Alumni Voices

Mark Goldring describes his distinguished career in international development, including his role as Chief Executive of Oxfam. Drawing upon his own experiences in Borneo, Bangladesh, Syria and beyond, he highlights the causes of poverty, and solutions. In this podcast interview, Goldring identifies the major global challenges ahead, including conflict, climate change and inequality, and he shows how Oxfam is tackling them through long-term development projects and humanitarian relief. Goldring also speaks about the humility and confidence he gained at Oxford, where he studied Law as an undergraduate.

Louise Chantal shares her love of the theatre and describes her involvement in Oxford’s cultural scene during her student days and running Oxford's famous Playhouse today. She explains how producing plays dominated her years as an undergraduate when she studied BA English Language and Literature. Chantal mentions her sabbatical year as the first University Drama Officer, working with Oxford University and producer Cameron Mackintosh to support student drama at Oxford. A former president of the Oxford University Dramatic Society (OUDS), Chantal also speaks about organising the first Oxford student international tour and annual shows at the Edinburgh Festival. In this podcast, Chantal continues by talking about her interest in international and new writing, and the work of the Oxford Playhouse, including recent successful productions, and its outreach work in deprived parts of Oxford. She praises student productions, and emphasises Oxford University’s support for the theatre.

Dr Ben Goldacre – author of the bestsellers Bad Science and Bad Pharma – dissects what is wrong with modern medicine and argues for better evidence-based medicine in this podcast. He describes his latest projects, including an Ebola trials tracker, to improve the transparency of clinical trials. Dr Goldacre explains his research at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences’ Centre for Evidence-based Medicine, part of Oxford University. He also refers to structural challenges facing medicine and highlights the lack of funding for evidence-based projects. The self-confessed ‘stats geek’, who studied medicine at Magdalen College at Oxford University, describes how he was inspired by his enthusiastic tutors during his studies. The doctor, academic, campaigner and writer also counsels against so-called miracle cures.

Dr Maria Misra shares her experiences as both a student and academic at Oxford University, as well as her love of South Asia, in this podcast. She explains how her intellectual interests have evolved from studying English and PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) to specialising in the history of 20th century India and the British Empire. In the interview, Dr Misra, an Associate Professor of Modern History and a Fellow of Keble College, contextualises contemporary Indian politics and India's role in the world by mentioning India's diversity, Hindu nationalism, changing global power dynamics, and the importance of China. The podcast also focuses on Spectacular Ceylon - a visit for alumni to Sri Lanka in June 2016. Dr Misra will lead the tour and she describes its highlights, including the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Anuradhapura, centuries of Buddhist art, and the opportunities to see leopards and elephants. Find out more: https://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/travel/spectacular-ceylon

Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE highlights how the unprecedented use of digital technologies is leaving a mark on our brains. Baroness Susan Greenfield CBE highlights how the unprecedented use of digital technologies is leaving a mark on our brains. She outlines her concerns about the internet, social networking and video games ahead of her lecture, called 'The brain of the future', on Friday 18 September 2015 during the Alumni Weekend in Oxford. As well as the discussion of her recent book Mind Change, Baroness Greenfield explains how her high-profile scientific career began in an unusual way. Her early interest in philosophy and classics was transformed into a fascination for understanding the brain thanks to her supportive Oxford tutor Dr Jane Mellanby. In this podcast interview, Baroness Greenfield also emphasises the strength of Oxford's tutorial system, her love of College life, and the importance of interdisciplinary research.

Ruthe Farmer explains how her award-winning work to encourage women and girls to embrace technology can be traced back to her student days at Oxford. She describes how she became familiar with the language of business and social entrepreneurship thanks to her MBA at the Saïd Business School. Her studies complemented her extensive experience working for women’s organisations in the United States, her home country. Farmer, who works for the National Center for Women and Information Technology based in Colorado, has recently been recognised for her achievements. She won the British Council’s Education UK Alumni Award 2015 for Social Impact for alumni from the US. She shares her delight at winning the prize and talks about the British Council’s growing alumni initiative in this podcast interview. Music by Setuniman http://tinyurl.com/Setuniman-sounds

The Rt Hon the Lord Patten of Barnes, CH describes his long-standing links with Oxford and his high-profile political career in this wide-ranging podcast interview. From reading Modern History as an undergraduate to his role today as the Chancellor of the University, Lord Patten reflects on his numerous connections with Oxford. He describes how his studies and the tutorial system prepared him for politics by fostering independent thought. He also refers to playing cricket as a student, and to hearing the Rolling Stones perform at a College ball during the Swinging Sixties. Lord Patten continues by sharing political insights gained from high office, including his role as the last Governor of Hong Kong. He emphasises his interest in politics and identity – a subject he will address in a keynote lecture at the Alumni Weekend in September 2015. http://www.alumni.ox.ac.uk/alumni_home Music by Setuniman http://tinyurl.com/Setuniman-sounds

Juliet Davenport emphasises the role of renewable energy in the fight against climate change and shows how unprecedented progress is being made. As the CEO and founder of leading renewable electricity supplier Good Energy, she speaks of advances in solar and wind power, but also recognises the importance of political solutions. Davenport explains how studying Physics sparked her interest in renewables, and she encourages today's students to seek out the many opportunities in the sector. In this podcast interview, Davenport also describes how she balanced her love of sport, especially lacrosse, with her studies at Oxford. In April 2015, Davenport also spoke about energy at the Meeting Minds: Alumni Weekend in Europe held in Vienna. Music by Setuniman http://www.freesound.org/people/Setuniman/sounds/241138/ from http://www.freesound.org

BBC journalist Bethany Bell shares her love of Vienna and talks about her experiences as a reporter in this first interview in a new podcast series. She also explains how studying Theology at Oxford helped to prepare her for assignments in the Middle East, and reflects upon recent changes in journalism. The conversation was recorded in April 2015 during Meeting Minds: Alumni Weekend in Europe, which was held in the Austrian capital. Bell, who has lived in Vienna for more than 15 years, chaired a session during the Weekend about Viennese culture during the early 20th century. Music by Setuniman [link to track at http://www.freesound.org/people/Setuniman/sounds/241138/ ] from www.freesound.org .