Student classicist aids discovery of largest black hole jets
Aivin Gast (2024), who has just begun an MPhil in Heritage Studies at St John’s, was part of the international research team that identified and named the gargantuan fountains of plasma and particles shooting from above and below a supermassive black hole.
Aivin was studying Classical Archaeology and Ancient History at Oxford when he met astrophysicist Dr Martijn Oei. He began working as a research intern at the Leiden Observatory under Dr Oei during the Covid pandemic. Aivin was tasked with manually looking for giant radio galaxies using new images taken by the Low Frequency Array (LOFAR) telescope network in the Netherlands. He compiled data that the project team could use to determine which giant radio galaxies were already known. Most of them were new. Among them were the jets, which Aivin named Porphyrion after a giant in Greek mythology. They are the size of about 140 Milky Ways lined up back-to-back with the power of trillions of suns, at the heart of a remote galaxy.
The Great Gate is restored to glory
Roughly every 50 years, the Great Gate requires a programme of conservation and restoration of its carved decoration. Over the summer, conservator Matthew Beesley worked on the gate – which was last restored in 1982 – blending his scientific understanding of the geology of stone and the chemistry of paint with his equally expert aesthetic sense of the Tudor approach to polychromy (the art of painting in several colours, especially when applied to ancient pottery, sculpture or architecture).
The gate, decorated with Lady Margaret Beaufort’s coat of arms, yales and the statue of St John the Evangelist with his symbol the eagle, is the College’s second most photographed feature after the Bridge of Sighs.
New atlas of proteins
Professor Tuomas Knowles, Professor of Physical Chemistry and Biophysics and Fellow of St John’s College, has led research to develop an ‘atlas’ describing how proteins act inside human cells. This AI tool may help in the design of new drugs to treat dementia and many cancers as it could be used to search for the origins of such diseases that are related to proteins misbehaving.
The research team focuses on a droplet-like part of the cell called a condensate, which is a meeting hub for proteins to go and organise themselves. These hubs are also key sites where disease processes start. Condensates are part of the essential machinery that makes living cells work. The rules directing proteins inside cells are not completely understood so the team decided to build the atlas to predict which proteins meet inside condensates. Where previous work focused on a handful of proteins, the AI atlas can characterise the full landscape of a cell.
Professor Richard Gilbertson next Master of Gonville and Caius
Professor Gilbertson is the Li Ka Shing Chair and Head of Department of Oncology at the University of Cambridge, and Director of Cancer Research UK Cambridge Centre (CRUK CC). His research focuses on understanding the link between disordered development and the different brain tumour types observed in children.
He is due to take office on 1 October 2025 following the retirement of Professor Pippa Rogerson, the College’s current Master. He will be the Gonville and Caius’ 44th Master.
Honoured alumni
Three Johnians were recognised in King Charles III’s Birthday Honours List 2024.
Fiona McIlwham (1992), a British diplomat, is Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs, 10 Downing Street. She was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) for services to British Foreign Policy.
Charles Rahtz (1999) is the Deputy Director, Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. He was made Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to British Foreign Policy.
David Seers (1982) is the former Head of Sponsorship and Historic Environment, Scottish Government.He was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to Culture, History and the Arts of Scotland.
Upcoming events
· London Christmas Drinks – Thursday 5 December, London
· Family Film Fiesta – Saturday 18 January, College
· Virtual Event: Graeme Barker – Tuesday 11 February, Online
· Sports Day – Saturday 29 March, College
· MA Lunch (2018) – Saturday 24 May, College
· Alumni get-together in Oxford – Wednesday 4 June, Oxford
· Sunday on the Backs – Sunday 29 June, College
· LMBC 200th Anniversary Dinner – Saturday 13 September, College
· Johnian Society Day – Saturday 27 September, College
Visit our events webpages for more information.
