Society events during the Michaelmas Term featured an impressive range of visiting speakers who addressed ideas and issues within and beyond the academic curriculum.
The Theology, Philosophy and Religion Society’s distinguished roster included Professor Andrew Briggs from Oxford University who examined explanations of the purpose of life, and Dr Farbod Akhlaghi from Cambridge University who talked about meta-ethics, the philosophy of language in the understanding and expression of ethics.
The Clare Society enjoyed hands-on inspection of limited edition books following a talk about the British Private Press Movement with Oundle School Librarian, Leigh Giurlando.
Named after Sir Alan Budd (OO), a prominent economist, the Budd Society met four times to look at a diverse range of topics. In the midst of an uncertain economic climate, the School Bursar Dom Toriati explained how to use financial information when managing an organisation. Ian Finlayson from the European School Of Economics discussed consumer behaviour and marketing, followed by Matthew Perowne who delved the current market conditions for an equity analyst, while investment analyst Jonathon Tepper sparked ideas and caution about creating a start-up.
Current events took a political turn when Dr Bettina Renz from the University of Nottingham discussed Russian foreign policy with the Politics Society.
Historical insight on Russian culture was offered by the Maths, Russian and Feminist Societies who jointly welcomed Professor June Barrow-Green, from Open University to talk about Sofya Kovalevskaya, the Russian mathematician who was a writer and revolutionary advocate of women’s rights in the 19th century.
The heightened sensitivity about neurodiversity made Professor Phil Hill’s talk about obsessive compulsive disorder very topical for pupils from the Psychology Society.
German Pre-U pupils were encouraged about the relevance of modern language learning when they met a panel of Old Oundelians who spoke about their post-school travels, study and work where they have made valuable use of their German skills.
Senior History Society talks spanned two thousand years of history in Great Britain and Europe, beginning with Dr Marc Morris, who spoke about the arrival of the Anglo-Saxons and their conversion to Christianity. Dr Natasha Hodgson extended the theme of religion in her discussion of the important role women played in the Crusades of the Middle Ages, while David Horspool spoke about the reign of Richard III and his role in developing kingship in the late Middle Ages. Dr Erica Benner has written three books on Machiavelli and offered an interesting and original reinterpretation of his political ideas. The Term’s programme was concluded by Regius Professor Emeritus of History at University of Cambridge, Professor Sir Richard Evans. He talked about the importance of tackling Holocaust denial, especially in relation to the famous David Irving trial, at which he played an important part.
