All your latest news and events

Newswire
June 2022

Please be aware that the Development and Alumni Relations office will be undergoing some refurbishments between Monday 14 March and Monday 13 June, therefore, it may take slightly longer to reply to any enquiries during this period.

News

REF 2021 – Celebrating our research excellence

The Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021 assessed subjects across our four faculties of Arts and Humanities, Business, Science and Social Sciences and Health. Over ninety-nine per cent of our research was rated as being of international quality, while 90 per cent was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent.

Six Durham subject areas were in the UK top ten for the overall quality of their research including Geography (1st), Archaeology (2nd), Education (2nd), Classics and Ancient History (4th), Theology and Religion (8th) and Sport and Exercise Sciences (10th).

Durham becomes the largest All-Steinway school in the UK

After a project spanning three years, Durham became the largest All-Steinway school in the nation in April. In the enviable position of having 61 Steinways throughout the University in both its Music Department and Colleges, we are delighted that all students, regardless of music experience, will be able to enjoy music at its finest, with these wonderful, world-class instruments.

Durham City Run Festival

This July will see the return of Durham City Run Festival and we are delighted to be supporting the event as a major partner. The festival will take place on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 July, with events throughout the city and at our venues. With the return of the popular Durham City Run 10K and 5K races, along with the Run Like a Legend Mile, and Paula Radcliffe’s Families on Track.

Durham – a hub of culture, creativity and heritage

With just days to go until we find out whether Durham will be crowned UK City of Culture 2025, we’re shining a light on the many ways our University celebrates, embraces and contributes to creativity, culture and heritage.

Events

Upcoming events

Chicago Spring Social
Thursday 2 June 2022, 6pm (CDT)
Whether you are local to Chicago, or are simply passing through, meet local Durham graduates at The Red Lion Pub and celebrate the start of the Queen's Platinum Jubilee 2022!

Global Lecture Series 2022 - Cosmic Extinction – The Far Future of the Universe
Tuesday 7 June 2022 (virtual), 6.30pm (BST)
The second lecture in the series will be given by Professor Carlos Frenk CBE, FRS who is Durham University’s Ogden Professor of Fundamental Physics. Entitled Cosmic Extinction – the Far Future of the Universe, this will outline the latest research on dark matter and the likely fate of the universe.

Durham Venture School Discovery Event
Thursday 9 June 2022, 10am (BST)
Join us for the Durham Venture School discovery event to find out how you can be part of this life-changing programme!

Global Lecture Series 2022 - The Fate Of Communities; What Happened When The Coal Mines Closed
Monday 20 June 2022 (combined virtual and in person), 6.30pm (BST)
The third lecture in the series will be given by Professor Ray Hudson, Emeritus Professor in Durham University’s Department of Geography.

Stephenson College Alumni After Hours London
Tuesday 21 June 2022, 6pm (BST)
Stephenson College invites alumni to join us for our informal London After Hours event at The Counting House. Book your place now.

Meet the New Dean of Durham Law School
Wednesday 22 June 2022, 6pm (BST)
Graduates of Durham Law School and Durham alumni working in the law and legal sector are invited to join us at Slaughter and May in London to meet the new Dean of Durham Law School, Professor Volker Roeben.

Hild Bede London Drinks Reception
Friday 8 July 2022, 6.30pm (BST)
We are thrilled to announce that we have been able to reschedule our two private tours around the prestigious stables in central London, currently fully booked, as well as the drinks reception at the Trading House.

Geography 1972 Golden Anniversary Reunion
Friday 8 - Sunday 10 July 2022
A group of 1972 Durham University Geography graduates are organising a 50th Anniversary Reunion, in Durham. Register your place and more information will be shared with you soon.

50 Years of Collingwood London Launch Dinner
Saturday 10 September 2022
Collingwood’s 50th Golden Anniversary will take place over the course of the academic year 2022-23. We will be celebrating the deep and lasting sense of friendship and community that so many of you will recognise and treasure. Join us for the launch of this exciting year on Saturday 10 September at IET, Savoy Place in London. Tickets are £120 each and will include a drinks reception and a three-course meal.

Dunelm Society Annual Dinner
Thursday 13 October 2022, 7pm (GMT)
This year’s venue for the Dunelm Society Dinner in London is a spectacular eighteenth-century hidden gem in the City. Built in 1735, Armoury House, is the headquarters of the Honourable Artillery Company Regiment. We will dine in the magnificent Long Room which is hung with an array of portraits and flags on beautiful wood-panelled walls.

50 Years of Collingwood Reunion Dinners
November 2022 – April 2023
Collingwood’s 50th Golden Anniversary will take place over the course of the academic year 2022-23. We will be celebrating the deep and lasting sense of friendship and community that so many of you will recognise and treasure. Each Class are invited to join us for a reunion dinner in college between November 2022 and April 2023. Tickets are £40 each and include a drinks reception and a three-course meal.

View all upcoming events

Check our events pages regularly for all of the upcoming alumni events across the world.

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Volunteering

Volunteer at Summer Congregation 2022

We are really excited for Summer Congregation, when the university will hold 34 ceremonies over 9 days. We are looking for enthusiastic Durham alumni volunteers to help congratulate recent graduates on their achievements and welcome them to the alumni network.

Share your Durham experience - where are you now?

To celebrate Summer Congregation 2022, we're sharing blogs from recent graduates. We want to know where you've been and what you've been doing since you graduated from Durham. If we publish your blog on our site, you'll receive a Durham stash goodie bag. Your goodie bag will be available to collect from the Palace Green marquee on the day of your congregation ceremony.

Get in touch

Alumni

Class Notes

Douglas Denham St Pinnock (Economics, History and Politics, University College, 1973-76) was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Law in January 2022 at the Royal Festival Hall. This followed his retirement as Pro Chancellor & Vice Chair of London South Bank University.

Michael Doherty (MJur Law, 2004-07) has published TEN: Rules for Being a Good Person in the 21st Century. As a prescription for humanity as a whole and for each of us individually, the ten rules that result are a prescription for human survival and for individual redemption, if we choose to follow them.

Sue Flood (Zoology, St Mary’s College, 1983-86) was awarded an honorary degree of Master of Science by the University of Chester in recognition of her work as a wildlife filmmaker and photographer. Sue spent 11 years working with Sir David Attenborough at the BBC Natural History Unit on series such as The Blue Planet and Planet Earth, before leaving the BBC to concentrate on her stills photography, particularly in the Arctic and Antarctic. She has written two books, including Emperor - the Perfect Penguin with a foreword by Sir Michael Palin.

Elizabeth A. Galway (MA English Literary Studies, University College, 1997) has recently published The Figure of the Child in WWI American, British, and Canadian Children’s Literature: Farmer, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (Routledge 2022). Paying special attention to the figure of the child, this book provides a comprehensive study of transatlantic children’s literature produced during the first global war.

Jacquetta Gomes (History and Sociology, St Aidan’s College, 1972-75) was featured in the IFN Inter Faith Network for UK annual report 2019-2021.

Sophia Smith Galer (Modern Languages, St Mary’s, 2012-15) has been included in Forbes’ 30 under 30. She was awarded "Innovation of the Year" at the British Journalism Awards last year, because of her unique approach to journalism, and now has over 80 million views on TikTok.

Dr Anthony Wells (BA Modern European History, MA History, St Cuthbert's Society, 1962-69); latest book Crossroads in Time, Philby and Angleton - A Story of Treachery has been published by Palmetto Publishing. A never-before-told account of the infamous relationship between the notorious British spy, ‘Kim’ Philby and disgraced CIA agent James Jesus Angleton.

Sorrel Shamel-Wood (née Wood), (English Literature, St Cuthbert’s Society, 2006-09) will be ordained priest (Church of England) in Oxford on 26 June.

Colleges

Hatfield College

Save the date! Saturday 18 June 2022. To celebrate its 175th anniversary, Hatfield College presents its very own “Lions on the Bailey” in a unique site-specific, part promenade event, co-written by students alongside a professional playwright. Featuring original songs and music, this comedy drama takes numerous twists and turns as Charles Thorp and David Melville are reunited on a magical journey through its past, present and into its future.

St Aidan’s College

Epiphany term saw a happy return to many activities following the constraints of Covid.

St Cuthbert’s Society

Dr Robert (Bob) Banks received his Dunelmensis Award from the Vice-Chancellor and Warden, Professor Karen O’Brien on Wednesday 18 May. He has a long and successful history with St Cuthbert’s Society and Durham University. He was a lecturer on Zoology until his retirement in 2013 and for many years prior to this was also a tutor and acting Senior Tutor at St Cuthbert’s College.

St Cuthbert’s Society

Mental Health Awareness Week was celebrated at St Cuth’s with a stress management campaign ‘Stress Less’. All activities were free of charge for Cuth's students including free ice cream, a petting zoo, a gardening morning with brunch, litter picking, ‘shout-outs’ on social media and care packages as well as useful info graphics on Instagram and peer support.

St John’s College

As the exam season ends for our students, we look forward to the many celebrations that this summer will bring. Keep an eye on this webpage for info on the summer events programme for all Johnians, as well as upcoming graduations and reunions.

Stephenson College

On Thursday 28 April we were finally able to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Stephenson and John Snow Colleges at a joint Formal with guest speakers Professor Anthony Long, Professor John Ashworth and Principal Professor Rob Lynes. Entertainment included Stephenson Choir, DU Gospel Choir and acapella group Full Score. After dinner, Stephenson’s band Painted Red won in a battle of the bands with John Snow’s Minus 5.

Van Mildert College

Join us for a spectacular weekend from Friday 8 to Sunday 10 July 2022 in Durham as our Alumni Reunion Weekend returns! Open to all Van Mildert alumni, join us for a weekend of activities in the College, culminating with our annual Reunion Dinner.

University College

We continue being inspired by our alumni, who go on to achieve amazing things. One of our exceptional recent graduates, Luke Grenfell Shaw (Natural Sciences, University College, 2013-17) was diagnosed with a Stage IV cancer shortly after graduating. He has since set off across the globe on a tandem bicycle to redefine what's possible with cancer.

Ustinov College

We would like to offer a hearty congratulations to our College community as Ustinov College has been nominated for several volunteering awards—including College of the Year!

Departments

NEW Durham Doctoral Studentships

Four new Durham Doctoral Studentships are available for high calibre home and international candidates commencing their doctoral studies in 2022. They offer a tax-free maintenance stipend for three years full time or six years part time. These studentships are a legacy of the 2021 United Nations Year of Peace & Trust and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG16). The deadline is Monday 20 June 2022, 5pm.

Centre for Catholic Studies

Catholicism, Literature, and the Arts III: The Poetics of Liturgy and Place conference to be held at University of Notre Dame's London Global Gateway on Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 July. Register by Sunday 26 June 2022.

Durham Castle

Enjoy 15% alumni discount on accommodation at Durham Castle. Use code ALUMNI1837 when booking.

Durham Law School

On Wednesday 4 May the Law School welcomed Lady Hale to give the annual lecture of the Institute of Corporate and Commercial Law. Her lecture on her life as a lawyer provided inspiration to all lawyers who want to change society for the better.

Durham Law School - Summer Course on International Arbitration

Durham Law School will be hosting a Summer Course on International Arbitration from Monday 11 to Saturday 16 July 2022. The course is targeted towards practitioners who want to expand their skillset or discover a new field of practice; scholars seeking to gain expertise in the application of concepts and norms within the field of international arbitration; and students seeking exposure to the world of international dispute resolution.

Modern Languages and Culture

County Durham pupils crack the code and become ‘language detectives’ at Durham University. These events form part of the School’s strategy to encourage language learning at primary and secondary school level locally, and to diversify its student recruitment.

Gifts from Durham University Retail Office

Here at the Retail Office, we strive to provide staff, students and alumni with the best possible merchandise, to commemorate their time here at Durham. With stock ranging from stationery and jewellery to clothing and glassware, there is sure to be something that will take your fancy.

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