Dr. Brian Cox: “The History of Cambridge University”

Einladung zu einem Vortrag in englischer Sprache

Wednesday, 18th May 2016 at 7 pm
RüKONTOR (5. Etage), Rüttenscheider Str. 144, 45131 Essen
In his talk Dr. Brian Cox will present us Cambridge University as a Collegiate University, in that both the University and the individual Colleges are independent institutions and students are members of both. He will speak about its foundation in 1209 by refugees from Oxford, who had fled after the townsfolk there rioted and attacked members of the University who they alleged had caused the death of a townswoman. From these inauspicious beginnings the University flourished and grew from the first College Peterhouse, founded in 1284 , until 31 Colleges today. Conflicts between Town and Gown, however, continued for over 600 years ranging from minor disturbances to major riots. Dr. Brian Cox will further speak about traditional practices, examinations, congregations, women in Cambridge, the evolution of the Graduate University and research. For many centuries Cambridge University has been renowned for research from Newton, Darwin, Rutherford and Watson and Crick. The University Library attracts academics from all over the world to its outstanding collection of books and manuscripts. Recently research has expanded within University Departments and many hi-tech companies have moved into Cambridge to take advantage of expertise within the University. Since its inception 92 Nobel Prizes have been awarded to members of the University.


Dr. Brian Cox has spent his academic life in research with some post-graduate teaching. He was born and brought up in north London and after 2 years of Service in the RAF he worked as a technician at Guy’s Hospital London. After a BSc degree at London University he returned to Guy’s Hospital Department of Experimental Medicine where he gained his PhD on Abnormal Protein Metabolism in Diabetes .In 1976 he was appointed a University lecturer at Cambridge University, where he assisted in setting up the new School of Medicine and continued his research which broadened into the epidemiology of health and he became Director of the nationwide Health and Lifestyle Survey in 1982. In 1996 he became a Fellow at Wolfson College and shortly after a Tutor and Graduate Admissions Tutor. Since 1997 he has been Praelector for Wolfson College, presenting all their students for their degrees at the traditional Degree ceremonies in the Senate House- over 4000 students so far. In this role he has become familiar with the traditions, statutes and working of the University.

Mit freundlicher Unterstützung der Sparkasse Essen