On 17th March 2021 SFOU hosted a fascinating (virtual) evening with Sir Nigel Shadbolt, FREng FRS, Principal of Jesus College, and Professorial Research Fellow in the Department of Computer Science, University of Oxford, and Chairman of the Open Data Institute. Sir Nigel spoke brilliantly on “The Digital Ape: Being Human in the Age of AI”. A lively Q&A and discussion followed. Hopefully we can welcome Sir Nigel to Switzerland in person in the near future.
On 23rd October 2020 a discussion with Niklaus Nuspliger (Political Correspondent for the Swiss daily Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) based in London), Prof. Kalypso Nicolaïdis (Universitx of Oxford), and Alexis Lautenberg (former Ambassador of Switzerland to the EU) took place. If you were not able to follow this please click on the link below:
The breakfast during the Meeting Minds weekend which was to have been hosted by John Bowers, QC, Principal, Brasenose College at the College has now been changed into a virtual breakfast, on 13th September, from 9:30 until 10:45 (UK Time). Prof Chris McKenna will also be participating as a guest speaker, talking on “Putting COVID-19 in context – its long-term impact on capitalism”. The talk will be followed by a general discussion and questions.
The breakfast is open to all SFOU members and
partners/guests and Swiss students currently studying in Oxford. To register,
please email Bobby Holtzer at info@oxfordfriends.ch
and you will be sent joining details in due course.
Of course we should all still be eating breakfast together!
And a breakfast is not Swiss without Birchermuesli. So please also e-mail your
favourite Birchermuesli recipe to us at info@oxfordfriends.ch and we will upload a selection of the best ones
closer to the time.
On Sunday, 19th January 2020 donors and members
attended the Swiss Friends of Oxford University Afternoon tea at the Baur au
Lac Club at the Sonnenberg Restaurant, in Zurich. Our Guest of Honour was Prof
Peter Tufano who gave an inspired short talk. All guests agreed that the
afternoon was a resounding success and worth repeating in the future.
Photo (from left): Guy Spier (Board member), John Rolley (Vice President), Prof Michael Hengartner, Rector of the University of Zurich, Prof Peter Tufano, Dean of the Saïd Business School , Howard Rosen, President
SFOU held its second Swiss Alumni breakfast on 22nd
September, at Exeter College, Oxford to coincide with the Meeting Minds Oxford
alumni weekend. Kindly hosted by Professor Sir Rick Trainor, Rector of Exeter
College and SFOU President Howard Rosen attendees included Swiss alumni, Swiss
academics based in Oxford as well as students from the Oxford Swiss Society.
Save the date for our third Swiss Alumni breakfast which will take place on 13th
September 2020!
Lord (Ken) MacDonald, Warden of Wadham College addressed the Annual Dinner of SFOU in Geneva on 4th June. He spoke on “Free Speech in Universities” to 40 SFOU members and guests and then was the focus of an animated and Q & A session afterwards.
On 21st January 2019, 70 donors and alumni attended the Swiss Friends drinks reception in Zurich, at which guests were treated to short talk from Oxford’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Louise Richardson.
SFOU had its first breakfast at the University alumni weekend in Oxford on 16th September 2018. Kindly hosted by Mark Damazer, the Master of St Peter’s College, we were able to meet Swiss alumni as well as representatives from the Swiss Society in Oxford. SFOU President Howard Rosen also had the chance to meet the University Chancellor, Lord Patten.
The Swiss Friends of Oxford University welcomed Professor Philip Howard, Director of the Oxford Internet Institute, as its guest speaker at the Association’s first ever dinner, held on 21 June in Zurich, following its first Annual General Meeting.
Close to twenty Oxford alumni and friends of the university listened intently to the latest findings on the impact of digital media on public life and elections around the world, and the use of new information technologies for lobbying, marketing, social control and civic engagement. Professor Howard provided detailed insights into the world of fake news, manipulation of opinions through social media, and the ethics of the internet.
Explaining the work of the OII, Oxford’s highly regarded multidisciplinary research and teaching department for the social science of the internet, Professor Howard described its various research projects and how it aims to positively shape the development of the digital world for the public good.
With each guest then invited to pose a question or make a comment, the evening turned into a lively and informative Oxford seminar – but with much better food.
The Second SFOU AGM and dinner will take place in June 2019, in Geneva.
SFOU had its first breakfast at the University alumni weekend in Oxford on 16th September 2018. Kindly hosted by Mark Damazer, the Master of St Peter’s College, we were able to meet Swiss alumni as well as representatives from the Swiss Society in Oxford.
The Swiss Friends of Oxford University welcomed Professor Philip Howard, Director of the Oxford Internet Institute, as its guest speaker at the Association’s first ever dinner, held on 21 June in Zurich, following its first Annual General Meeting.
Close to twenty Oxford alumni and friends of the university listened intently to the latest findings on the impact of digital media on public life and elections around the world, and the use of new information technologies for lobbying, marketing, social control and civic engagement. Professor Howard provided detailed insights into the world of fake news, manipulation of opinions through social media, and the ethics of the internet.
Explaining the work of the OII, Oxford’s highly regarded multidisciplinary research and teaching department for the social science of the internet, Professor Howard described its various research projects and how it aims to positively shape the development of the digital world for the public good.
With each guest then invited to pose a question or make a comment, the evening turned into a lively and informative Oxford seminar – but with much better food.
The Second SFOU AGM and dinner will take place in June 2019, in Geneva.
