St John's College Alumni eNewsletter - February 2025

College and Alumni News for February 2025

Dr Priya Urs jointly awarded the Journal of International Criminal Justice Prize

Dr. Priya Urs, Junior Research Fellow in Law, has been jointly awarded the Journal of International Criminal Justice Prize for 2020 (delayed due to COVID-19) for her article ‘Judicial Review of Prosecutorial Discretion in the Initiation of Investigations into Situations of “Sufficient Gravity”’.

Rev. Professor William Whyte Appointed Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral

We congratulate Reverend Professor William Whyte FRHistS, FSA (Tutorial Fellow in History) as he is recognised for his outstanding service to the Diocese of Oxford. He took up the role as an Honorary Canon of Christ Church Cathedral during Evensong on 1 February 2025.

President Addresses Global Young Scientists Summit in Singapore

In early January, Professor Lady Sue Black delivered a plenary lecture at the 2025 Global Young Scientists Summit at the National University of Singapore. Following the 2025 GYSS, Sue was interviewed by Judith Tan for an article in The Straits Times. You can read the interview here and watch the plenary lecture on our website.

President features in BBC podcast on anatomist Andreas Vesalius

The President appeared as an expert guest in Episode 9 (broadcast 3 February) on the BBC podcast 'History's Youngest Heroes', presented by Nicola Coughlan. The series spotlights 12 extraordinary young people from across history, exploring rebellion, risk, and the radical power of youth.

Alumni News and Publications

Professor Marcus Munafò appointed as Deputy Vice Chancellor at the University of Bath

Professor Marcus Munafò (1990, Psychology, Philosophy and Physiology) is currently Associate Pro Vice Chancellor for Research Culture at the University of Bristol and will take up the new role for Bath on 1 May.

Exhibition and publication news from artist Alan Halliday

Alan Halliday (1975, DPhil History of Art), represented by Camburn Fine Art, will be exhibiting some artwork at the Battersea Affordable Art Fair, 12 - 16 March. Halliday also published two novels, 'Tante Brutus' (Pegasus) and 'Letting Go' (Vanguard) in 2024.

'Some Favourite Writers: Adam Philips' at UCLA Hammer Museum

On 27 February, Adam Philips (1973, English) will be in conversation with UCLA English Professors David Russell and Mona Simpson on 'Kindness, Missing Out, Wanting to Change, Getting Better and Giving Up'. This event is free to attend.

The Bagota Delusion

Adrien Trarieux (1996, Archaeology & Anthropology) has recently published his first novel, 'The Bogota Delusion'. The book is a 'gritty crime thriller' set in Colombia’s sprawling and treacherous capital city and has been described as ‘fast paced with an intriguing plot and well researched’.