Undimmed ambition

John Hood, vice-chancellor of Oxford University, is a contender for Sir Richard Sykes's Imperial crown, Peep hears. Sir Richard is set to leave Imperial College London in summer 2008, and the university is said to want a mover and shaker, which is Dr Hood's style, if not one his stalwart Oxford colleagues are keen on. The joke purportedly amusing them at the moment is: "How many Oxford academics does it take to change a light bulb? Change?"