Penryn students to face University Challenge
Four students from the Tremough campus near Penryn will appear on the iconic TV quiz show University Challenge next week.
Jacob Funnell, Katy Limmer, Tom Pugh and Richard Stearn will feature on January 5 at 8pm on BBC2.
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For third year conservation biology and ecology student Jacob, 20, it fulfils a childhood dream.
One of the first students from the University's Tremough campus, Jacob hopes his appearance will inspire other students in the region to rise to the challenge when the team trials run next year.
Jacob and his teammates of the University of Exeter - Katy, film studies PhD, Tom, social and political thought MA, and Richard, philosophy and political economy BA - beat Pembroke College by 195 points to 150 in their first match, aired in August.
He said: "I've been an avid fan of University Challenge since I was a child, and being on the show in person really brought home how much, much more difficult and involved that is compared to playing along in the sitting room.
"The whole experience was totally different to anything I've done before.
"During our matches we have been desperately behind, comfortably ahead, and involved in tightly fought, thrilling battles.
"It all added up to make an academic rollercoaster experience I'll forever be glad to have been part of."
He believes his wide-ranging interests helped him get onto the team.
Outside of his University studies, he enjoys reading on a range of subjects, across the arts, sciences and humanities.
Jacob added: "Seeing how the show was done 'behind-the-scenes' was especially interesting, and in person the infamous Paxman was friendly and even somewhat chatty."
6 Comments
by CarbonBoot, The Duchy Of Cornwall
Thursday, January 08 2009, 4:18PM
“Of course Dooby Duckling,Cornwall has more than enough high calibre people in further and higher education to make the autonomous University Of Cornwall an entirely realistic prospect and one with as much standing and credibility world-wide as the University Of Wales or any other.
Of course the University Of Cornwall would have been established within the last 450 years were it not for vicious interference and suppression by external English agencies and Henry VIII's destruction of the Glasney and Crantock centres of learning.
Better late than never.And now is as good a time as any to establish the fully autonomous University Of Cornwall!”
by Al Zeimer, Penzance
Thursday, January 08 2009, 1:45PM
“I was on University Challenge in the 1980s when it was chaired by Bamber Gascoigne. Now every time it's on the telly I say 'I was on that once' and my kids say 'Shut up Dad' and make me watch Hannah Montana instead. I didn't expect University Challenge to make me famous, but I never thought it would make me a middle aged figure of fun within my own family.”
by Dooby Duck, Cornwall
Thursday, January 08 2009, 7:51AM
“Shut up Carbootsale - loads of universities have 'off site' campuses. You should be grateful such a prestigious university as Exeter is willing to lend it's name to the Tremough site - you really think a University of Cornwall on it's own is going to attract the highest quality students? Think again.
You have nothing useful at all to say - if someone or something isn't Cornish you kick off. 'Outsiders' live here, and national and international business are here, GET OVER IT.”
by CarbonBoot, The Duchy Of Cornwall
Wednesday, January 07 2009, 5:58PM
“It's high time Exeter University relinquished its involvement in Cornish affairs and higher education and assisted in the transformation of Tremough and associated institutions into the fully fledge and true University Of Cornwall.”
by Jacob Funnell, Penryn
Monday, January 05 2009, 7:07PM
“This is a mistake, I was the only representative from Tremough. The other three are at the main campus in Exeter.”
by Glasney Glen, Penzance, Cornwall
Thursday, January 01 2009, 5:26PM
“I was on the reserve team once for University Challenge. Will be great to see a Cornish team on there at last ! Well done guys -give 'em hell Remember to study the training video - by "the young Ones" !”