Welcome to China Thinking! In this issue we find out how the Oxford Asia Tropical Medicine Network - encompassing over 800 researchers in Thailand, Vietnam and the rest of southeast Asia, has been at the frontline tackling deadly infectious diseases in Asia for the past 30 years. Chen Xingdong, Chief China Economist of BNP Paribas, recalls his days as one of the first Chinese government officials to study in Oxford in the 1980s, and Dr Mark Williams tell us how mindfulness training could prevent depression and enhance human potential. We also announce the inaugural Oxford Asia Weekend in Hong Kong in March 2014 - so make your travel plans now for a weekend celebrating your Oxford!
Calling Oxford alumni and friends across Asia! Following the successes of the annual Oxford Alumni Weekend, the Oxford European Reunions in Berlin, Paris and Madrid, and the Oxford North American Reunions, next spring will see Oxford come to Hong Kong for the first ever Oxford Asia Weekend.
Join the Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, your colleges and fellow Oxonians for three days of festivities, from convivial drinks receptions and dinners to special exhibitions, from inspirational academic sessions to fun family events, celebrating all that is wonderful about Oxford. The programme will be announced in the autumn.
A transformational gift from the Li Ka Shing Foundation will put Oxford and the UK at the forefront of 21st century health care through 'big data' and better drug discovery.
The Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery is supported by a £20 million gift from the Foundation, in particular through funding new research positions, and £10 million for big data research from the Higher Education Funding Council for England. The Centre was launched in May by the British Prime Minister David Cameron and Sir Li Ka Shing. Read more
Each year, the most prestigious scholarship in the world invites one outstanding student from Hong Kong – chosen on the basis of exceptional intellect, character, leadership and a commitment to service – to study at the University of Oxford. Applications are now open for the Rhodes Scholarships for 2014 for Hong Kong. The closing date is 25 September 2013. Read more
Learn how Oxford is harnessing the power of meditation through the Oxford Mindfulness Centre. Prof. Mark Williams will be giving a talk at Asia Society Hong Kong Centre entitled, 'Out of the Box: Mindfulness and the Science of Meditation' on Wednesday 5 June. He will be signing English and Chinese editions of his book, 'Mindfulness – a Practical Guide to Finding Peace in a Frantic World' at the talk. Book your place
SPOTLIGHT
TROPIC RESISTANCE
The Oxford Asia Tropical Medicine Research Network has been conducting life-saving research into infectious diseases in Asia since 1979.
Malaria, dengue fever, scrub typhoid, melioidosis, SARS, H7N9 – diseases which has affected millions around the globe. What you might not know is that an Oxford tropical medicine network in southeast Asia has for over 30 years been tackling these health care challenges. Read more
alumni encounters
chen xingdong (corpus christi 1986), managing director and chief china economist, bnp paribas
Chen Xingdong recalls his days at Oxford as one of the first young government officials from China to study at the university.
Chen Xingdong (far left) at the alumni dinner in Beijing hosted by the Vice-Chancellor in March this year.
The round-table alumni dinner hosted by the Vice Chancellor Professor Andrew Hamilton in March this year made me recall the good times I spent in Oxford between October 1986 and February 1988.
In order to promote China's market-oriented reform, Sir Alex Cairncross suggested in 1985 that the Chinese government set up an economic training program (ETP) to train young professional officials in market economics in universities in the west. I, together with Wang Haijun and Jin Lizuo the firt three officials to come to Oxford under this programme - Guo Shuqing was also at Oxford at the same time. Read more
UNDERCOVER ACADEMIC
wake up to the patterns of your mind
Professor Mark Williams, Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Oxford Mindfulness Centre, explains the science behind mindfulness.
There is nothing more interesting than the human mind; and nothing quite so tragic when it goes wrong. Depression is a serious illness and afflicts around 121 million worldwide and has devastating results – it lowers mood, saps energy and reduces the will to live. Oxford research has shown that the therapeutic use of mindfulness, a simple form of meditation central to the Buddhist tradition but until recently little known in the West, could reduce the recurrence rate of depression by 40-50% compared with usual care, and has proved to be as effective as maintenance antidepressants in preventing new episodes of depression. Read more
OXFORD THINKING CAMPAIGN UPDATE
the oxford mindfulness centre
The Oxford Mindfulness Centre has reduced the incidence of depression and anxiety and helped people around the world to lead fuller, richer lives through the serious, scientific study of mindfulness – a simple form of mediation. With support from the Wellcome Trust, the Centre has shown Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy to be more effective than antidepressant medication in preventing repeat episodes of depression.
A GBP 7.35m campaign has been launched to secure the future of the Centre and to expand research in six critical new areas: depression in expectant parents; emotional resilience in teens; bipolar disorder and suicide; mental fitness in the workplace; dementia; and making use of Oxford's world-class brain imaging facilities to better understand the how mindfulness works.
For information on how donations to the Oxford Mindfulness Centre will continue to unlock new areas of treatment, please visit http://oxfordmindfulness.org/
