Birkbeck takes on the University of Cambridge’s Darwin College in University Challenge
The new season of University Challenge began on 12 August.
Birkbeck’s team took to the University Challenge stage on Monday 30 September. Hosted by Amol Rajan, who recently took over from long-time presenter Jeremy Paxman, the episode saw Birkbeck face off against Darwin College, Cambridge, in the seventh first-round match.
Questions around glass manufacturing, Sicilian food, and which planet’s clouds may contain iron bearing substances were posed, and despite their best efforts, the Birkbeck team was defeated, with the final score being 205 to Darwin College, and 110 to Birkbeck.
Drawing on the expertise and knowledge of students from different subject disciplines, the Birkbeck team consisted of team captain Alex Evans (BA Politics, Philosophy and History); Rosalie Van Onzenoort (MA Creative Writing); Eric Skidmore (MRes History) and Ima Moorthy (BA Creative Writing and English).
Birkbeck team member Eric Skidmore said: “Despite being beaten by a better team I was very glad to have taken part on behalf of Birkbeck. It was a pleasant, relaxed experience, especially with Amol as the Quizmaster. Trials will be starting soon for the Birkbeck 2025 University Challenge team, and I would urge everyone who is interested to give it a shot.”
Birkbeck has reached the quarter-finals of University Challenge twice in the last five years and lifted the trophy once, in 2003.