Learning a matter for life say graduates

Time to refocus for Rhodes scholar

by Bruce Mason
Staff writer

Murray McCutcheon -- B.C.'s 1999 Rhodes scholar -- was raised in the shadow of the campus of the University of British Columbia. While he earned a BSc and a master's degree in Physics, he was a member of Canada's national triathlete team. Now he's changing course at Oxford.

"I chose Oxford's PPE program -- Philosophy, Politics, and Economics," he says. "People wonder why I'm making such a profound change of studies. But the Rhodes Scholarship provides me with a singular opportunity to explore something entirely different and broaden my perspective of the human world beyond my focused research of the physical world."

The scholarship pays all expenses for two years of study at Oxford. Earning one requires high scholastic achievement, accomplishment in sports, strong leadership qualities and demonstrated public service.

"There was never any question in my mind that I would attend UBC," McCutcheon says. "My father is a Physics professor and as a young child I wandered the halls near his office, marvelling at everything, especially the fact that there was a rocket in the building."

As a first-year Science student in 1992, he brought a broad variety of interests into his new but somewhat familiar world. He chose to specialize in Physics and entered the honours co-op program to gain practical work experience. He says it was unforgettable.

"In 1994, I spent eight months at the Canadian Space Agency in Montreal working with astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason, a UBC Engineering Physics grad," he recalls. "I helped design an experiment on how fluids behave in zero gravity and tested it during four flights on NASA's KC-135 aircraft.

"This euphoric and more than a bit nauseating experience really made me aware of the fantastic opportunities that were opening up," he says.

Even failure contained lessons. Being cut from the junior varsity soccer team opened the door to triathlon racing. After completing his first race, he joined the UBC Triathlon Club.

"I took eight months off before grad school to train and compete full time," he says.

McCutcheon is completing his master's degree researching the optical properties of semi-conductors which have important applications in communications.

"I thrive on diversity, and in my first year at UBC my courses fed my curiosity in many disciplines," he says. "I'm a little wiser and looking forward to the opportunity to broaden myself intellectually in what I think will be a fascinating experience at Oxford."