St John's College Alumni eNewsletter - October 2021
Introduction
I joined St John's more than 10 years ago, coming from Washington University in St Louis, USA. My areas of research are Arabic literature and comparative literature where I am interested in intersections between languages and cultures at the global level. I also like looking into connections between literature and history and the politics of culture, especially in relation to Tunisia and North Africa more widely. My current project is on literature and authoritarianism in the Arab World.
At St John's I am the Fellow for Oriental Studies and Fellow Librarian and Keeper of the Archive, a role which has allowed me to be involved closely with the Library and Study Centre and the very exciting refurbishment of the College's historic libraries. I had no Oxford experience prior to joining St John's. So, while I had a lot to learn, I have greatly enjoyed taking part in the daily running of the College and the collective thinking about its future. I particularly value the inclusive and diverse environment, which suits my unusual background and international interests.
Professor Mohamed-Salah Omri
Tutorial Fellow in Modern Arabic
Fellow Librarian & Keeper of the Archived
College News
Lamb & Flag pub to reopen
The Inklings Group has signed a long-term lease to relaunch the Historic Lamb & Flag pub.
https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/discover/news/historic-lamb-flag-pub-reopen/
Celebrating Degree Day
On Saturday 11th September we celebrated the graduation of over 100 St John's students.
https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/discover/news/degree-day-2021/
Head Groundsman's charity cycle
Proving that our students are not the only sporting talent to be found at St John's, Ian Madden cycled from London to Brighton in aid of the Silverlining Brain Charity.
https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/discover/news/head-groundsman-raises-over-2000-for-charity/
Undergraduate co-founded company wins Biohackathon
Congratulations to Piotr Jedryszek (2018, Biology) for winning the Oxford Biotechnology Society Hackathon with his company Evolvare Biosciences.
https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/discover/news/undergraduate-co-founded-company-wins-oubt-biohackathon/
Professor Andrew Parker appointed Physiological Society Honorary Treasurer
Professor Parker will shadow the current Honorary Treasurer for a year before taking up office in November 2022.
Professor Gillian Rose delivers flagship lecture for the British Academy
The lecture explores the question: 'How is the sense of everyday urban space being visually mediated by digital technologies?'
https://www.geog.ox.ac.uk/news/2021/20210907-gillian-rose-BA-lecture.html
Alumni News
Gaudy dates announced
We are delighted to announce that dates for the 2022 Gaudies have been finalised. Booking will open shortly, and we will send out a separate invitation to all who are due to be welcomed back.
https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/alumni/alumni-benefits/gaudies-st-johns/
The Lives and Times of 007
In this interview, Professor Jeremy Black (1978, Modern history) discusses his recent book assessing James Bond in terms of the greatly changing world order of the Bond Years.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbXM5w3hhEA
British Academy Elections
Congratulations to Professor David Edgerton (1977, Chemistry) on being elected as a Fellow of the British Academy. Professor Edgerton is the Hans Rausing Professor of the History of Science at King's College London.
https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/fellows/professor-david-edgerton-fba/
Tour of the Groves
Join Angharad Jones, Alumni and Benefactor Relations Manager, and Charlotte Mapp, Communications Officer, on a tour of our beautiful Groves on the College's Instagram page.
Save the Date
Alumni Carol Service
Saturday 11 December 2021
Gaudy Dinner for the years 1983-1985
Friday 18 March 2022
Gaudy Dinner for the years 2002-2003
Saturday 19 March 2022
Gaudy Dinner for the years 2008-2009
Friday 25 March 2022
President's Lunch
Saturday 7 May 2022
Gaudy Dinner for the years 1971-1974
Friday 24 June 2022
Gaudy Dinner for the years 1962-1965
Friday 1 July 2022
Gaudy Dinner for the years 2006-2007
Friday 15 July 2022
Torrance Society Reunion
Saturday 3 September 2022
Oxford Ceramics Fair 2021
Alumna Gaby Guz (1980, Psychology) is exhibiting at the Oxford Ceramics Fair 2021 on Saturday 30 October 10am-5pm and Sunday 31 October 10am-4pm.
The fair will be held at St Edward's School, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 7NN, and tickets are available here: https://oxfordceramicsfair.com/
To find out more information about Gaby's work please visit her website: https://www.gabyguzart.com
Alumni Publications
Professor Jeremy Black (1978, Modern History)
The World of James Bond: The Lives and Times of 007, Updated Edition (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021)
Dr Elizabeth Macaulay (2004, Archaeology)
Antiquity in Gotham: The Ancient Architecture of New York City (Fordham, 2021)
David McDowall (1966, Oriental Studies)
A Modern History of the Kurd (Bloomsbury, 2021)
Brian Swale (1961, Forestry)
Domestication of Radiata Pine: Reviewed by Brian Swale (NZ Journal of Forestry, 2021)
Shyam Thakerar (2011, History)
Cyber Risks and Insurance: The Legal Principles (Bloomsbury Professional, 2021)
TW Magazine 2021
The deadline for submissions to 2021's edition of TW has now passed.
Send us your news for the 2022 edition via email.
Read TW 2020 and other publications online.
https://www.sjc.ox.ac.uk/alumni/publications/