Latest news with #DarwinCollege
Cambrian News
22-06-2025
- Science
- Cambrian News
Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell Bibles go on display in Aberystwyth
Dr Harry Spillane is the 2024-25 Munby Fellow in Bibliography at Cambridge University Library and a Research Fellow at Darwin College. Prior to taking up the fellowship in 2024, Harry combined a Visiting Fellowship at the Bodleian Library, Oxford, with teaching roles at Cambridge colleges, most recently Newnham (as Director of Studies) and Downing (as Bye-Fellow). He completed his PhD in History at Cambridge in 2022 and had previously taken the MPhil in Early Modern History (2017-18). Harry had previously received a First-Class BA (Hons) in History from the University of Oxford (2014-17). He received the Cambridge University Library Gordon Duff Prize for Bibliography in 2021.
Daily Mirror
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
University Challenge fans left fuming as contestant 'who should be banned' wins
A University Challenge contestant upset viewers as he secured a spot in the show's final alongside his team after they noticed his annoying habit while answering questions University Challenge viewers were left upset as one contestant stormed to victory thanks to their brainy knowledge. The latest episode of the tough quiz saw Darwin College, Cambridge take on Warwick for a spot in the final. They battled each other in the second-semi final for the chance to take on Christ's College, Cambridge. Amid all the tension, some viewers couldn't help but notice one contestant and their "ridiculous" habit. Students playing for Warwick included Anaya Govindarajan, Thomas Hart, Oscar Siddle and Benjamin Watson. Within just moments of the show beginning, fans of the programme took issue with Thomas. He had already had viewers seriously distracted in February when he appeared on University Challenge and was back ready to do it all once again. Many pointed out he would stick his elbow out before pressing the buzzer to answer a question. It was so noticeable to fans that they took to X to voice their frustration. One said: "Hart gonna break that buzzer if he's not careful #UniversityChallenge." Another added: "The return of Hart's empty headlock." Someone else commented: "ELBOWS UP Ladies and Gentlemen. It's HART!" A fourth wrote: "I hate Hart's aggressive buzzer action." Another concerned viewer quipped: "Warwick - Hart. He's gonna break that buzzer......" Someone else warned: "It's the second semi-final tonight. Brace yourselves for Hart on the Warwick team and his raised elbow again." While another wrote: " #UniversityChallenge Can't watch the elbow brothers. The producers should ensure any future teams trying this are instantly banned." Warwick were crowned winners at the end of the show as they secured their spot in the final by getting 20 more points than Darwin. Host Amol Rajan said: "Such tight margins guys. What a run. What an absolutely fantastic run you guys have had to make it to the semi-finals. "And that was a wonderful match against a brilliant team." He then told the players: "I'm going to need to lie down in a darkened room for a while! You can't lie down for that long because, at some point, you're going to have to play in the final of University Challenge." Thomas hasn't been the only contestant to catch the eye of viewers. Earlier this year, fans were stunned by the very rude answer one student gave. Rebecca McClelland, Sophie Willis, Harrison Whitaker and Rowan Stewart were representing Darwin in the tense challenges. Host Amol asked: "Born in 1843, which German scientist gives his name to a set of four postulates, sometimes also named for Jakob Henle, that may be applied to determine whether a disease is caused by a..." Sophie, who was on the Darwin, Cambridge, team answered: "Koch?," to which Amol responded: "It is Robert Koch, well done." Viewers noticed the funny moment. "I think the question setter for #UniversityChallenge gets someone to shout c**k to boost the twitter algorithm," said one. Meanwhile, a second penned: "It's not a coincidence is it, when the question setters give someone the opportunity to say things such as c**k and t*t at Amol as answers to questions." "Somebody has just won a bet in the question writing department on #UniversityChallenge #C**k," added a third.
Yahoo
28-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
University Challenge contestant develops distinctive hands-on-buzzer technique
A University Challenge contestant drew attention with his distinctive hands-on-buzzer posture, earning him the nickname 'Elbow'. The second semi-final of the latest series of the BBC quiz show which aired on Monday, 28 April, saw Darwin College, Cambridge take on Warwick University to compete for a place in the 2025 grand final. The Darwin College team was entirely comprised of postgraduate students, while Warwick's were all undergraduates. But the spotlight was on Warwick maths student Thomas Hart, because of his aggressive "bent elbow" stance, with his hand planted firmly on the buzzer at the start of every question round. When host Amol Rajan began to ask each question Hart, along with his team captain Oscar Siddle sat with their elbows poking out at right angles before lunging their hands down on the buzzer as soon as they knew the answer. Darwin came into the semi-final having beaten Birkbeck University and Edinburgh in previous heats, as well as UCL and Bristol in the quarter-finals. They had racked up an average of 190 points per game. More junior team Warwick were the fifth from the university to make it to a semi-final, having defeated East Anglia, Oriel College Oxford, Queen's University Belfast and UCL, but had lost to Christ College, Cambridge. Their average score was 216. Darwin was captained by PhD film student Harrison Whittaker from Indiana in the US. The other teammembers were optical microscopy Phd Rebecca McClelland, pathology PhD Sophie Willis from Derby and linguistics master's student Rowan Stewart from Edinbugh. Warwick's captain was maths student Oscar Siddle from Islington in North London. The rest of the team were engineering student Lavanya Govindarajan from Edgware in North London, maths student Thomas Hart, who escribed himself as "from a village called Miskin in the South Wales valleys and PPE stident Benjamin Watson from Amersham, Buckhamshire. University Challenge viewers remembered Hart from previous rounds for his distinctive right-angled elbow pose when waiting with his hand on the buzzer. For this reason Hart appeared to have earned himself the nickname "the elbow". Viewers were quick to welcome the return of "the elbow". One wrote on social media platform BlueSky: "Elbows Up #UniversityChallenge" Another posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: "It's the second semi-final tonight. Brace yourselves for Hart on the Warwick team and his raised elbow again. #UniversityChallenge" Someone else tweeted: "Here we go. Attack of the killer Elbow... #UniversityChallenge" One viewer shared: "#UniversityChallenge Warwick - Hart. He's gonna break that buzzer......" While another joked: "What a great match. Pleased Warwick won. Now get Hart's elbow a pint. #Universitychallenge" Fans also noted that for the semi-final captain Siddle appeared to have adopted Hart's favoured position. One commented: "Siddle is adopting the Hart 'elbow' stance… #UniversityChallenge to little effect thus far." Another said: "What's with the exaggerated buzzer action Hart & Siddle?! #universitychallenge" Somebody else observed: "Siddle trying to push that buzzer to the floor. #UniversityChallenge" Read more: University Challenge University Challenge fans convinced questions are getting 'longer and longer' (Yahoo UK, 2 min read) University Challenge: Which institutions have won the BBC quiz show the most? (Yahoo UK, 3 min read) Amol Rajan Interviews: Gary Lineker, review: in the battle of two BBC players, this was a no-score draw (The Telegraph, 3 min read) Hart and Siddle's bent elbow stance proved successful, as Warwick defeated Darwin College with 180 points to 160, earning them a place in the grand final. Rajan told Darwin: "Such tight margins guys. Absolutely fantastic run. You guys have had to make the semi-finals and and that was a wonderful, wonderful match against a brilliant team." He went on: "Warwick, you made that very stressful for yourselves, guys." Hart sighed: "I'm gonna need to lie down in a darkened room for a while." Rajan replied: "You can't lie down for that long because, at some point you're gonna have to play the final. Congratulations, and to beat a truly stellar team in such a tight match is a magnificent performance. Well done." University Challenge is available to watch on BBC iPlayer.
Telegraph
13-04-2025
- Telegraph
Which city is better: Oxford or Cambridge?
Oxford and Cambridge loom large in British history. The two university cities have educated some of the country's most celebrated writers, philosophers and scientists. Some 45 British prime ministers are alumni. While there are many other remarkable universities, and university cities, across Britain, it is these two that attract the most visitors specifically for their institutions. It's impossible to wander around their cobbled streets without imagining Isaac Newton, or Iris Murdoch, doing the same. Teaching has happened in Oxford since at least 1096, although there's no clear date of its foundation. Cambridge University was established later, in 1209, when a group of scholars fled Oxford after a dispute with the townspeople (a pattern that repeats throughout the subsequent centuries). While this history is a part of what attracts the modern visitor, there are plenty more to both, from lively music venues to expansive botanical gardens. Both are easy to reach from London, making them ideal for an engaging weekend away. For those planning to visit, however, it can be hard to choose between the two. So we compared the two across categories including architectural prizes, academic accolades, Telegraph -recommended hotels and Michelin stars, to crown a winner. (This is only a bit of fun, of course; visiting both cities is the only sure-fire way to decide on your own personal favourite.) Visiting the colleges Almost all the colleges at Cambridge and Oxford allow visitors. Our ranking has excluded those that are 'by appointment only', such as Darwin College in Cambridge, but included colleges that have limited opening hours. By this metric, the colleges are neck and neck: 27 colleges in each city can be easily visited. As these are places of work (and a home for students), the rules about visiting them vary. Some have free entry, while others charge a small fee. Some are only open for a Sunday service in the chapel (these have been omitted from the list). It's always best to check their websites before visiting, and if you do pop by, be sure to speak to a porter – who should be stationed by the main college entrance – who can advise as to which parts of a college are open to the public. In Oxford, Christ Church College is especially popular. Thirteen British prime ministers studied here, as did Lewis Carroll and John Locke. Tickets, starting at £20, can be booked in advance on its website. If you would rather not plan your college-exploring in advance, Somerville (where Margaret Thatcher studied chemistry), Brasenose, Wadham, Wolfson and St Catherine's all have areas open to the public free of charge. In Cambridge, guests can take a guided tour of Trinity College at 10am or 2pm daily, costing £5 per adult. Former alumni include Alfred Lord Tennyson, Bertrand Russell and Sir Francis Bacon, plus television personality Richard Osman and spy Kim Philby. Free colleges include Jesus, Downing, Pembroke and Sidney Sussex, all of which are centrally located. Or for something more intimate, explore King's College with Cantab Tours, which offers hour-long private experiences within the photogenic favourite. The score Cambridge: 1 Oxford: 1 Staying in a college At both Oxford and Cambridge, colleges have a small number of rooms available for guests. These range in style from very basic – some might be used as student accommodation in term times – to the luxurious. Prices vary; check the University Rooms website for information and availability. Calculated using the cheapest price available at the time of writing, the average price of a one-night stay in a college in Oxford is £136; at Cambridge it is £102. At the latter, there were particularly affordable rooms at Christ's (£57) and Churchill (£76), while Downing was the most expensive at £150. Oxford also offers rooms at places that are not strictly colleges, meaning you could bag a room in the alumni-focused Oxford University Club (£124) or Rewley House (£99), which is used by the Continuing Education department. The cheapest room came in at £69 per night, at theological college Wycliffe Hall, while the most expensive was £290 at Jesus. The score Cambridge: 2 Oxford: 1 University accolades These are centres of academia, and so our ranking took into account the number of Nobel Prizes won by researchers at the Universities. Oxford, according to a list on its website, has 57: from the detained former leader of Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, to the writer VS Naipul. Cambridge counts 125, with philosopher Bertrand Russell, physicist Niels Bohr and physiologist Elizabeth H Blackburn all getting gongs. Some winners, such as Dorothy Hodgkin, the third woman to be awarded for chemistry, are claimed by both universities. If it's the intellectual history of the universities that you're interested in exploring, visit their respective libraries for topical exhibitions. More creative? The battle for poet laureate is won by Cambridge, but only just. Of the 21 laureates Britain has had since 1668, seven studied in the city, including John Dryden, Ted Hughes and William Wordsworth, who wrote about 'Trinity's loquacious clock' in his narrative poem The Prelude. Oxford has only one fewer laureate – six – whose number includes Robert Southey, Cecil Day-Lewis and Andrew Motion. Find out more on an Ink and Stones tour of literary Cambridge, or on Oxford Walking Tour 's equivalent. The score Cambridge: 3 Oxford: 1 The cities Aside from the cities' intellectual history, it is their architecture that captivates. From 12th-century churches, such as St Peter-in-the-East in Oxford, to innocuous Arts and Crafts houses in Cambridge, the buildings are a crucial part of a visit. Matthew Arnold's 'dreaming spires' are how we picture Oxford, and glimpsing King's College Chapel is as breathtaking as images suggest. As for the more modern additions? Both Oxford and Cambridge have been handsomely rewarded in the RIBA National Awards 'in recognition of their significant contributions to architecture'. Cambridge edges it, slightly, with 19 awards compared with its rival's 13. Some of the buildings might not be of much note to those who aren't scholars of 21st-century design (the Welding Institute is not a typical tourist stop), but all of them build the character of the place and complement what are living cities. Outside of London, Blue Plaques are awarded by local organisations, so comparing the number in each city means little. They are, however, a good starting point for finding out the less well-known parts of a place. Oxfordshire Blue Plaques runs the equivalent organisation. Its 16 city-wide plaques include memorials to Ivy Williams DCL, the first woman to be called to the English bar, and Felicia Skene, a prison reformer and 'friend to the poor'. Cambridge has 43, its number boosted earlier this year for the last child chimney sweep to die in Britain. The story of George Brewster, 11, would not otherwise be signposted in the city. Now, though, visitors can visit the spot (along with notices mentioning Charles Darwin, Oliver Cromwell and Syd Barrett) and learn all about an unusual slice of Cambridge's history. Find out more on the Cambridge Past, Present and Future website. The score Cambridge: 4 Oxford: 1 Places to eat Both Cambridge and Oxford fare well in the Michelin guides. Oxford has three restaurants listed: the Lamb Inn, Pompette and Arbequina, plus more farther into the countryside. For something slightly more affordable, the Vaults and Garden Cafe is a lively place for breakfast, while Moroccan restaurant Kazbar is popular for dinner and cocktails. Tiny Japanese restaurant Edamame is a popular lunch option (try the soul-soothing ramen). Find out more in our guide to Oxford's best restaurants. In Cambridge, luxury is to be found at five Michelin-starred restaurants. One of those, Midsumer House, was described by a Telegraph reviewer as a 'masterpiece of taste, presentation and sheer theatre'. There is, however, plenty to choose from elsewhere, from the rambunctious market stalls in the centre of the city – the falafel wraps are particularly good – as are the square pizza slices at Italian café Aromi. Smaller chains, such as Dishoom and Giggling Squid, have sprung up in the city too, but for an impressive meal, the Old Bicycle Shop, on Regent Street, is hard to resist. Find out more in our guide to Cambridge's best restaurants. The score Cambridge: 5 Oxford: 1 Pubs Looking for a more informal history lesson? The pubs of both cities are a good place to start. CS Lewis and JRR Tolkien were regulars at the Eagle and Child pub, in Oxford. It's at the Eagle in Cambridge that Watson and Crick declared that they had discovered DNA. If interesting ale is more your thing, the Pint Shop in Cambridge has an ever-changing menu of intriguing tipples, while Oxford's Tap Social Movement is the place to pick up good pizza and beer. The aptly-named Heritage Pub Tours can show you round the best in Cambridge, while Footprints Tours offers the same in Oxford. So which city takes the spoils? We're giving the points to Oxford, which boasts 317 listings on the website of the Campaign for Real Ale Association (Camra), compared with Cambridge's 272. The score Cambridge: 5 Oxford: 2 Places to stay There is no shortage of first-rate hotels in both cities. For Telegraph Travel 's reviewers, Cambridge clinches it, again; there are two hotels in the city we have given a rating of at least nine out of 10, compared with just one in Oxford. In Cambridge, the Graduate Hotel offers riverside views and impeccable facilities , while the Gonville is described as having a 'pleasing air of indulgence'. There are honorable mentions for the Fellows House, Varsity Hotel and Spa and Hotel du Vin, too. See our full list of recommended hotels in Cambridge here. The highest scoring in Oxford is the Old Bank Hotel, sitting directly opposite University Church, the Covered Market and All Souls College. In a city full of exceptional architecture, it still manages to burst with character – but if you would rather stay somewhere more affordable, you can read more reviews of Oxford hotels here. The score Cambridge: 6 Oxford: 2 Things to do Both cities offer punting, either with a guide or solo. Be wary of ticket touts and be sure to book with a respectable firm. Scudamore's, in Cambridge, has been operating since 1910 – purchase tickets online in advance before picking up your punt on Mill Lane. Oxford's Magdalen Bridge Boathouse serves much the same function. On sunnier days, the parks of both cities are an ideal place to take a picnic and a good book. Swerve Parker's Piece in Cambridge and instead visit Jesus Green, lined on its west side with charming cottages. In Oxford, the delightfully wild Port Meadow, to the north of the city, is popular with wild swimmers in the spring. Both also have wonderful botanical gardens, which will enthuse even the least horticultural family members. In Cambridge, performance is king. Head to the Cambridge Corn Exchange for live music or comedy. The ADC is the oldest university playroom in the country; Benedict Cumberbatch, Emma Thompson and Tilda Swinton all began their careers here. There's the Arts Theatre, too, which is currently being refurbished. It's due to reopen in the autumn. As for museums, the Fitzwilliam is a grand Georgian building known for its tastefully curated artworks and objects. Other outposts of the University, such as the Polar Museum, will delight those with more esoteric interests. At the other end of town is Kettle's Yard, an enigmatic 'home for artists' that operates as a peaceful gallery and museum. Oxford's equivalent is the Ashmolean, founded in 1683 (and the oldest public museum in England). The collection covers everything from Guy Fawkes's lantern to Michelangelo's studies for the Sistine Chapel. Children might prefer the Pitt Rivers Museum, which holds more than 18,000 curious Victorian objects collected from around the world. There are plenty of places to hear live music in Oxford, from student favourite the Jericho to the Holywell Music Room, which has been hosting recitals for more than 250 years. Or for something altogether more peaceful, venture out of the city to Blenheim Palace, the birthplace of Winston Churchill, and wander its perfectly sculpted Capability Brown parkland. So which city gets the point? We're giving it to Oxford, which (according to TripAdvisor) has 572 attractions, including 31 museums and 136 landmarks, compared with Cambridge's 502. The score Cambridge: 6 Oxford: 3 Getting there Direct trains to Cambridge leave London King's Cross (taking around 50 minutes to one hour) and London Liverpool Street (around one hour and 30 minutes). There are also trains from Ipswich and Kings Lynn. FlixBus offers coach services from London Victoria Coach Station to Cambridge. Prices start at £7.49 each way. Direct trains to Oxford leave London Paddington (taking around 50 minutes) and London Marylebone (around one hour and 30 minutes), plus Birmingham New Street, Reading and Didcot. The Oxford Tube offers a near-24-hour coach service between the city and the capital. Tickets start at £15 for a single journey, £22.50 for a return, with concessions available. More central Oxford is easier to reach for much of the country, and is closer to Heathrow, the UK's busiest airport, so gets the point. The score Cambridge: 6 Oxford: 4 The final verdict Cambridge has, just about, seized the crown. Its number of university accolades, plus relatively affordable college accommodation, makes it a wonderful spot for a weekend away. In reality, though, each city has a wealth of fascinating history, lively attractions and expansive green space, meaning both are bucket-list destinations. It's best, then, to choose one based on your own interests. Fascinated by JRR Tolkien? Oxford is the place for you. Want to get the perfect photo of Britain in the sunshine? Punt along the river Cam, and take a snap by King's College. Ultimately, Oxford and Cambridge are wonderful places for a day out: the solution, really, is to visit both.
The Guardian
08-02-2025
- Science
- The Guardian
Groundbreaking botanical discoveries on Captain Cook voyage were thanks to Indigenous people
In 1769, nearly nine months after setting sail with Capt James Cook on his first voyage to the Pacific, Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander disembarked from HMS Endeavour and made history as the first European botanists to explore the island of Tahiti. Once on land, they faced a mammoth task: how to describe and name, for the benefit of other European naturalists, the hundreds of plants they were encountering for the first time. Their groundbreaking discoveries filled seminal 18th- and 19th-century botany publications and had a profound impact on western science. But for centuries, the two scientists' reliance on Indigenous expertise and names for their field notes has been overlooked. Polynesian and Māori societies and other Indigenous people living in the Pacific islands provided knowledge that helped Banks and Solander to identify and describe approximately 1,400 species of plants that were unknown to European scientists, research by a Cambridge University academic has revealed. Dr Edwin Rose, of Darwin College, analysed previously overlooked evidence from Solander and Banks's field notebooks, index cards and annotated texts for his book Reading the World: British Practices of Natural History, 1760-1820, which will be published next month. He found that Solander and Banks formulated many of the Latin names and descriptions of the new species they 'discovered' using information they observed or gathered from Indigenous people. For example, Solander noted that children 'suck out the sweet juice' from the elongated bud of a white flowering vine, now known as Operculina turpethum. 'He makes a specific reference to the elongated bud when describing the plant's physical features,' said Rose. 'I think he paid particular attention to that part of the plant because he saw Indigenous people using it in a particular way.' This may also be reflected in the original name Solander gave the plant: Convolvulus alatus. The Latin word alatus means 'furnished with wings', and could refer to both the appearance of the plant and its effect on the children who sucked it. As well as the new Latin names Banks and Solander made up, which then became the plant's official binomial – its two-part name made up of genus and species – they also often wrote down the existing Indigenous names for a species, spelling them out phonetically and so creating the first written records. 'The field notes are quite dense, but they left a blank margin for the binomial, where I noticed all these interesting, phonetic-looking words, like Pao-hue tee eu-ihe,' said Rose. Sign up to Observed Analysis and opinion on the week's news and culture brought to you by the best Observer writers after newsletter promotion 'These words are the names for the plants as Banks and Solander heard them spoken by the Indigenous people. They record several Indigenous names for each plant, because the different communities they encountered gave the same plant different names.' He estimates the two botanists collected Indigenous names for nearly 700 species. 'There's a lot of communication going on between the naturalists and the Indigenous people, particularly after they are joined by a navigator called Tupaia, who was an essential link and translator between them and Polynesian societies.' The Indigenous names the botanists collected provided a 'very important' reference point for their research, said Rose. 'We've got this fairly shaky Latin binomial that they're devising in the field – so shaky the binomials often change later on in history – and then they list the Indigenous names underneath … The Indigenous names are the main supporting evidence for these binomials.' For example, Solander named the kawakawa plant Piper myristicum after learning that from the leaves Indigenous people made a strong-smelling ointment which was used medicinally and in religious ceremonies. Myristicum derives from the Greek term muristikós, referring to a fragrant ointment or perfume used in cultural practices. But this connection was lost when the plant was later renamed Piper excelsum by other botanists. Listing Indigenous names underneath the binomial also ensured that future European botanists visiting the Pacific would know what name to give an Indigenous person to find that particular plant, and served as a kind of proof of Banks and Solander's work. Rose's research also sheds light on one of two paintings of a Polynesian man called Omai, who met Solander and Banks when he visited London in 1775, that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery. There has been much speculation about the scene depicted in Mai (Omai), Sir Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander by William Parry. Rose unearthed evidence in the scientists' index cards that suggests Omai was asked to refine further details on species they had encountered in the Pacific. 'On the manuscript slip for Convolvulus alatus and at least 30 others, Solander has actually recorded another Indigenous name for the plant and has written next to it 'Omai' – which is a citation to him.'
