Graduate Conference 2013

Sidney Sussex College, University of Cambridge

About

The Graduate Conference was proposed as an opportunity for graduates to presenttheir research or a topic of interest to a general audience. Funding for the conference isgenerously provided via the College’s Annual Fund. The event is to be held on Sunday17 March 2013 in the Mong Hall.

Conference Programme

All talks will be held in the Mong Hall. Presentations are to be 20 minutes long with 5minutes available for questions.

11:30–12:00 Conference registration and morning tea in the Mong Hall12:00–12:30 Talk 1: Katie Forsyth (1st year PhD in English Literature)

“All tragedies are fled from state, to stage”: the theatrical and dramaticspaces of the Elizabethan court

12:30–13:00 Talk 2: Christopher Crowe (4th year PhD in Astrophysics)Warp drives, Phasers and Teleportation: The Astrophysics of Star Trek

13:00–14:30 Sandwich lunch in the Mong Hall14:30–15:00 Talk 3: Lou Cantwell (2nd year PhD in History)

On the Frontline of a Frontline State: The Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela and theLiberation Struggle in South Africa 1948-1994

15:00–15:30 Talk 4: Richard O’Connor (2nd year PhD in Psychology)Why won’t you just look for it? A riddle of developmental psychology

15:30–16:00 Talk 5: Kelly Accetta (2nd year PhD in Archaeology)King of Kings - The life and death of Ramses the Great

16:00–16:30 Afternoon tea in the Mong Hall16:30–17:00 Talk 6: Tony Harris (1st year PhD in Anglo-Saxon Norse and Celtic)

How to fly a helicopter17:00–17:30 Talk 7: Yangchen Lin (1st year PhD in Zoology)

The Science and Art of a Fish’s Eye View of the World17:30–18:00 Talk 8: Scott Stephenson (2nd year PhD in Law, Fox Fellow)

Should Prisoners Have the Right to Vote? Human Rights, Democracy andDisagreement

18:00–19:00 Pre-dinner drinks in the Old Library19:00 Buffet dinner in the College Hall

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1 Katie Forsyth

“All tragedies are fled from state, to stage”: the theatrical and dramaticspaces of the Elizabethan court

What role did ‘drama’ and ‘theatricality’ play in the court of Elizabeth I? Who werethe ‘actors’ and why were they so keen to make all kinds of space dramatic? And howdid this drama help to construct the still-enduring mythology surrounding Elizabeth I?

Dramatic performances in front of Elizabeth I were acommon occurrence during her 45 year reign. Elizabethand her courtiers witnessed many an entertaining revel andplay in the great halls of the English nobility and in Eliza-beth’s royal court in London. On closer inspection thesedramatic occasions allowed for a great deal more than en-tertainment, with such performances allowing courtiers toapproach and discuss normally taboo subjects with Eliza-beth. However, these conventional theatrical spaces werenot the only place in which dramatic performance was to befound in the Elizabethan court: through several case studies of contemporary courtlyevents, this paper will also explore dramatic performance in the Elizabethan tiltyardand in progress entertainments, considering how these spaces permitted vital courtlydefinition, negotiation and counsel as well as providing the setting for the creation ofmany of the characters and motifs found in the ‘myth’ of Elizabeth I.

Katie studied for her BA (Literature and History) and her MA(Medieval and Early Modern Textual Cultures) in the Schoolof Literature, Drama and Creative Writing at the Universityof East Anglia. She is now undertaking her PhD, provision-ally entitled ‘Commerce and Confession in the Marian BookTrade’ in the English Faculty.

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2 Christopher Crowe

Warp drives, Phasers and Teleportation: The Astrophysics of Star TrekHow close are we to warp travel, and where would we

want to go in the Universe? Will teleportation or time travelwith wormholes ever be feasible? What is the probabilityof finding intelligent life out there, and would we need ourphasers?

Many of the ideas featured in Star Trek are originallybased on real-life scientific theories. Warp travel (the Alcu-bierre Drive) is entirely within the remit of Einstein’s Gen-eral Relativity. In the last few years, researchers at Cam-bridge and further afield have discovered hundreds of planets orbiting distant stars,opening up the tantalising prospect of discovering life on other worlds. Also at Cam-bridge, quantum teleportation on small scales has been tested and could bring about anew era of information transfer.

The author will assess what is and isn’t possible according to the laws of physics,among all the weird and wonderful things that Kirk, Spock, Picard and Worf got up toin their parallel universes.

Chris is an astrophysics PhD student at the Institute of As-tronomy. He’s part of the Kavli Institute for Cosmology Cam-bridge (KICC), which is a new centre opened by Prince Philipat the end of 2009. He studies cosmology with the directorof the department (George Efstathiou), investigating CosmicMicrowave Background (CMB) polarisation, and looking atways to separate the CMB signal from the messy foregroundsgenerated within our own galaxy. He studied at Notting-ham for his Masters degree in Physics and Theoretical Astro-physics before coming to Cambridge in 2008 to read for PartIII of the Mathematical Tripos (also known as the Certificateof Advanced Study in Mathematics, which is now a MMath).

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3 Lou Cantwell

On the Frontline of a Frontline State: The Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela and theLiberation Struggle in South Africa 1948-1994

The power of traditional authorities in Africa was supposed to have been erodedand undermined by the rise of nationalist democracy in southern Africa and the rapidpolitical change brought about by independence. In Botswana, arguably Africa’s ‘suc-cess story’, chiefs have retained significance and authority alongside the ‘new men’ ofnationalist politics.

In May 2012, Thabo Mbeki paid tribute to the role played by Chief Linchwe II ofthe Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela in hosting refugees and also as part of the ANC’s ‘undergroundmachinery’ in Botswana. His involvement in such clandestine activity in support of theliberation struggle in South Africa had, until this point, remained hidden from publicview. Taking this revelation as a starting point, this paper examines the ways in whichthe Bakgatla-ba-Kgafela community in the Botswana-South Africa borderlands was in-volved in and affected by the struggle.

Botswana, though a ‘Frontline State’ and a prime example of successful majority-rule in liberated Africa, remained at the mercy of South Africa both economically andmilitarily. Throughout this period, her foreign policy was inescapably influenced by eco-nomic dependence and military inferiority. Botswana was therefore forced to walk theprecarious tight-rope of official non-participation in the struggle, and the moral obliga-tion to assist refugees. The role of Linchwe as an influential traditional authority withinthis complex network of support and self-preservation sheds new light on Botswana’srole in the regional struggle against minority-rule in South Africa.

Based on a series of interviews and archival work carried out in Botswana in 2012,this paper will examine the ways in which the resilient influence afforded to traditionalauthority enabled Chief Linchwe to navigate a path outside of the national ‘system’ toplay a significant undercover role in the revolutionary struggle for liberation in SouthAfrica.

Lou Cantwell is a second year PhD student in the Facultyof History and the Centre of African Studies. In 2010-11she undertook the MPhil in Development Studies here atCambridge, having completed a BA in History at St EdmundHall, University of Oxford. Her research focusses on theBakgatla: a cross-border chieftaincy in Botswana and SouthAfrica, exploring the overlapping territorialisation of author-ity and sovereignty by looking at the interaction between‘traditional’ power and the democratic nation state. She car-ried out an extended period of archival research and fieldinterviews in the region during 2012.

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4 Richard O’Connor

Why won’t you just look for it? A riddle of developmental psychologyImagine living in a world where the only things that existed were

those that we could perceive, where simply hiding something from viewcould make it disappear from existence. To a degree, this is what the lifeof a young baby has been claimed to be like. According to the eminentpsychologist Jean Piaget, young babies cannot form mental representa-tions, and as such their mental life is limited to what they can see andhear at any given moment.

Such a claim is based on the fact that until around the age of 8months, babies will not search for a toy that they have just seen be-ing hidden from them. Piaget assumed that babies do not search for thetoy because for them, if they cannot see it, it no longer exists. However,in the past 25 years research based on how much attention babies pay to different typesof events, alongside brain imaging, suggests that babies younger than 8 months are ableto form some sort of representations of things in the world that they cannot see. The bigquestion then is if they know that hidden toys still exist, why do they not try to searchfor them?

I will be discussing some proposed answers to this riddle, and consider how wemight go about finding out the answer. It is hoped that this talk will offer some insightinto the sort of problems faced in cognitive developmental psychology, and introducethe methods we use to try to find out just what is going on inside babies’ minds.

Richard O’Connor originally matriculated at Christ’s Collegein 2008 to study Philosophy. He soon “saw the light” andswitched to Experimental Psychology, followed by joiningSidney to start a PhD in 2011. He still, however, enjoysthe philosophical approach that can be taken in the field ofcognitive development. When not recruiting and testing ba-bies, he spends most of his time organising and playing inmatches and competitions for the University Pool Club. Heis yet to give up the day job.

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5 Kelly Accetta

King of Kings - The life and death of Ramses the GreatFrom the great warrior pharaohs of the New Kingdom (1557-1069 BC) emerged a

pharaoh so powerful, legendary, and prolific that he was considered a god by his ownpeople and the ‘great ancestor’ by the ten subsequent pharaohs who shared his name.While his name inspires fear and power up to the present day, the general public knowslittle about his life. Who was the man behind the myth?

He emerged early as a great leader by becoming a skilledscribe and soldier. At the age of 24, upon the death of hisfather Seti I, he ascended the throne and began brutal mil-itary campaigns which would extend Egypt’s empire to itsfurthest boundaries - the Levant in the north, Libya in thewest, and Nubia (modern Sudan) in the south. His suc-cesses abroad brought peace to his people and wealth tohis coffers.

With these resources he became the most prolific builderin Egyptian history. Ramses the Great ordered the expan-sion and construction of temples all over Egypt and Sudanin order to glorify his own name and that of the state godAmun-Re. He erected hundreds of statues of himself to dec-orate these temples and honor the god.

Despite the ruthless and arrogant facade displayed inhis military conquests and temple construction, Ramses the Great loved deeply andfeared death like any other man. Touching tributes to his Great Royal Wife Nefertarisurvive today, unmatched by any previous or subsequent pharaoh. The extensive planand elaborate decoration of his tomb shows the pharaoh intended to be prepared forthe dangerous underworld leading to the eternal Field of Reeds.

In this talk I will discuss Ramses the Great’s life and death to show that the mythwas born from a man of action, passion, and knowledge.

Kelly received her BA in archaeology at the University ofVirginia, and her MPhil in Egyptology from the University ofCambridge. During her PhD, she served as Social Secretaryat Sidney Sussex College in the 2012-2013 academic year.Her studies focus on ancient Egyptian religious architecturein the New Kingdom (1550-1069 BC). She greatly enjoysthat her program allows her to travel often to Egypt, andshe hopes that at the conclusion of her studies she will beable to work as a field archaeologist in Luxor.

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6 Tony Harris

How to fly a helicopterThe recent helicopter accident in central London has

opened up the debate about aviation safety and helicoptersafety in particular. Yet, the statistics show that you aremore likely to have an accident driving to the airfield thanwhen flying a light helicopter. This presentation will ex-plain how helicopters fly, how they are controlled andthe stringent regulations surrounding their operation andmaintenance. As well as a gentle introduction to basic aero-dynamics; the major controls of helicopters and their effectswill be discussed, as will their mechanics, cockpit instruments and radio navigation aids.

The presentation will conclude with a discussion of the rules of the air, airspace,aviation maps and navigation as well as an insight into the rules surrounding flyingthe London and Paris Heli lanes. Various videos, photographs and diagrams will give adetailed and engaging overview of what it is like to operate and fly light helicopters inthe United Kingdom, USA and greater Europe.

Tony Harris is a mature first year PhD student at the depart-ment of Anglo-Saxon Norse and Celtic (ASNaC) working onOld English Philology and the science of Medieval Compu-tus. He completed his MA (Res) in Medieval Studies in 2011and his BA in English at Oxford in 2010. His long term goalafter his PhD is a second career teaching in the humanitiesat university level. Prior to entering the ’dark side’ of thehumanities Tony was a computer scientist and entrepreneurbefore selling his company in 2007. In his spare time hecoaches the Sidney Sussex Men’s first eight, enjoys all thingsrowing related, skis, cycles and flies helicopters and lightaircraft but not all at the same time.

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7 Yangchen Lin

The Science and Art of a Fish’s Eye View of the WorldWe have long been obsessed with the scientific and artistic facets of a fish’s eye

view of the world. In the realm of science, the eyes of fishes have been found to differfrom those of humans in a number of ways, most obviously in their shape and in theconstituent materials more suited for underwater use.

In art, the distinctive spherical projection characteristicof a fish’s eye was manifested in the famous artwork of M.C. Escher beginning in the early 20th century, and we con-tinue to express our artistic desires in spherical geometrytoday, largely through the use of fisheye lenses in photogra-phy. Using examples from my own work, I will explain howthe distortion created by fisheyes may facilitate or detractfrom the artistic message of an image. I will next provide alayman-digestible overview of the fascinating mathematics,materials science and engineering of ingenious man-madeoptical systems that mimic a fish’s vision.

Despite the technology, it remains a challenge to makeartificial lenses that approach the optical quality of the eye of a real fish. Neverthe-less, precisely made fisheye lenses with documented optical characteristics have greatscientific value in widely varying disciplines that have contributed much to our under-standing of the world in which we live. I will describe some of the interesting scientificapplications of fisheyes in sometimes extreme environments.

Yangchen is an ecologist. Prior to embarking on his PhD, hespent several years in the ’industry’ grappling with the bi-ological, social and managerial aspects of the conservationof complex natural ecosystems. He aspires to use and advo-cate systems thinking to address the widespread ecological,economic and environmental challenges we face today andin the future. He believes that valuable and complementaryperspectives can be gained from both the sciences and thehumanities in a multidisciplinary approach that keeps thespirit of exploration alive, with the ultimate aim of living ingreater harmony with the rest of nature.

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8 Scott Stephenson

Should Prisoners Have the Right to Vote? Human Rights, Democracy andDisagreement

Imagine you’re playing ‘SimCity’, the megalomaniacal 90s-era computer game whereyou’re responsible for planning a city and managing its development. Only it’s ‘SimCity:Government Edition’. In this version, you’re responsible not only for building roadsand zoning land but also for creating the rules and institutions that govern the peoplein your city. Assume you’re a beneficent creator who wants a society characterised byequality, fairness, justice and respect.

Initially, your citizens demand democ-racy, so you empower them to choose rep-resentatives to sit in a parliament and en-act the laws that govern society. But thendisaster strikes! Not an earthquake or amonster (as in the original version of Sim-City), but terrorism. Parliamentarians re-spond with security laws that allow thepolice to arrest people without strong evi-dence and detain them for long periods oftime.

Unhappy, your citizens demand pro-tection for their fundamental freedoms, so you empower judges to invalidate laws thatinfringe human rights. But then your citizens start to disagree about the meaning oftheir rights. Does the right to free speech protect offensive comments? Does the rightto life include a right to die (euthanasia)? Your citizens ask: why are unelected judgesdeciding these questions, and not our elected representatives? What do you do? Quitand play Tetris?

Reconciling democracy with the protection of human rights is a cardinal issue inconstitutional theory. In this presentation, I unpack its complexity by contrasting twoparadigmatic responses, the American approach of strong judicial rights enforcementand the pre-1998 British approach of strong parliamentary rights enforcement. I explainthe shortcomings of each and how the UK Human Rights Act, enacted in 1998, relatesto these paradigms. To highlight the subject’s importance and relevance, I discuss theongoing debate in England about whether prisoners should have the right to vote.

Scott is an Australian at Cambridge as a Fox InternationalFellow from Yale where he is in the second year of his doc-torate in law. His dissertation is on the constitutional mecha-nisms for human rights protection in Australia, Canada, NewZealand and the United Kingdom. His research interests,which include constitutional law, political theory, compara-tive studies and human rights, are sustained by large quan-tities of ice cream.

Conference Menu

Lunch (Old Library): 13:00–14:30

Assorted sandwichesFruit crudités and dips

Afternoon tea (Mong Hall Foyer): 16:00–16:30

Coffee and teaSelection of cakes

Dinner (Hall): 19:00

Fork buffetChicken tikka masala, served with rice

Vegetable lasagna, served with garlic breadQuorn and vegetable Thai green curry, served with poppadoms and rice

- -Mixed leaf salad with olive oil dressing

Tomato, basil and red onion salad- -

Vanilla bean crème brulée with orange shortbreadsChocolate and banana brownie with red berry coulis

- -Cheese boards with tomato chutney, grapes, Fenland celery, biscuits and butter