June Newsletter 2021

The new enhanced Cambridge bursary scheme pioneered at Trinity was launched on 22 June, and will provide more than £100 million over the next 10 years for UK students in need of financial support. Trinity Senior Tutor Professor Catherine Barnard (e1996) said, ‘The enhanced bursary scheme is about removing barriers, and helping students fully participate in University life. Our evidence suggests supporting students in this way not only improves their wellbeing but ensures they can thrive while studying at Cambridge.’ To find out more about the scheme, or how you can support it, please contact us. Read.

Congratulations to the eight winners of the Trinity Challenge announced in a live online awards ceremony hosted by Dame Sally Davies (e2019) on Friday 25 June. They share a pledged prize fund of £5.7 million and will receive support from the Trinity Challenge founding members to develop their innovative solutions to help the world identify, respond to, and recover from future pandemics. Special congratulations to alumnus Dr Asif Qasim (1990), whose project MedShr Insights and Early Warning System is one of the 3rd prize winners. You can read about each of the eight winning solutions on the website. Read.

Trinity Fellows Emma Widdis (e1998), Professor of Russian and Film Studies at Cambridge, and College Lecturer, Dr Carlos Fonseca (e2019), champion the many and varied benefits of a Languages degree. Read.

Congratulations to two Trinitarians who were recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours this month. Professor Matt Keeling (1988) was awarded an OBE for services to the UK’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) during the COVID-19 response. Sumita Singha (1988) also received an OBE, for services to architecture.

Champion rower and medical student Imogen Grant (2014) has been selected for the team GB rowing squad and is off to the Tokyo Olympics. Imogen was selected in the lightweight women’s double sculls with Emily Craig for the Games. You can read about Imogen’s incredible achievement in an article in the Cambridge Independent. Read.

MEET THE JRFs

Dr Dan Perrin, who has been appointed as a Junior Research Fellow in English Literature and will join the College in October 2021, talks Swift, satire and stories in the latest in the ‘Meet the JRFs’ series. Read.

Director of Cambridge Zero Dr Emily Shuckburgh (1994) is included in the ‘Green Power List 2021’ – the Sunday Times Magazine’s list of the UK’s top 20 environmentalists. You can read about her mission to create a greener planet in a Guardian article from 18 June. Read.

WE’RE HIRING – PLEASE SHARE!

The Alumni Relations and Development Office is currently recruiting for an Alumni Relations Assistant (Events) to help us deliver our annual programme of events for the College alumni community. So if you are interested in applying, or know of anyone who may be interested in the role, please do share the details.  The closing date for applications is Wednesday 30 June and full details are available on the website.

ALUMNI BOOKSHELF

• Lauren Brown (2014) – Hands: An Anxious Mind Unpicked, HarperNorth, January 2022. ‘Lauren’s debut sparkles with wit and insight. I knew from the very first moment I read it that I wanted to bring Lauren’s writing to a wider audience. It’s a funny, relatable story from a young writer with a big new voice.’ Jonathan de Peyer, HarperNorth senior commissioning editor.
• William Dalrymple (1984) – The Company Quartet, Bloomsbury Publishing, 3 June 2021. A four-book collection (The Anarchy, White Mughals, Return of a King and The Last Mughal) chronicling the extraordinary story of the rise and fall of the East India Company.

‘The Traveller’s Eye – Photographs by William Dalrymple‘ opens at the Grosvenor Gallery in London from  1 to 30  July. William will hosting a talk and walkthrough of the exhibition on Saturday, 3 July so hurry if you want to snap up a ticket!

• Alex Michaelides (1996) The Maidens – Orion Publishing, June 15, 2021. Currently number 2 on the New York Times Best Sellers List – congratulations, Alex!
• Amartya Sen (1953) – Home in the World: A Memoir – Penguin, 8 July 2021. Nobel laureate and former Master of Trinity, Professor Sen’s forthcoming memoir is ‘is a book of ideas – especially Marx, Keynes and Arrow – as much as of people and places.’

If you have a recent or forthcoming book, blog or article, podcast or production, and you haven’t shared the details with us yet, please get in touch.

A TASTE OF TRINITY

Following last month’s Trinity cheese straw tutorial, you may be feeling in need of something a little more virtuous on your plate. Watch the next short YouTube film on how to sow your own lettuce leaves, brought to you by the gardens team. The film was produced as part of ‘Trinity Wow!’ – a series of short videos celebrating some of the wonderful skills and activities across the College staff community.

If you’re inspired to grow your own, do send us a photo of your progress via email  – we’d love to see the results and we can share your photo with your fellow alumni in a future newsletter.

EVENTS

In Conversation: Black TCSU Presidents then and now, Thursday 1 July, 18.00-19.15.

Join alumni Dr Clem McCalla (1965) and Gary Pryce (1992), and current TCSU President Serena Cole (2019) online for this unique In Conversation, chaired by Admissions Tutor Dr Glen Rangwala (1993)  Register.

University of Cambridge Black Alumni Network (CBAN) Celebration for black graduates Class of 2021, Thursday 15 July, 18.00. 

Join CBAN to celebrate the Class of 2021. This virtual gathering will welcome and celebrate recent black graduates from both undergraduate and graduate studies. David Ziyambi, black Cambridge alumnus and Chair of the CBAN Advisory Group, will be the guest speaker and will provide insights and motivation for the recently graduated and all in attendance. Register.

MA Celebration Lunch (2013 & 2014) Saturday 24 July, 12.30 -15.30

Alumni who matriculated in 2013 and 2014 are invited to join us at Trinity for our Summer MA Celebration Lunch. Lunch will be served in Nevile’s Court at 1pm, and will be followed by drinks underneath the Wren Library. For further information and to register, please email the Alumni Office.

Catch up – Owain Park (2013) in conversation with Mike Waldron (2006)

Don’t worry if you missed composer and performer Owain Park (2013)  in conversation with freelance conductor and Founder and Director of the London Choral Sinfonia Mike Waldron (2006) earlier this month. You can now catch up on their conversation on the website.

Gates Cambridge Scholar Steve Rathje (2018) is first author of a study led by Cambridge psychologists on US media and politicians, which shows that divisive posts slamming opponents drive social media engagement. Researchers analysed over 2.7 million Facebook and Twitter posts to reveal the viral ‘rewards’ to be gained from blasting political rivals. Read.

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY – EVENTS OPEN TO ALL ALUMNI

• Online: In Conversation: Black TCSU Presidents then and now, with alumni Dr Clem McCalla (1965) and Gary Pryce (1992), and current TCSU President Serena Cole (2019), chaired by Admissions Tutor Dr Glen Rangwala (1993), Thursday 1 July 18.00- 19.15. REGISTER.
• Leicester: Varsity Match – 100th Anniversary. Sunday 4 July. MORE DETAILS.
• Wells: Trinity College Choir in concert at Wells Cathedral, Saturday 10 July, 19.30. REGISTER.
• Online: University of Cambridge Black Alumni Network Celebration for black graduates Class of 2021, Thursday 15 July, 18.00. REGISTER.
• Trinity: MA Celebration Lunch – for alumni who matriculated in 2013 & 2014, Saturday 24 July, 12.30. MORE DETAILS.
• Online: Cambridge 2021 Digital Alumni Festival, Friday 24 September to Tuesday 28 September.  SAVE THE DATES

We want to hear from you! Do keep us up-to-date with your latest achievements and activities for our Global Alumni News pages in The Fountain and the Alumni Achievements section in the Annual Record. Please send your news, appointments, and publications to: alumni-comms@trin.cam.ac.uk.

Please send your address updates to alumni@trin.cam.ac.uk. To unsubscribe from our monthly newsletter please contact alumni@trin.cam.ac.uk using the subject line: ‘Unsubscribe’. Please note: Your details are held in accordance with our Data Protection Policy. You may change your communication preferences at any time by writing to us at the email address below, and you can opt out of electronic communication with Trinity College by emailing alumni@trin.cam.ac.uk, using the subject line ‘Unsubscribe’.

Header image: Students savour a rainbow of ice cream flavours to celebrate Pride Month 2021 © Martin Bond