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Newswire
December 2021

Season's Greetings

Wishing alumni, supporters and friends our very best wishes for a joyous season and a happy 2022. Look back on the last year with us as we highlight some stories and achievements from around the University in 2021.

12 Tales of 2021

News

Sir Harry Evans Inspires Global Journalism Initiative

On Wednesday 8 December, alumni and friends gathered at the Lincoln Center in New York for the prestigious launch event of the Sir Harry Evans Memorial Fund: a new partnership between Durham University and Reuters, launched with an initial $5M endowment, to inspire journalistic talent and leaders of the future. A deeply moving event included speeches from Sir Harry’s widow - Tina Brown OBE, Professor Sir Simon Schama, Reuters Editor-in-Chief Alessandra Galloni, and Durham Inspired Campaign Chair, alumnus Rob Senior.

A full review of the evening and this exceptional moment in the University’s history will be published as a special feature in next month’s Newswire.

Thanksgiving Appeal

This Year's DunelmUSA Holiday Appeal is raising funds for the Sir Thomas Allen Appeal Fund, which supports Durham students to realise their musical potential. We have been delighted by the response to the appeal so far and would like to thank our US based alumni for their generous support.

Durham Student Named Chegg.Org Global Student Prize Winner

Jeremiah Thoronka, a Postgraduate Anthropology Student has recently become the first winner of a new $100,000 prize which was announced earlier this week from the UNESCO Headquarters and presented virtually by actor, Hugh Jackman.

Student Orchestra Celebrates Musical Talents, Past and Present

Durham University Palatinate Orchestra (DUPO) recently performed a symphony written by University alumna Ruth Gipps, to celebrate the centenary of her birth. This unique concert saw current students celebrating music written by a former student, bringing the past and present together.

Lumiere 2021 – In Conversation with Kayo Chingonyi

For this year’s biennial Lumiere light festival we brought together the producers, Artichoke, and regional writing development agency New Writing North, on an exciting collaboration that will see new works from some of the UK’s leading poets light up Durham Castle. Here Kayo tells us about his involvement and how poetry has been a central part of his life.

Events

Upcoming Events

Extinction and Survival in the History of Animal Life: Lessons from Deep Time
As part of our Global Lecture Series, join Professor David Harper on Thursday 27 January 2022 as he looks back on the history of animal life.

View all upcoming events

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

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Alumni

Education: Invest in it Today, Reap the Benefits Tomorrow.

We are always keen to follow the careers of our Alumni community, particularly when they are sharing impactful EdTech solutions with students around the world. Durham alumna Daisy Hill (History, Collingwood College, 2006-09) is doing just that.

Tables turned: Interviewee interviews Purple Radio interviewer
by Gavin Murphy (Laws (International & European Legal Studies),
Graduate Society, 1997-98)

Charlotte McCann is the presenter of a new Purple Radio interview segment called Durham Island Discs. But there is a lot more to her than just that. A second year student at John Snow College reading English literature with an optional module in French, she has thrown herself into Durham life full throttle.

Class Notes

Alumnus Arnab Basu (Physics, Ustinov College, 1999-03) the chief executive of Sedgefield-based Kromek Group plc has been honoured with the highest accolade bestowed by the Institute of Physics (IOP), an honorary fellowship.

Jacquetta Gomes (History and Sociology, St Aidan’s College, 1972-75) was acknowledged at the first female Buddhist Fire Chaplain in the world.

Georgina Layton (English Literature, College of St Hild and St Bede, 2012-15) has received a prestigious award from The Shaw Trust, including the Power 100. This list of a hundred people is awarded to the most influential disabled people in the UK this year.

Craig Lappin-Smith (Business Management, John Snow College, 2013-16) has joined forces with Ruaria Mackay and they are planning to open an affordable, informal tasting menu restaurant in Durham.

Hannah Scott (Modern Languages, Hatfield College, 2001-05) latest song Hallelu, was inspired by the time she spent in Durham Cathedral whilst studying.

Elizabeth Stafford (Music, St Mary’s College, 1996-99) new book Inspiring ideas - Primary Music Leader’s Handbook is now available.

Matthew Swain (Accounting, Stephenson College, 2016-20) memoir Breaking Free is available to pre-order now.

Colleges

St Cuthbert's Society

We are very excited to share that on 8 November the work commenced on the new Brooks House Social Space. The scope of the work includes a new social space extension, JCR, gym, and a new reception extension. It is due to be completed April 2022. All is progressing well with the hoarding and protective film cover on the windows.

St John's College

This week the St John's community have enjoyed a carol service in the Cathedral with music from the Chapel Choir and Revd Dr Kate Bruce as guest speaker. We hope you enjoy watching the recording at home and wish you a joyful Christmas!

Watch now

Stephenson College

On 29 November, Stephenson College was delighted to host Mark Rowland, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation for an inspiring Stephenson Ideas talk on what it means to be a mentally healthy society. Stephenson Creative got off to a flying start with a poetry workshop and reading with acclaimed Indian poet, translator, artist and editor Sudeep Sen on 30 November. Over the coming weeks, we look forward to judging the entries to our newly launched student photography and art competitions, centred around the theme of freedom.

University College

Happy Holidays everyone! The festive spirit has already settled here in Castle and in the City of Durham, together with our first snow of the season! College-wide celebrations are in full swing; aside from festive dinners in College and mulled wine and mince pies in the courtyard, we have made it onto Santa’s itinerary of visits for the year. He will be welcoming local children at the Norman Grotto on 11 December – thanks to the combined efforts of Castle Community Action and our fabulous Castle tour guides. We look forward to catching up with you in the New Year, but for now we wanted to share with you our very own Christmas card, designed by Lauren Petty our second year Psychology student, and with it wish you a very Merry Christmas and a fresh and bright New Year!

Book now

Departments

Business School

Did you know that Durham University Business School offer Business Projects to companies as part of the dissertation stage of our MBA and MSc Business Analytics Programmes? MBA Business Projects – Our MBA students have on average 7 years industry experience and can carry out a project in any area of business on a consultancy basis. MSc Business Analytics Projects – Our MSc students can conduct an in-depth analysis of data to unearth business insights. For more information, please contact business.extrelations@durham.ac.uk

Careers & Enterprise

Can you offer a Placement Year to a Durham student? Durham University has invested in the recruitment of Faculty Placement Managers to embed the option and grow the number of students going out on Placement Years as part of their degree programmes.

Geography

A group of 1972 Durham University Geography graduates are hoping to organise a 50th Anniversary Re-union, in Durham, in early July 2022. Please get in touch at alumni.office@durham.ac.uk if you would like to be contacted with more information soon.

Sociology

We are delighted to welcome Marai Larasi as a new Professor of Practice. Professors of Practice bring skills from senior leaders in industry – in this case in activism, policy and practice – so that our students are able to benefit fully from ‘real world’ insights and have the opportunity to work with sector leaders. Marai Larasi is a Black, African-Caribbean feminist who has a range of high profile accolades to her name. Most recently, this includes being named as one of 100 Great Black Britons in 2020. Previous accolades include being one of the World’s 100 most influential people in gender policy in 2019 and one of the 100 most influential LGBT people of the year according to the World Pride Power List (2013). In 2018 Marai was chosen as one of the anti-violence activists to attend the Golden Globe Awards, as the Red-Carpet Guest of Emma Watson.

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