A message from the President

But in many ways it is still the most important message I can offer. We are in business. However, circumstances require that our core academic activities take place virtually. Lectures are being delivered, essays are being written, and marked supervisions are being held. Final year undergraduates and Master's students are revising hard for their examinations, dissertations are being finalised for submission and a significant proportion of our students are continuing to pursue research. I thank all our students for the overwhelmingly cheery way they have been facing this far-from-ideal situation, and I pay tribute to all the members of the College and the University who are supporting the students in their endeavours: Directors of Studies, Supervisors, Lecturers, Tutors, Counsellors, Librarians and College staff, all of whom have adapted to the virtual world we live in. 

We are also getting back into the swing of College life. WCSA have been particularly active, with online yoga and drawing classes and the Green Society held their first lecture of the term yesterday. I am particularly looking forward to the Wolfson Research Event, which will run online, towards the end of term. I hope you are receiving What’s on at Wolfson – if not, please subscribe today.

Of course, some of our number are not able to carry on as anything like normal. Our amazing final year medics have graduated early and are now working in our NHS. A number of our Fellows and alumni are contributing directly to the effort to defeat COVID-19, in the NHS or through their research, or their businesses. Our PhD students who need labs or workshops or fieldwork are on hold. And some of us have experienced anxiety and loss. The importance of a community like Wolfson is that we all have a place where we know we will be supported, where we can find inspiration and hope for the future.

I look forward to welcoming you all back home – meanwhile keep safe, and keep in touch.