Tim O'Shea has replaced Tessa Blackstone as master of Birkbeck College. Professor of information technology and pro-vice chancellor at the Open University, he will take over in January. Richard Evans has been acting master at Birkbeck, part of the University of London, since Baroness Blackstone joined the government as minister for higher education in May. "I am totally committed to Birkbeck's unique tradition of combining research excellence with educational opportunity," Professor O'Shea said.