In
this talk hosted by the Rector of Exeter College, Frances Cairncross,
Professor Hamilton discusses his first impressions on arriving in Oxford
as Vice-Chancellor, the comparisons between the great universities of
the UK and the USA, student life, finance, governance, the tutorial
system, sport, and many other aspects of the Oxford experience. This
talk was recorded early in 2010. The issues discussed are highly topical
with the publication of the Browne Review of Higher Education, the
threat of major cuts in government funding, and the comparisons across
the Atlantic to see whether American universities provide insights on
solutions or problems to avoid.
Andrew Hamilton FRS became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford
in October 2009. He was previously Provost of Yale University, USA.
Before that he was Benjamin Silliman Professor of Chemistry and also
held the rank of Professor of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry.
Professor Hamilton’s research has spanned porphyrin, supramolecular,
medicinal, bioorganic chemistry and chemical biology. His lab is most
noted for the design of barbiturate hosts, farnesyl tranferase
inhibitors, protein surface binders, and helix mimetics.
