Hannah captivates the audience
(click to enlarge)

Some thirty Pembroke alumni and friends in gathered in San Francisco on July 27, 2015, to welcome three Pembroke Fellows —  Prof. Mark Fricker (Plant Science), Prof. Hannah Smithson (Experimental Psychology), and Strategic Development Director Andrew Seton – to learn of their latest research, and to be treated to a briefing on current College achievements and challenges.

Mark told the striking story of his work (in conjunction with colleagues in Japan and elsewhere) on slime mold networks.  It is astonishing to think how an organism with no brain, cell distribution, or nervous system can expand and arrange itself in a seemingly intelligent manner – such that it’s possible to employ its behavior in designing a modern transport network.

Hannah’s description of her research on the neural mechanisms that underlie visual perception – particularly color — was no less interesting.  She made it more so by tying it to the scientific output of the remarkable cleric and academic, Robert Grosseteste (c.1170-1253), who – among other positions –

taught theology at Oxford, and later became Bishop of Lincoln.  We learned that Grosseteste was far ahead of his time in various branches of science; indeed, his treatises on color and rainbows have prompted much of today’s research by Hannah and her colleagues.

Mark makes a point
(click to enlarge)

Mark, in his other role as Pembroke’s Academic Director, a position from which he’s about to retire in order to concentrate on scientific research, summed up changes that have been occurring in the College.

Andrew provided an overview of what has been achieved through alumni support, and what Pembroke needs today and in the future to sustain and expand its remarkable work, in particular among the considerably increased number of graduate students.

Intellectually stimulating as the evening was, it was also a delight socially.   Much credit is due to Jeremy Sutton (Physics, ’79), an internationally recognized digital artist. Jeremy’s fine portrait of Master Giles Henderson now hangs in Hall at Pembroke.   Jeremy arranged with his partner, Peggy Gyulai, also a long-time Pembroke supporter, to make her large art studio, with its fine view over San Francisco, available for the festivities.  Peggy was a delightful and engaged co-host, making sure that all present benefited from a fine array of wines and delicacies.

Those of us who live in the Bay Area appreciated being joined by Steven Pope (English, ’75) and his wife Tina, who journeyed from Seattle, and Sam Enoch (Biol. Sciences, ‘98) and his fiancée Antonia Ward, who came from Los Angeles.

We’re all indebted to Mark and Hannah, for delaying their return home from an international academic trip in order to meet with us, and to Andrew for bringing Pembroke’s imprimatur.

Donald Duggan, Jeremy Sutton and Sean Forrester
(click to enlarge)

The sparkling showcase of what’s going on at Pembroke wouldn’t have been possible – in a challenging month for meetings – without Donald Duggan (DPhil Engineering, ’73) and his superb organizing gifts.

Revan Tranter (Law, ’54); Trustee, PCFNA