Somerville’s University Challenge team made it through Round Two on Monday, beating the University of York’s team by 240 points to 135.

Their subjects ranged from polemical writings to parasites, and from physicists born on the fifth of December to drinking songs from operas.

After taking an early lead, the Somerville team remained ahead throughout their second round encounter. At the end, presenter Jeremy Paxman consoled the University of York’s team by commenting that they had been “beaten by a very, very good team.”

The Somerville team is Michael Davies (captain), Hasneen Karbalai, Zachary Vermeer and Chris Beer. For the week following the programme, you can watch their second round performance on the BBC website.

Somerville’s team is now through to the quarter-finals of the competition, but programme dates are yet to be confirmed.

Further reading?

Gardener’s blog: Somerville’s Trees and Liquidambar

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09 December 2024
Gardener’s blog: Somerville’s Trees and Liquidambar

Somerville alumna Susan Owens wins Apollo Book of the Year for ‘The Story of Drawing’

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06 December 2024
Somerville alumna Susan Owens wins Apollo Book of the Year for ‘The Story of Drawing’

Professor Lorna Hutson awarded the Saltire Society’s Research Book of the Year award

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04 December 2024
Professor Lorna Hutson awarded the Saltire Society’s Research Book of the Year award