Posted on July 13, 2009 - by MG

General Biochemistry Fabulousness

Drs Jan, MG and Nicky at the new Oxford Biochemistry deptartment

Well the good old Oxford Biochemistry department got a shiny new building (virtual 3D tour here) and invited all the alumni back for a party. Jazz, wine and nibbles, a speech by Chancellor Chris Patten and the department’s 2nd Nobel Laureate, Paul Nurse, FRS. Is is Sir Paul yet? Can’t be too far away, if not.

Paul Nurse pointed out that the staircases look like the moving ones at Hogwarts (see below, they kinda do!), Chris Patten asked us to give the University some cash. He has become our Bob Geldof. It’s a thing in Oxford now, everyone is fighting for alumni cash. The colleges, the libraries, the museums, the research departments.  Oxford graduates are relatively useless at coughing up for the alma mater. Compared with Princeton, that is. Not even in absolute terms; that would be unlikely. Even simply in % of students who give, in participation.

I chatted with some of my fellow graduates, it seems they’d prefer to spend their money on poor people in the developing world.

I stand somewhere in-between. I was one of the poor students when I was at Uni, very much aware of being surrounded by kids whose parents had plenty of money to help them pay for housing costs and post Uni debts. Not everyone who goes to Oxford is rich. And I do think that there should be money to help such students, especially postgraduate research students.

So yay Africa but also remember the students.

Meanwhile, a fabulous evening meeting up with long lost pals. I was delighted to see fellow Catz biochemists, as well as my former tutors Iain Campbell and Tony Watts. Now both v distinguished Professors of course.

Everyone I studied with is going to end up as a distinguished Professor, eventually. So please keep buying my books. ‘Best-selling children’s author’ makes a lovely occasional contrast when it’s time for introductions. professor, Professor, Professor, Nobel Prize winner, best-selling children’s author. Oh really?!!!

D’you see?

Hogwarts-style staircases at the Oxford Uni Biochem dept

Photos by Dr. Jeremy Rowntree of the Oxford Biochemistry Department, fellow Catz biochemist too!

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