiles,
I hope to once again see places,
Where we can walk and talk for miles.
Olivia Krauze (2018)
A very close runner up was:
A lazy river or a crowded train,
A hushed woodland or a darkened
cinema,
To sleep in late or rise early,
Solitude or company - to choose, to
choose, to choose.
Thanks to Tim Beech (1984) for sharing this brilliant panoramic view taken Miranda Lewis (1979)
from the Great Tower in the mid-eighties. A shot (or series of shots) like this
certainly took a lot more commitment to produce back then than it does today. Even the President joined in:
If you look closely, you can see a pristine Grammar Hall and the deer in the I have only one desire for 2021:
Grove. To take Magdalen ever higher -
And then my work is done.
If you’ve never climbed the Great Tower, you can watch us climb it here at Dinah Rose (1984)
https://bit.ly/3gkP1PH
7 FLOREAT MAGDALENA
Fellows’ news
Magdalen Fellow Professor Adrian Hill Magdalen Supernumerary Fellow
KBE FRS (1978), a key member of the Professor Xin Lu has also been elected
team that designed and developed the as a Fellow of the Royal Society for
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, has been her contributions to cancer biology.
awarded one of the highest Queen’s Professor Lu is the Director of the
honours, becoming an honorary Knight Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research,
Commander of the Most Excellent Oxford Branch.
Order of the British Empire (KBE) for Xin Lu is a cancer biologist
services to Science and Public Health. distinguished by her contributions
He was also elected a Fellow of the to understanding cellular pathways
Royal Society for his world-leading that control cell fate in development
work in the design and development and disease, particularly cancer. She
of new vaccines for globally-important has a long-standing interest in how
infectious diseases. to selectively kill cancer cells, and her
As well as helping to develop the major research advances have provided
Magdalen Fellow Jane
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, Adrian insights into how the most mutated
Gingrich has been awarded
is a member of the team whose recent or inactivated tumour suppressor in
the title of Professor of
malaria vaccine trial proved to be 77% human cancers can make life or death
Comparative Political
effective, the first vaccine to achieve the decisions for a cell.
Economy in this year’s
World Health Organisation’s goal of “I am humbled to receive this
University of Oxford
75% efficacy. honour from the Royal Society,”
Recognition of Distinction
He is the Lakshmi Mittal and Family said Xin. “As someone who barely
awards.
Professor of Vaccinology, and founder spoke English at the beginning of my
Jane’s research interests
and Director of the largest academic scientific career, I am hugely grateful
involve comparative political
vaccine centre in the world, the Jenner for all the support I have received from
economy and comparative
Institute at the University of Oxford. my supervisors and mentors.”
social policy. She is
Professor Adrian Hill studied Medicine The Royal Society is a Fellowship
currently completing a book
at Magdalen from 1979. of many of the world’s most eminent
manuscript on third way
scientists and is the oldest scientific
social democracy, examining
academy in continuous existence.
the changing electoral and
policy fortunes of mainstream
European left parties.
“
She is additionally working
on a European Research
Council-funded project on the
Professor Adrian Hill politics of post-war education
is a key member of the reform, looking at both the
team that designed and political drivers of varying
developed the Oxford- educational structures and
the long-run consequences
AstraZeneca vaccine.” for social mobility and the
regional concentration of
skills.
Finally, she is working on
a number of small projects
related to differentiated
geographic and household
effects of automation.
Photo by John Cairns
8
“ I am absolutely delighted to be elected a Fellow, and
I am excited to be joining at such a pivotal time.”
Magdalen Fellow and Associate
Professor of Fine Art at the Ruskin
School of Art Samson Kambalu will
be the latest artist to have their work
displayed on the fourth plinth in
Trafalgar Square.
Samson’s piece, Antelope, is
a sculpture that restages a 1914
photograph of the Baptist preacher and
pan-Africanist John Chilembwe and
European missionary John Chorley.
More on page 40.
Professor David Gann CBE CEng FICE FCGI has been elected to a Fellowship
by Special Election at Magdalen.
David is Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Development and External Affairs at the
University of Oxford, a member of the UK Government’s Innovation Expert
Group, Chairman of the UK Atomic Energy Authority, non-executive director of
Directa Plus plc, and non-executive director of VenCap International plc.
David was previously Vice-President (Innovation) at Imperial College London
(2013-19), and Professor of Innovation and Technology Management at Imperial
College Business School (2003-20).
He has formed five companies, mentors start-ups, and advises boards on
innovation and technology management.
David’s research explores why and how innovation happens, the ways it
continually transforms the world we live in, and how it can be managed. He
publishes on technology management and innovation strategy in many leading
journals, writes a blog for the World Economic Forum, and has authored or co-
authored eight books published in eight languages.
David said, “I am absolutely delighted to be elected a Fellow of Magdalen
College, and I am excited to be joining at such a pivotal time.”
Professor of Law and Fellow at Magdalen Jeremias Adams-Prassl has been
awarded a Philip Leverhulme Prize in recognition of his outstanding research
achievements.
The Prize, which includes a sum of £100,000 to be used to promote Jeremias’s
research, is awarded to those whose work has had ‘international impact and
whose future career is exceptionally promising’.
Philip Leverhulme Prizes have been awarded annually since 2001. They
commemorate the contribution to the work of the Trust made by Philip
Leverhulme, the Third Viscount Leverhulme and grandson of William Hesketh
Lever, the founder of the Trust.
Jeremias was also awarded a prestigious European Research Council (ERC)
grant. The ERC is the EU’s flagship programme to support innovative, high-
impact research across all academic disciplines, awarding grants for scientific
excellence to top researchers across Europe.
9 FLOREAT MAGDALENA
Emeritus Fellow Professor Liam Dolan
has been appointed by Her Majesty
the Queen as her representative on
the board of trustees of Royal Botanic
Gardens, Kew.
Kew is governed by a board of
trustees which comprises a chairman
and eleven members. Ten members
and the chairman are appointed by the
Secretary of State for Environment,
Food and Rural Affairs, and the Queen
appoints her own trustee on the
recommendation of the Secretary of
State.
Liam was Professorial Fellow at
Magdalen College between 2009 and
2020 while he held the Sherardian
Chair of Botany at the University
of Oxford. Liam has been Senior
Group Leader at the Gregor Mendel
Institute, Vienna, since autumn 2020
where he carries out research on
plant development, evolution, and
mechanisms of resistance.
On the subject of plants,
here’s a stunning 16th
century illustration of an
iris from our collection
by German botanist
Leonhardt Fuchs
On St Mary Magdalen Day, Former President Professor Sir David and Lady
Clary returned to College for the long-awaited opportunity for current and
former Fellows, staff, and close friends to come together in person to thank
them for their 15 years of service to the College. It was also an opportunity
to unveil the portrait of Sir David by Keith Breeden RP.
10Online
The College organised online exhibitions, curated by academic staff, Fellows, and other members of the
College, throughout the year. Here is a selection of their most recent ones.
Making History: Christian Cole, Immobility Women and Power?
Alain Locke & Oscar Wilde at Oxford With this online exhibition, we open A Magdalen Story
They were bright. They were up the multiple dimensions of mobility, Why has power been dominated by
audacious. They were, without a from movement to stillness, from the men in institutions such as Magdalen?
doubt, exceptional. This exhibition physical to the imaginary. Bringing In what contexts have women
tells the story of three nineteenth- together a number of themes, ranging found ways to shape Magdalen, for
and twentieth-century trailblazers from migration, maps, and data, to themselves, for their peers, and for
who changed Oxford University and music and the stars, we rethink ideas future generations? Who speaks and
the world beyond it. Christian Cole of what movement and stillness can who is heard are essential political
was one of Oxford University’s first be. We challenge popular conceptions questions for any community. One aim
Black African undergraduates, Alain of mobility and argue that immobility for ‘Women and Power? A Magdalen
Locke was the first African-American is also movement – simply from a Story’ is to stimulate debate on how we
Rhodes scholar and dean of the Harlem different perspective. We also show build inclusive, diverse, and meaningful
Renaissance, and Oscar Wilde was how movement does not always happen communities, for today and for the
the greatest Irish wit and dandy of all along a straight path from A to B, and future. We hope that this online
time. Discover more in this fascinating how it can change through time and exhibition will help to widen this much-
online exhibition: space. Discover more: needed conversation. Discover more:
makinghistory.magd.ox.ac.uk/ immobility.magd.ox.ac.uk womenandpower.magd.ox.ac.uk
#1#1#2
We are the most followed Oxford
College on Instagram and Twitter.
We may only be in second place when
it comes to Facebook, but we have the
most engaged audience.
Thanks for staying in touch!
11 FLOREAT MAGDALENACollege news
Programme to find next minority ethnic backgrounds with an Magdalen runs remote
generation of leaders in unparalleled experience by having them work experience at Nuffield
second year engage with outstanding individuals Department of Medicine
Two groups of rising stars from from leading social, political, academic, As part of an extensive Outreach and
the world of politics and business and business institutions. Crucially, this Access programme our Outreach
took part in the second Pathway to is followed by a long-term mentoring Team recently collaborated with Dr
Success Leadership and Development scheme in which Magdalen alumni Tammie Bishop, part of the team led by
programme this year. Pathway is an support each participant on their Nobel Prize-winning Magdalen Fellow
initiative designed to help create the individual pathway to success.” Professor Sir Peter Ratcliffe, to give 15
next generation of minority ethnic The mentoring programme and the Y12 pupils a chance to participate in
leaders. Pathway to Success Leadership and remote work experience at the Nuffield
The two-week-long programmes Development programme provide Department of Medicine.
were developed by Operation Black a unique opportunity for Magdalen The week involved lectures and
Vote and the House of Commons in College to support diverse leadership workshops delivered by Tammie and
collaboration with Magdalen College, in politics and society in general, and her team, including Isobel Argles, Dr
the Blavatnik School of Government, to connect with, and learn from, these Thomas Keeley, Samvid Kurkelar, and
and Lloyds Banking Group, and aim future leaders. Magdalen College would Maria Prange-Barczynska. Students
to equip participants with the tools like to thank its Pathway partners, also produced their own presentations,
and knowledge required to stand for the programme participants, and experiment ideas, and essays.
leadership roles. the alumni who have supported this “Students visit the lab each summer
Participants are selected based on initiative. for work experience, and we didn’t want
“
their proven skills and undertook a them to miss out on this opportunity
week of intensive masterclasses in – Covid-19 or not,” said Tammie. “We
politics, governance, community, came up with the idea of running a
business, and commercial and civic
environments to build their know-
Magdalen is delighted to remote work experience week as an
alternative to try to give students a taster
how in running for political office and continue its involvement of research and University life. The event
further develop their leadership skills. with Pathway to Success was extremely fun and valuable for
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, participants and organisers alike and we
sessions this year were delivered online programme in order look forward to running it again.”
with a mini-residential at Magdalen to grow diversity in Students were introduced to a
scheduled for later in the year.
As an extension to Pathway,
leadership positions in range of medical courses offered at
the University of Oxford, including
Magdalen College developed a society.” Biomedicine and Medicine.
mentoring programme that offers One participant, Jana, said, “I
one-to-one support to participants am very grateful for this fantastic
following the week-long programme, opportunity as I have learnt so much
as well as providing access to a network within a week. The workshops,
of mentors and fellow participants. All lectures, Q&A sessions, feedback, and
mentors are alumni of Magdalen. the work that has been set were very
Professor Robin Cleveland, the informative and interesting to me. I was
Access Fellow at Magdalen College, able to significantly benefit from this
said, “Magdalen is delighted to continue experience and come out of it with some
its involvement with Pathway to Success new knowledge - that is very exciting.”
programme in order to grow diversity For more details about our wide
in leadership positions in society. range of outreach and access activities,
“Pathway provides the participants search ‘Outreach Magdalen’.
from Black, Asian and other
12Tobias Schroder (2017) was part of the men’s eight that won gold for Great Britain at the recent World Rowing Under 23
Championships in the Czech Republic, and, closer to home, our second women’s eight won blades in Summer Eights.
Virtual May Morning from the Magdalen forms racial equality The then JCR President Daisy Jowers
Great Tower advisory group said, “As a JCR and a College, Magdalen
The May Day celebrations may have As part of Magdalen’s commitment has made significant steps towards
been cancelled again, but the Choir to encouraging and celebrating increasing diversity and representation
of Magdalen College was determined diversity, the College has formed a new within our college in recent months.
to build on the success of last year group tasked with increasing access “The changes approved in the last
with another virtual May Morning and opportunities, supporting and meeting of the Governing Body are only
performance, this time from the top of representing current members, and the beginning of this journey, and the
the Great Tower. increasing education around race. advisory group which introduced them
The members of the Choir sang The group is made up of key will continue to meet next year, with
from their homes via video link in members of the College including the significant student representation.
2020, but this year, the Choristers President, Senior Dean of Arts, and “Whilst we recognise that there is
and Academical Clerks were able to Tutor for Equality and Diversity, as well more work to be done, we’re proud of
climb the 172 steps to the top of one as the JCR and MCR Presidents and the measures taken so far, and of the
of Oxford’s most famous landmarks to representatives for racial equality. appetite for change within the College.”
welcome spring a few days earlier than The formation of the advisory group The advisory group is currently
usual. followed recommendations made by the exploring the implementation of
Directed by Mark Williams, JCR and MCR. several changes, many of which will
“
Informator Choristarum at Magdalen be incorporated into the new College
College, the Choir recorded the Strategy.
traditional Latin hymn, prayer, and
madrigals at the top of the Tower to Prize-winning poetry
an unsuspecting Oxford at dawn a few Matters of equality are Annabelle Fuller (2018) has won the Sir
days earlier. of utmost importance... Roger Newdigate Prize with her poem
“As soon as it became clear that Koinobionts. The Prize is given annually
we could do it safely and within the and we believe there is for the best student poem of up to 300
guidelines,” said Mark, “we knew that a lot more we can do at lines. Previous winners of the Prize
we wanted to record this year’s May include Alan Hollinghurst and Andrew
Morning from the Tower. The Choir
Magdalen.” Motion.
was sworn to secrecy, as we couldn’t “We presented a paper to the Annabelle was also chosen as the
risk people finding out, in case we Governing Body, jointly with the JCR, winner of this year’s Richard Selig
drew a crowd; it’s been Oxford’s highlighting how racial equality could Poetry Prize. You can read her winning
best-kept secret. I suspect some early be improved in College,” said MCR poem Mars and Venus Surprised by
morning joggers got quite a surprise! President at that time Lucy Baehren. Vulcan at bit.ly/3kgw2Ha
“We were delighted to be able to “The paper included a number of
share it once again this year with the suggested action points, prompted
Magdalen community – and with by thoughts from the MCR and JCR.
thousands of others around the world The racial equality advisory group
– continuing a truly magical custom was created in response to this paper
dating back over 500 years.” and will continue to meet and review
You can watch the Choir welcome the actions to ensure we are making
spring on their Facebook and YouTube progress on these matters. We are
channels. hopeful that this will give momentum to
these important changes in College.
“Matters of equality are of utmost
importance to the MCR, and we
believe there is a lot more we can do at Magdalen flew the flag for Trans
Magdalen.” Awareness Week.
13 FLOREAT MAGDALENAOutreach
Magdalen College Outreach has been working hard to ensure the most talented students
can study here no matter what their background
Magdalen is making significant of studying a humanities degree at student life. Offer-holders who met
increases in the numbers of students university level. certain criteria for disadvantage were
from underrepresented groups in Since the outbreak of Covid-19 invited to a welcome morning hosted
their intake of undergraduates. We we have held 80 Magdalen Outreach by the outreach team. These offer-
are proud of these improvements Events, involving 2473 participants. In holders were then invited to be part of
and keen to keep going. Access and addition to this, we have been involved our Mentoring Scheme, and be paired
Outreach continues to be a priority, in Oxford’s Virtual Open Days and with a trained Student Ambassador
to support bright prospective students university-wide Remote Interview for mentoring sessions held online.
who face barriers to accessing Oxford Workshops. We have had overwhelmingly positive
University, and to support our feedback on these sessions so far. One
increasingly diverse student body. offer-holder told us, “It definitely made
me more confident about accepting my
Outreach in the Pandemic: offer, as a lot of the worries I had were
“
Outreach has not stopped for the addressed in the session.”
pandemic, but we’ve had to work We continue to have fantastic input
differently. Last March, we moved in our outreach work from our student
all our events online. In place of our Outreach has body with an average of 20 student
usual school visits to the College, we not stopped for the ambassadors getting involved during
have been providing a programme of term time. Our new Outreach and
virtual events including talks, tours,
pandemic, but we’ve Access Forum which we hold termly
Q&As, and lectures. Recently, we had to work for the student body has also been a
also launched our Talks With Tutors great place to get ideas and feedback
differently! ” on our work.
Programme, where prospective
applicants and school groups can
sign up to attend mini lectures While we were sad not to be
with Magdalen Tutors. These have welcoming prospective students to
varied in subject and age range but Post-Offer Support Magdalen in person, we have been so
have included a talk from Professor Now that we are making such glad to be able to continue our work
Laurie Maguire on ‘Shakespeare’s progress in increasing and supporting throughout such a challenging year.
Second Thoughts’ for GCSE and applications to Oxford, we have been We hope to see school groups back in
A-level students and a Biology talk on keen to further support those who Magdalen soon, but we will take many
‘Evolution In Action’ by Professor Tim have received offers to study here things forward from this year. We
Barraclough for younger secondary and to ensure students who are here hope to reach even more people in the
students. already are getting the most of their future with both in-person and virtual
We have hosted many of our larger experience regardless of background. Outreach programmes.
projects and residentials online too. This year we have launched a new
Last summer, we successfully held our Post-Offer Support Scheme, to
Law Residential for the second year ensure that anyone with an offer feels
running with students joining online welcomed and has access to all the
for workshops on admissions and information they need to make a
Law lectures with our Magdalen Law decision about studying with us.
professors. We also ran two popular This year all offer-holders received If you would like to find out more
Virtual BAME Humanities Study a welcome pack, which included a about our Access and Outreach work
Days for Year 12s of BAME heritage welcome letter from our JCR Access please contact our Outreach Team at
who want to explore the possibility and Admissions Rep and a booklet on outreach@magd.ox.ac.uk
14If you know someone who
is interested in coming to
Magdalen, a good place for them
to learn more about our College
is on our YouTube channel
15 FLOREAT MAGDALENAAlmost 1500 alumni attended
Events one or more of our webinars
We’d like to thank everyone who joined us for one of our online events this year. If
you missed one, or you’d just like to watch one again, you can find them all on our
website under Alumni Events, Webinar Recordings.
Here are a few of the webinars from the last 12 months.
In this family friendly webinar Professor
Shakespeare’s second Laurie Maguire shows us how to uncover
thoughts Shakespeare’s revisions.
Bagels, Bumf, and Buses: Professor Simon Horobin gives an online talk
A Day in the Life of the on his recently-published book Bagels, Bumf,
and Buses which explores the fascinating
English Language histories of everyday words.
Fellow in English Professor Robert Douglas-
Can poetry make Fairhurst explores why poetry has traditionally
been associated with doom and gloom, and
you happy?
shows how it might be a helpful resource in
keeping up our spirits in difficult times.
Fellow in Physics Dr Alexy Karenowska
gives a whistle-stop tour for all ages of the
The magic of magnetism
fascinating two-thousand-year history of
magnetic science.
Professors Robin Dunbar and Lucy Bowes
Our social world: the
discusses the positive psychological and
most complex thing in neurobiological mechanisms involved in
the universe? friendship.
Dr Michelle Pfeffer explains how early
Astrological forecasting modern astrologers took on many of the
of epidemic disease in activities we associate with public health
early modern England today. More on page 36.
16Donor impact
“
In the last financial year
£2.1m
Access and Outreach has
been crucial to my journey
to Oxford – without [it] I
would never have considered
Amount raised thanks to our incredible donors (includes gift aid) applying.”
Daniel Dipper (2020)
14% 24
Percentage of alumni
who made a gift.
Our youngest donor
1201
Number of alumni who made a gift
101
Our oldest donor
“
It’s important for Magdalen to continue with
the Access and Outreach programme. It helps
create a better community at the College and help
create stronger environments for individuals. ”
Rafiah Niha (2020)
18%
The percentage of donors
under 40
27
The number of countries we
received gifts from
12%
Percentage of alumni who made gifts
to Access and Outreach
17 FLOREAT MAGDALENA18
Unlocking lockdown
Learn more about the members of
our community at the forefront of the fight against Covid-19
and get an insight into life at the height of lockdown
for some of Magdalen’s health and social care wokers
P rofessor Adrian Hill KBE
FRS (1978) is a Fellow at
Magdalen, the Lakshmi Mittal
and Family Professor of Vaccinology,
and founder and Director of the largest
the team whose recent malaria vaccine
trial proved to be 77% effective, the first
vaccine to achieve the World Health
Organisation’s goal of 75% efficacy.
Adrian recently became a Fellow of the
Vaccinations were initially delivered
to a small number of hospitals for
surveillance purposes, before the
national rollout began in earnest,
initially for the most vulnerable patients.
academic vaccine centre in the world, Royal Society and an honorary Knight Last month, AstraZeneca announced
the Jenner Institute at the University Commander of the Most Excellent Order that they had manufactured over 1
of Oxford. He is a key member of the of the British Empire (KBE), for services billion doses of the vaccine which
team that designed and developed the to Science and Public Health. had been released to more than 170
Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine with the countries.
Oxford Vaccine Group. Dr Maheshi Ramasamy is a Fellow by
Developing a vaccine would Special Election and Florey Lecturer at Professor Adam Finn (1980) is a
normally take many years, but Adrian Magdalen College. In her role as Florey Professor of Paediatrics at the University
and the team developed the Oxford- Lecturer, she acts as the Lead Tutor for of Bristol. He is also Chair of the WHO
AstraZeneca vaccine in just 12 months. graduate medical students at Magdalen European Technical Advisory Group
One reason for this speed is that the College. She is also a Consultant of Experts on Immunization (ETAGE)
delivery method for the vaccine had Physician at the Oxford University which provides independent review
already been developed for other Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and to the Vaccine-preventable Diseases
diseases and had been tried and tested the Principal Investigator at the Oxford and Immunization programme (VPI),
for almost ten years. ChAdOx1, as it Vaccine Group where she leads on adult an ex-officio member of the WHO
is known, was created by modifying a clinical vaccine trials including the Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on
harmless adenovirus that causes the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine trials. Immunization (SAGE), and a member
common cold in chimpanzees. The first peer-reviewed results of of the British Department of Health
The finished Oxford-AstraZeneca phase 3 human trials of the vaccine, Joint Committee on Vaccination and
vaccine works by delivering the genetic which took place across the UK Immunisation (JCVI).
sequence of the spike protein of SARS- and Brazil, demonstrated efficacy in The JCVI is an independent expert
CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. December last year, and at 7.30am advisory committee that advises UK
The body cells read this genetic code on the 4th of January 2021 dialysis health departments on immunisation,
and start producing copies of the spike patient Brian Pinker became the very making recommendations concerning
protein and the immune system then first person to receive the Oxford/ vaccination schedules and vaccine safety.
mounts a response. A benefit of using AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine. During the pandemic, the committee
ChAdOx1 for the vaccine is that it Unlike the Moderna and Pfizer gave advice to the recently formed
generates a strong immune response vaccines, the Oxford/AstraZeneca Vaccine Taskforce on the groups of
but is not a replicating virus, so cannot vaccine does not require frozen storage people that should be prioritised for
cause an infection. making it easier to transport. It was vaccination and later which vaccine
As well as helping to develop the also able to be manufactured in large different groups should receive.
Covid-19 vaccine, Adrian is part of quantities and at low cost.
19 FLOREAT MAGDALENA“
Robert Staruch (2018) and Tom We spoke to frontline health
Kirk (2017), two DPhil students and social care workers from
in the Department of Engineering
Science, are part of a multidisciplinary
our community earlier this year
team of engineers and medics from
My NHS Trust as to learn how their professional
the University of Oxford and King’s a whole and my and personal lives had been
College London that developed a rapid colleagues within the affected by Covid-19.
prototype ventilator in response to the
Government’s Ventilator Challenge hospital have been
when a shortage of ventilators was very supportive.
forecast at the beginning of the
There has been a The GP
pandemic.
real sense of shared Rachael Rooney (née Hawes) (2003)
The team later partnered with
medical technology company Smith endeavour and What is your role and what are your
and Nephew to translate the prototype
into a safe, reliable product. In June last supporting each main responsibilities?
I am a General Practitioner. Contrary
year, OxVent Ltd was created to deploy other.” to some perceptions/press we continued
the ventilator during the pandemic and
working throughout, but differently in
beyond.
view of the challenges!
Robert and Tom also developed
an app to improve the efficiency of
Do you remember what you felt when
the vaccine rollout for housebound
you first heard about Covid-19? Did
patients. VaxiMap has so far helped
you have any idea about the impact it
find almost 28,000 optimal routes for
would have?
over 300,000 patients.
Initially, perhaps not concerned enough
or optimistic denial - after all, previous
potential pandemics like SARS, MERS,
swine flu, etc. did not significantly
disrupt the NHS or UK. However, as
it started to pick up pace in Europe I
did become increasingly concerned
and started controlling what I could by
prepping my own PPE/medical supplies
from early March 2020.
What happened in the early days of the
virus, how prepared were you at work?
My husband, Louis (2003) normally
works in the USA. So, courtesy of
various airports in March 2020, I suspect
that my whole family had Covid-19
quite early on! Our youngest child was
already feverish and kept home from
preschool when the rule came in on
the 16th March. The whole household
needed to isolate together for 14 days so
we were in that straight away.
Several of my colleagues were in
a similar position with an unwell
household member and there was no
community testing at that stage to
confirm infection or to end isolation
20earlier than 14 days if negative. In our How did the first lockdown affect Can you remember how you
household, the five of us then became you personally? felt when you first heard about
ill sequentially (me last!) so my total It was a challenge! The message a possible vaccine?
isolation was over three weeks. initially was to keep children home I felt it was inevitable there would
Some colleagues were also added to from school if at all possible, so our be one. Although, I did have some
the shielding list so could no longer see 3-year-old twin boys and 6-year-old scepticism about how much it will
patients face to face. So the workforce daughter were home while we both actually change things on an individual
at our practice was significantly juggled work. In the subsequent 2021 versus population level though, for
depleted straight away. We tried to closures, we used some critical worker example, what the data would be on
switch to home working but the IT school provision and family wellbeing transmission as well as the severity of
at the start was very, very slow and was much better for it. illness.
without full functionality (e.g. able to Positive aspects included making
access medical records via VPN but healthier habit changes (making the How has the vaccine affected you
not able to authorise prescriptions). most of that time out to exercise and your work?
Luckily, in the early days, I would say and no social events!) and taking I feel it is a little too early to say, as only
that demand on primary care dropped on the distraction of completing an a few cohorts are receiving their second
significantly as patients chose to International Board Certification in dose of vaccine yet after the revised UK
only contact us for things they really Lifestyle Medicine. schedule spacing out doses. We have yet
thought were very urgent. As demand to see how much the strains continue to
picked up again the home working tech Did you feel supported by your work, vary and what the plans going forward
had improved for shielding colleagues community, country? will be for yearly boosters.
and fewer were in quarantine at any Our local community was very Then ultimately, what is deemed
one time. supportive initially. I have various fancy politically/culturally acceptable as a
sets of scrubs made by volunteers! My mortality and morbidity rate from
How did the first lockdown affect you favourites are the NHS rainbow fabric Covid-19 as it becomes endemic, versus
professionally? ones. the desire for restrictions to be relaxed.
We changed our ways of working As time has gone I think any Although the vaccine developments
significantly as the pandemic started challenging circumstance highlights have been an awesome feat of modern
to unfold. My practice area had a cracks as well as strengths in a medicine - I have wondered whether
much older demographic than average workplace. Perhaps also the nature of there is an overreliance on this... with
and there were challenges with the this has demonstrated that life can be missed opportunities to also focus
old, not purpose-built premises, shorter than we might hope. We have on “host” (patient health) factors and
not being suited to viral infection really seen the lasting impact on family also healthcare delivery (particularly
control measures. Locally, practices members of some of these deaths. The inequalities) that are crucial to disease
collaborated to set up “hot hubs” where surveys have suggested an alarming mortality and ongoing morbidity.
all the suspected Covid-19 patients number of GPs planning to retire
could be seen by GPs. We swapped earlier, cut down their sessions, or leave Do you think there will be any long-
to remote methods of assessment the NHS due to occupational burnout. lasting effects from the pandemic,
first (telephone, video, or email I left the practice I had been good or bad? What might they be?
consultations) rather than face-to-face working at in March 2021 for a Yes. There will be a multitude. Some
appointments. If we felt that a patient multitude of reasons. Personally, I of the negatives include patients
needed a face-to-face consultation did not feel particularly burnt out but suffering from long Covid with ongoing
afterwards, we could choose the correct identify with the concept of “moral symptoms.
site, stagger timings so social distancing injury” with an increased discrepancy Also, that other serious physical
could be maintained in waiting rooms between the care I would like to illnesses including cancer diagnoses
and minimise the time in a room provide, patient expectations, and have been delayed by the impact on
together as we had already had a what was possible in my NHS GP role the healthcare service and patient
discussion. I also examined things like at that time. I am also excited to do perceptions of it. The hospital waiting
limb skin lesions/lumps or ears through more Lifestyle Medicine work, with lists for specialist clinics or non-urgent
car windows! the root causes of disease and health operations (joint replacements, hernias,
- hopefully, in the future, this will gynaecology, etc.) are significantly
become embedded in the NHS. increased now.
21 FLOREAT MAGDALENAAnother concern professionally I hope there will be more liver donors and so-called altruistic
and personally is the impact of the widespread learning and interventions kidney donors (i.e. donors to recipients
disruption on critical life periods at an individual and population level unknown to them).
in childhood and adolescence. The regarding the root cause of modifiable I also see patients on dialysis, whether
number of consultations for mental lifestyle components of health and in the dialysis unit, the wards, or the
health issues in young people is rising susceptibility to disease - this is clinics, for a wide variety of reasons
significantly with limited resources unlikely to be the last novel viral (primarily depression, anxiety, cognitive
to support them. For many children pandemic. impairment).
school was a safe space and the impact
of adverse childhood experiences on Do you remember what you felt when
future physical and mental health will you first heard about Covid-19? Did
“
be significant. you have any idea about the impact it
Some other long-lasting effects are would have?
not so easily classified as good or bad. I read the early reports from China
It has highlighted many things I hope there will be with detached curiosity, much as
about NHS working environments, widespread learning beachcomber might see something
including how often staff would work unusual, far out at sea. I followed
through their own illnesses (often and interventions the description of rising deaths and
being more feverish or tachycardic at an individual and case numbers, first with concern, -
than their ill patients) or leave unwell whatever’s out there is bad, and could
children being cared for by others.
population level.” come this way - which turned into alarm
Rates of many other infectious as the first wave crashed over Italy -
illnesses have gone down with the whatever’s out there is very bad and is
measures in place - although there is coming this way. Along with colleagues
a possible flip side of this on immune The psychiatrist and the country I braced for the impact.
system development in children Stephen Potts (1979) Of course, none of us knew how bad
particularly. it would be, or how long it would go
It has also shown that it is very What is your role and what are on. We still don’t. This uncertainty has
possible to organise some aspects of your main responsibilities? consequences of its own.
Primary Care at scale and with more I’m a psychiatrist, working in the renal
remote assessments initially. Many unit and transplant service (kidney, What happened in the early days
patients and clinicians did find a liver, pancreas, islet cell) at the Royal of the virus, how prepared were you
telephone/video/email consultation Infirmary of Edinburgh at work?
initially more convenient and an My responsibilities include assisting I do not work directly in the Covid
efficient way to work. the transplant team in their assessment wards or ICU, but departmental
However, many patients would of potential transplant recipients (and colleagues do, and several caught
prefer to talk to their doctor face to living donors of kidneys and livers), the virus in the early weeks, despite
face even if from a clinical perspective their preparation for surgery, and their their PPE ( all have since recovered).
a remote assessment would be short- and long-term management This made me wonder if the PPE was
adequate. Combined with the increase afterwards. In a normal year, we adequate whenever I went to the dialysis
in waiting lists for hospital clinics, I undertake approximately 100 kidney unit or the non-Covid wards. I was
wonder if this may hasten changes in transplants (almost half from living impressed by the speed with which
how healthcare is delivered in England, donors) 100 liver transplants (a handful service changes were made: physical
with more patients/employers turning from living donors) 15 simultaneous alterations in ICU, staff redeployment,
to private provision for preference of kidney/pancreas transplants, and a huge investment in new IT to allow
delivery method and access. I think, similar number of islet cell transplants. remote working for meetings with
optimally, there would be more honest I get asked to see between a quarter colleagues and patients. One of the
political-public dialogue about the and a half of kidney, pancreas, and criticisms previously levelled at the NHS
direction and scope of the NHS for the islet cell recipients (a colleague sees is the bureaucracy that stymies change: I
21st century and pandemic-endemic the liver recipients) as well as a similar saw none of that. Big changes happened
world, which would help to reduce proportion of related living kidney very quickly. In retrospect, some of
stress and moral injury for clinicians. donors, although I see all potential them may have happened too quickly,
22in response to what we saw in Italy, but centres still able to use organs. Can you remember how you felt
our ICU, A&E, and wards were never when you first heard about a possible
overwhelmed. How did the first lockdown affect you vaccine?
The more we learnt about the risk personally? Hopeful excitement, bolstered by
factors for catching Covid, for becoming I won’t deny I was apprehensive going pride at Oxford’s role and specifically
seriously ill, and for dying, the more into work in March and April 2020, Magdalen’s: I’m a contemporary of
my colleagues and I worried about the but so was everyone else, and many Adrian Hill of the Jenner Institute (a
impact on our dialysis and transplant were going into a work environment neighbour in the Daubeny Building),
patients. Some have caught it, and been much more risk-laden than mine. and Adam Finn of the JCVI (a
ill; a few have died - but it has not ripped Gradually, as we came to learn more housemate at 63 High Street).
through these groups as we first feared it about the virus and the risks it posed,
would. that apprehension receded, until I feel How has the vaccine affected you and
very much in a new routine. Home your work?
How did the first lockdown affect you life has been less routine: my wife is Given the Oxford connection, I wanted
professionally? an academic who has largely worked to have the AstraZeneca (AZ) vaccine
In some ways surprisingly little. I still from home for a year. Our children’s but was offered Pfizer’s before AZ had
work the same days, and they are as long schooling has been affected ( whose been approved. I took the first dose in
as ever. I still go to the same transplant has not?). Holidays and long-planned December. I was not concerned about
meetings, though sometimes by dialling family events have been cancelled or stretching the interval to the second
in. I still see patients face to face in the postponed. On the positive side, I’ve dose and had it 10 weeks later. There
dialysis unit and on the wards. But where cycled many more miles on empty were minimal consequences after
before nearly all my outpatient contact lockdown country roads. And we each, and only for 24 hours or so. The
was face to face, now most of it is via bought a puppy - though we have the vaccine roll-out is now well-advanced
video or phone consultation. In general, excuse that we already owned two older in the dialysis unit and the transplant
the kit and the software work well, dogs. population, much to the relief of the
and video appointments have quickly patients and their families, by whose
become accepted by clinicians and resilience I have been very impressed.
patients. I’m sure they will continue after To be immunosuppressed and afflicted
the pandemic, especially for services by comorbidities like diabetes and
like transplantation (the kidney service hypertension, and to read that these
covers Eastern Scotland, all the way to were exactly the factors that put people
Shetland: the pancreas service the whole at risk, made for a long and anxious
of Scotland and Northern Ireland). I do Did you feel supported by your year. For some dialysis patients, their
miss the face-to-face contact, and video work, community, country? only trips outside their homes have
appointments don’t meet all clinical Yes, very much so. I have been very been thrice-weekly visits to hospitals
needs, but I think I miss more the social impressed by the solidarity displayed for treatment, each visit fraught with
contact with colleagues at conferences all at all levels. In return, my son (now 11 concern they might be exposed to the
of which have been virtual for a year. and a bagpiper) played in the garden virus. Yet they have coped.
The transplant programmes were shut every day for six months at 1pm, as
down almost completely in Edinburgh, well as every Thursday for the NHS Do you think there will be any long-
and much of the rest of the country, for clap-along. Twice a week he played lasting effects from the pandemic,
several months in the first wave. This for the residents of the local sheltered good or bad? What might they be?
meant that people who had waited in housing unit. (Of course, it is possible We are seeing huge social, economic,
precarious health for a transplant now that our neighbours and those residents and political consequences beyond the
knew they would have to wait longer, did not welcome the noise, but the purely medical effects, and there is no
though no one could say by how much. feedback has been good, and he has doubt they will be long-lasting. Others
I did what I could to support them. been commended for it). are better placed than me to comment
The second wave hit other areas harder on what they might be. While we need
than Edinburgh, and we did not have I do sense a greater awareness of and to believe that positives may emerge,
to close. This had the paradoxical effect attention to the needs of others in this they are unlikely to outweigh even
of increasing activity for a time, as pandemic. I hope it lasts as we emerge a fraction of the negatives, such as a
Edinburgh was one of a small number of from it. current global death toll of nearly three
23 FLOREAT MAGDALENAmillion. A major concern for doctors people with mental illnesses including the lack of activity was very distressing.
is what we are learning about the long- dementia, mood disorders, and We went from seeing our colleagues of
term effects of the virus. Long Covid psychosis. At the moment I work with all disciplines every day to having remote
is common, distressing, and disabling. inpatients in hospital. meetings and seeing patients by video
There are features in common with conferencing. It felt like the attention
chronic fatigue syndrome, but also Do you remember what you felt when we could give to each person’s care was
significant differences. We don’t know you first heard about Covid-19? Did reduced, and the relationship with patients
nearly enough about its causes, its you have any idea about the impact it was more difficult.
course, or how to treat it. would have?
When I first heard about Covid-19 How did the first lockdown affect you
“
it wasn’t immediately clear whether personally?
it would pose more of a threat than On a personal level, I was not as affected
earlier SARS viruses, such as the by the lockdown as many others were.
Lockdowns slow the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome I was able to drive the 50 miles to work
spread...but it is medical (MERS), which did not unfold into a in under an hour with nobody else on
global pandemic. As the initial days the roads. I took to taking regular walks
science that will get us out passed it became clear that this was in nearby countryside and my fitness
of this mess. We are good going to be something much more improved quite a bit. In some ways,
widespread. I went quite quickly from working in healthcare and thus continuing
at it in Britain, in Oxford, being fairly unconcerned about it to to go out to work during the lockdown
at Magdalen. ” worrying that it wasn’t being taken meant I got the best of both worlds.
anywhere near seriously enough based
on the warnings from public health Did you feel supported by your work,
experts, a view that remained the community, country?
Is there anything else you would like same for quite some time before the My NHS Trust as a whole and my
to say about your experience over the Government acted. colleagues within the hospital have been
last 12 months? Even once the global situation was very supportive. There has been a real
For a long time before the pandemic, I well established, I can’t say I anticipated sense of shared endeavour and supporting
have taken quiet satisfaction in working just how long it would go on for and each other. In my local community,
for the NHS, and in Britain’s many how much it would restrict our lives. there have been some nice gestures such
scientific and clinical achievements. as discounts for NHS staff, and lots of
What our basic scientists, clinicians, What happened in the early days of window displays. I am afraid I am rather
epidemiologists, statisticians, clinical the virus, how prepared were you at cynical about public opinion more widely
trials organisers, and others have work? given the abuse some public health experts
delivered to the world, in record time, When this all began I was working in a have experienced, and the behaviour of
in response to this pandemic, should be secure environment with high levels of many people in defying lockdown, mask-
applauded. Lockdowns slow the spread physical and procedural security, and wearing, and other measures to protect
at social and economic cost, but it is so we were able to stop visitors from each other. The situation in this country
medical science that will get us out of coming and reduce movement within and the number of deaths would have
this mess. We are good at it in Britain, the campus very quickly. Like most been a lot better if the NHS and the public
in Oxford, at Magdalen. We should hospitals, we had dealt with localised health system had not been underfunded
celebrate that. outbreaks before and so the basic and partly dismantled by successive
measures and PPE were familiar and governments. Rather than banging
instigated swiftly. saucepans together on a Thursday night,
The old-age psychiatrist it would be better if people thought more
How did the first lockdown affect you carefully about their choices at the ballot
Jason Holdcroft-Long (2001)
professionally? box and what they mean for the National
The lockdown terminated all of the Health Service.
What is your role and what are your recreational and occupational activity
main responsibilities? for patients at a stroke, and although Can you remember how you felt when
I am an old-age psychiatrist, which is this was welcomed by those who you first heard about a possible vaccine?
a medical doctor looking after older preferred to be solitary, for many others I was impressed with the rapid and
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