It is rare that one person shapes the lives of many. One such person is Professor Richard Stone.
Professor Stone visits Somerville with his cherished Daimler DB18. Credit: John Cairns.
In 1993, Richard Stone was one of the first three men elected to Somerville’s governing body, alongside the physicist Roman Walczak and the philosopher James Logue. From that day until his retirement in 2022, Richard was a positive force at Somerville, guiding the studies and future careers of hundreds of Somerville engineers.
Students recall the brilliance of Richard’s teaching, but also his unspoken kindness. Whether it was the little parties he hosted at the end of each term or making special access arrangements for an exam due to illness, Richard was always there for his students.
Underpinning his prowess as a tutor was Professor Stone’s intellectual curiosity. Generations of Somerville engineers benefited from knowing that their tutor not only wrote the textbook on the internal combustion engine, but subsequently rewrote it in line with his tireless search to find more efficient, less polluting propulsion systems.
Nicolas Geiger
This year, in collaboration with Richard’s former student, Nicolas Geiger (2004, Engineering Science), Somerville led a campaign to ensure Richard’s legacy continues at Somerville. From 2026, the Richard Stone Scholarship in Engineering Science will support doctoral researchers working on novel transportation and space exploration systems, in keeping with Richard’s research and that of his successor, Professor Konstantina Vogiatzaki.
Speaking of his wish to create the Richard Stone Scholarship, Nicolas Geiger commented: “Richard defined what is so special about an Oxford education, and in particular the tutorial system. Without his patient encouragement and explanation, I could never have learned so much, so quickly. His empathy, kindness and ability to listen provided me with much more than just academic support, and I am forever grateful for that.”
Konstantina Vogiatzaki
Asked for her thoughts, Somerville’s current Tutorial Fellow in Engineering, Professor Vogiatzaki, said: “This studentship will support bright home students to engage in sustainability-focused research in honour of Professor Richard Stone, a pioneer in the development of more efficient and less polluting thermal propulsion systems. Most excitingly, the studentship provides a unique opportunity to leverage advanced computational approaches and data-driven techniques, enabling the next generation of engineers to push the boundaries in sustainable propulsion and aerospace innovation.”
Driven as ever by concern for his subject, Professor Stone commented: “Research studentships are the seed-corn for research, for how else can there be future post-docs or academics? As the Research Councils continue to make selective cuts, scholarships like this one are vital in supporting the full breadth of research undertaken by the current Engineering Tutors at Somerville.”
Our sincere thanks to all who supported this campaign to safeguard the future of Engineering at Somerville.