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Newswire
November 2020

News

Arts and Humanities Ranked 19th Globally

We are celebrating news that our Faculty of Arts and Humanities was today named in the World Top 20 of a prestigious league table.

The subject area was ranked 19th in the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2021 – its highest ever global ranking and a rise of eight places from 27th last year. Overall, five of our subjects have been ranked in the top 100 globally with two ranked in the top 50, including Durham Law School at 35th.

The Difference You Make

In July, Sir Thomas Allen launched our Chancellor’s Appeal to establish the 'Covid-19 Recovery Fund' to support those hit hardest across our University community during this difficult time. We have already allocated over 100 individual student bursaries and graduate development grants with second phases of applications to the Fund opening soon. Thank you for your continuing support!

Volunteers needed for Covid-19 detection dog trial

Our researchers are training dogs to see if they can sniff out Covid-19 in people but we need your help. The team needs more samples for the super sniffers to carry out their work.

Funding for Wolfson Postgraduate Scholarships in the Humanities programme passes £20 million mark

The programme has been renewed for the 2021/22 academic year. Over £20 million will have been awarded to some 300 scholars since it was launched in 2012.

Virtual Postgraduate Open Day

We will be hosting our first ever Virtual Postgraduate Open Day on 25 November, Join us to find about more about returning to Durham for postgraduate study.

Events

Durham Inspired: Live in Lockdown Upcoming Events

Early-Career London Alumni Chapter Event
Thursday 29 October, 5.30pm (GMT)
Last chance to register for the Early-Career Alumni event tomorrow, hosted by the London Alumni Chapter on Zoom.

Lockdown Lunchtime Tour of the Botanic Garden
Thursday 12 November 2020, 1pm (GMT)
The Botanic Garden at Durham has been closed to the public for most of this year now, due to the global pandemic. But life in the garden has not stopped!

Welcome to Germany!
Thursday 19 November 2020, 6pm (CET)
Connect with local alumni and find out how the network can support you in your next chapter!

Global Lecture Series - Covid 19: An equinox for news
Thursday 12 November 2020, 4.30pm (GMT)
Fresh from covering the US election, we will be joined by John Ryley, Editor in Chief of Sky News. John will give a short presentation and then there will be a chance to put your questions to him.

Global Lecture Series - Inequality: why we should all care
Tuesday 24 November 2020, 6.15pm (GMT)
Events of 2020 have revealed, perhaps more starkly than ever, the huge inequalities that exist in our society. We will be joined by Dr Wanda Wyporska, CEO of The Equality Trust in discussion with our own Professor Sue Black OBE.

Behind the Scenes at the Oriental Museum
Wednesday 25 November 2020, 6pm (GMT)
Explore the new way of life at Durham’s Oriental Museum during in this digital world we now find ourselves in.

Introducing Our Western Art Collection
Thursday 3 December 2020, 6pm (GMT)
Join us as we talk to Alix Collingwood-Swinburn, our Curator of Western Art, to find out more about the University’s collection of modern and contemporary art, our current projects and future plans for the collection.

Tackling an Old Foe: Understanding New Ways to Kill Tuberculosis
Thursday 10 December 2020, 6pm (GMT)
Scientists have discovered a new way of killing the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB), using a toxin produced by the germ itself. An international team of researchers are aiming to exploit this toxin to develop new anti-TB drugs. Dr Tim Blower, Associate Professor in the Department of Biosciences, and Lister Institute Prize Fellow will share with us his work on the project and the potential real-world impact of their findings.

Check out the Vann Fellowship programme of events coming up. Check out the website for more information.

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Alumni

Queen's Birthday Honours 2020

On the announcement of the Queen’s Birthday Honours List 2020, we would like to congratulate and celebrate the achievements of the following alumni and friends who are honourees in this year’s list.

Globally Distanced Reunions

Still in touch, 33+ years after graduation, a small group of Van Mildert 1987 alums did what everyone else is doing in these pandemic times, and had a Zoom catch-up to reflect on life updates, current happenings, chat about their children (one recently started at Durham!) and how remarkably lucky they felt to have kept in touch all these years...

Jatin Sharma (History, Grey College, 2003-06)

Jatin reflects on his time at Durham and updates us on what he has been up to since graduating as he launches his new company focused on the global renewable energy, power, and infrastructure space.

Natalie Starkey (Geological Sciences, University College, 2002-05)

Natalie reflects on her time at Durham and updates us on what she has been up to since graduating as she looks forward to her new book about space volcanoes coming out next year.

Professor John Barrow FRS (1952-2020)

Tributes have been paid to eminent cosmologist and theoretical physicist, alumnus Professor John Barrow FRS (Mathematics, Van Mildert, 1974) who died in late September. Also an honorary graduate of the University, John went on to be awarded the Templeton Prize, Gold Medals of the Institute of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society for his exceptional work in his academic field.

Class Notes

Joe Bunyan (Philosophy, Politics & Economics , St Mary’s College, 2008-11) and Gitonga Wandai's not-for-profit film Gitonga was released earlier this year and is a finalist for the world’s most prestigious mountain film competition.

Rosalind Gardyne (History, St Mary’s College, 1981-84) is raising her acting profile by releasing a weekly 30 second anecdotes. Here is one from her first week at St Mary’s.

Jacquetta Gomes (Economic History & Sociology, St Aidan's College, 1972-75) has been highlighted for her community participation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michelle Hockley (History, St Cuthbert’s Society, 1996-99) now has a second novel, a novella, For The Sake of Art is now available

Zach Killingback (Geology, St Cuthbert’s Society, 2016-19) has had his research and findings from his Masters published by the National Geographic.

Roxy Lackschewitz-Martin (Archaeology, Josephine Butler College, 2009-12) has been involved in setting up a new non-profit organisation, Neurodiversity in Law. It’s aimed at anyone involved in the legal professions – solicitors, barristers, paralegals, students at any stage, lecturers.

Robert Schuett (Politics, University College, 2006-09) has had the title of Honorary Fellow in the School of Government & International Affairs, conferred upon him from 1 October 2020 for a period of two years.

Colleges

Hatfield College

This summer, the College, in partnership with the Hatfield Trust, launched its Collaborative Internship Scheme.

King's College

Our alumni have been sharing their fond memories from their time at King's College.

St Aidan's College

Taking a deep breath after an unprecedented (we hope!) start to the new academic year, Aidan’s is proud of the way staff and students have worked together to sustain a sense of community. We all hope that our alumni are safe and well and plan to reach out to you via Zoom in early December.

St Cuthbert's Society

Check out the latest news here.

St John's College

Almost 100 alumni and friends joined us live online for the Annual Borderlands Lecture with the Archbishop of York. If you missed it, watch or read the lecture here.

St Mary's College

St Mary’s College Society are delighted to welcome Dr. Fiona Hill, of the Brookings Institution to deliver a lecture titled: The Struggle for the White House: a personal view. Fiona is Senior Fellow in the Center of the United States and Europe and with expertise particularly relating to Russia. She is a former National Security Advisor who testified in the impeachment hearings of November 2019.

University College

For Castle students living in College, accommodation this year is divided into households, named after figures or symbols from Castle’s history. During Freshers’ week our JCR Tech Director Roshun Karia lit the Castle Keep each night in different colours to represent our 28 households. Photo credit: Roshun Karia

Ustinov College

Calling Graduate Society and Ustinov College alumni,
Ustinov College are planning for the next issue of our College magazine, The Ustinovian; why not get involved?

Departments

Centre for Catholic Studies

A series of online events celebrating and reflecting upon CCS members’ newly released publications.

Durham University Business School

The digital version of IMPACT 8 the Business School’s award-winning magazine is available now. The theme of this issue is Society with articles by faculty, staff, students, alumni and business connections. Read online here (if viewing this in China please click here ).

Experience Durham

From sharing your favourite recipe to speaking about the environment, here’s how you can help make a difference and support volunteering projects at Durham University.

Law School

Law’s status as a leading centre of research and teaching has been strengthened by another prestigious honour to add to the school’s impressive list of accolades and achievements

Team Durham

Durham University opened the doors to its Queen’s Campus Sport Centre on 20 October 2010. Find out how it has grown over the last 10 years.

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