St John's College News
Historic US academy honours neuroscientist for her pioneering educational work
Fellow鈥檚 research 鈥榮tellar testament to the power of knowledge鈥痶o broaden our horizons and deepen our understanding鈥An award-winning neuroscientist from St John鈥檚 has been elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in recognition of the global significance of her research. Professor Usha Goswami CBE, Professor of Cognitive Developmental Neuroscience and Founding Director of the Centre for Neuroscience in Education, has been named as a new member of the academy. Early elected members of鈥read morePost Office scandal judge, espionage historian, and 鈥楽low Horses鈥 TV executive among new Honorary Fellows
鈥淚t is a great pleasure to welcome our new Honorary Fellows in recognition of their outstanding commitment to the progress of communities, society and the planet鈥Seven eminent individuals with expertise ranging from miscarriages of justice, marine climate change, and artificial intelligence to the history of spycraft have been elected as Honorary Fellows of St John鈥檚 College. The seven, all of whom studied at St John鈥檚, have been elected in recognition both of distinction in their fields and of the exceptional impact their work has had nationally鈥read more鈥極utstanding鈥 statistician wins Guy Medal in Silver
"Richard鈥檚 contribution to methodological and theoretical statistics has been truly outstanding, as have his contributions to the statistical profession"A St John鈥檚 academic has been awarded the Royal Statistical Society鈥檚 prestigious Guy Medal in Silver the day after winning an international prize. Professor Richard Samworth, University Professor of Statistical Science and Director of the Statistical Laboratory at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, has been praised for his exceptional contributions to the field of statistics. The St John鈥檚鈥read moreFellow wins medal for 鈥榬eshaping鈥 understanding of statistics
鈥淪ir David Cox was a Johnian and something of a personal hero of mine, it therefore means a great deal to be awarded this medal named in his honour鈥A 鈥榮tellar鈥 mathematician from St John鈥檚 is one of the first winners of the David Cox Medal for Statistics, which commemorates the work of a 鈥榞iant of a statistician鈥 and alumnus. Professor Richard Samworth, who is College Lecturer in Pure Mathematics, University Professor of Statistical Science, and Director of the Statistical Laboratory at the Centre for Mathematical Sciences, has been鈥read moreOldest rowing club in Cambridge celebrates two centuries of power, passion and prestige
鈥淟ady Margaret Boat Club鈥檚 200-year legacy is a story of exceptional achievement, not just at St John鈥檚, but in the world of rowing鈥For 200 years Lady Margaret Boat Club has been a powerhouse in rowing, shaping the sport nationally and globally. Begun in 1825 by 12 members of St John鈥檚, the club is named after Lady Margaret Beaufort, grandmother of Henry VIII, matriarch of the Tudor dynasty, and founder of the College. Lady Margaret Boat Club (LMBC) was the first boat club in Cambridge and remains one of the most鈥read moreRace and injustice in Plato鈥檚 鈥楻epublic鈥 to be explored in Newell Classical Event 2025
US academic to give annual public lecture celebrating the world of ClassicsRace and injustice are the topics of this year鈥檚 Newell Classical Event 2025 public lecture at St John鈥檚 College. Professor Jackie Murray, Associate Professor of Classics at The State University of New York at Buffalo, will deliver the talk entitled From Kallipolis to Timocracy: Race and Injustice in Plato鈥檚 鈥楻epublic鈥. The Newell Classical Event, which celebrates the鈥read moreSpinning, twisted light could power next-generation electronics
鈥淚t鈥檚 like working with a Lego set with every kind of shape you can imagine, rather than just rectangular bricks鈥Researchers have advanced a decades-old challenge in the field of organic semiconductors, opening new possibilities for the future of electronics. The researchers, led by the University of Cambridge and the Eindhoven University of Technology, have created an organic semiconductor that forces electrons to move in a spiral pattern, which could improve the efficiency of OLED displays in television鈥read moreChapel organ project at Cambridge college will 鈥榚levate鈥 sacred music
鈥淭he Willis organ has an authentic voice for playing English repertoire and is the perfect instrument for accompanying the Choir鈥A historic organ originally constructed by 鈥楩ather鈥 Henry Willis is due to be installed in the Chapel at St John鈥檚 College. Organ music has a rich history at St John鈥檚 鈥 an organ has been owned by the College since it was founded in 1511, and the world-famous Choir of St John鈥檚 has been accompanied by the organ since the Choir began in the 1670s. 鈥楩ather鈥 Willis was a pioneering Victorian鈥read moreImpact of genetics and environmental factors on people鈥檚 weight highlighted in 2025 Linacre Lecture
Pioneering clinician scientist presents College鈥檚 historic medical lectureUp to 70 per cent of weight differences are genetic, with common variants influencing appetite and metabolism, a pioneering research scientist has explained in a historic lecture at St John鈥檚 College. The 2025 Linacre Lecture, titled The biology of eating behaviour, was presented on 11 February by Professor Sadaf Farooqi, a Wellcome Principal Research Fellow and Professor of Metabolism鈥read moreFamily life of powerful Tudor statesman revealed in Burghley Lecture
Visiting historian gives Burghley Lecture, named after William Cecil, chief adviser to Queen Elizabeth IThe caring role that Queen Elizabeth I鈥檚 most trusted adviser, Lord Burghley, had as a grandfather was the focus of a lecture given at St John鈥檚 College, where the young William Cecil arrived as a scholar 490 years ago. The 2025 Lent Term Burghley Lecture, which was presented by historian Dr Susan M Cogan, of Utah State University, on Thursday 30 January in the Old Divinity School, can now be鈥read moreSolar-powered device captures carbon dioxide from air to make sustainable fuel
鈥淐O2 is a harmful greenhouse gas, but it can be turned into useful chemicals without contributing to global warming鈥Cambridge researchers have developed a reactor that pulls carbon dioxide directly from the air and converts it into sustainable fuel, using sunlight as the power source. The researchers, led by Professor Erwin Reisner, a Fellow of St John鈥檚 College, say their solar-powered reactor could be used to make fuel to power cars and planes, or the many chemicals and pharmaceuticals products we rely on.鈥read moreLife-changing opportunity for early-career writers with launch of 拢19k Harper-Wood Award
Up to 拢19,215 in funding available for award-holder from 1 October 2025St John鈥檚 College, Cambridge is offering poets and authors at the start of their careers the chance to spend a paid year overseas with the launch of the prestigious 2025-2026 Harper-Wood Creative Writing and Travel Award for English Poetry and Literature. Applications open on Wednesday 19 February 2025 for the award, which was established by the College in 1949 to inspire an undertaking of鈥read moreWorld-renowned Middle East expert to give Hinsley Memorial Lecture 2025
Dr Elisabeth Kendall, Mistress of Girton College, to speak on 鈥楾he Role of Yemen and the Houthis in the Broader Middle East Conflict鈥An eminent Arabist and expert on the Middle East and Yemen will present the St John鈥檚 College Hinsley Memorial Lecture 2025. Dr Elisabeth Kendall, The Mistress of Girton College, University of Cambridge, will give her lecture titled The Role of Yemen and the Houthis in the Broader Middle East Conflict on Monday 17 March at 5.30pm in the College鈥檚 Main Lecture Theatre, Old Divinity鈥read moreTiny copper 鈥榝lowers鈥 bloom on artificial leaves for clean fuel production
鈥淏y combining expertise from Cambridge and Berkeley, we鈥檝e developed a system that may reshape the way we produce fuels and valuable chemicals sustainably鈥Tiny copper 鈥榥ano-flowers鈥 have been attached to an artificial leaf to produce clean fuels and chemicals that are the backbone of modern energy and manufacturing. The researchers from the University of Cambridge and the University of California, Berkeley, led by Dr Virgil Andrei, a Research Fellow at St John鈥檚 College, Cambridge, developed a practical way to make hydrocarbons 鈥 molecules made of鈥read moreSt John鈥檚 academic awarded 拢4 million grant to 鈥榯hink big鈥 and investigate side effects of modern therapeutics
鈥淭his grant will allow us to understand how our bodies react to these modern medicines鈥Why some people experience adverse reactions to the new-age medicines including Covid-19 vaccinations will be explored in detail thanks to a 拢4.3 million MRC Programme Grant. Dr Ritwick Sawarkar, College Lecturer and Fellow at St John鈥檚, will lead the research into why some people react to RNA-based therapeutics such as the Covid mRNA vaccines and other medicines. Medical Research鈥read moreSt John鈥檚 student named as top University of Cambridge mathematics undergraduate
鈥淭he Mathematical Tripos is famously difficult鈥A position described as "the greatest intellectual achievement attainable in Britain" has been awarded to a student at St John鈥檚 College. The Cambridge undergraduate mathematics course, or Mathematical Tripos, is famously difficult and it is considered highly prestigious to be named as the 鈥楽enior Wrangler鈥. The Senior Wrangler is the person who achieves the highest overall mark among the鈥read moreCambridge Cancer Research Hospital given green light by government
鈥淚magine a world where there is no longer a fear of cancer. That鈥檚 the world we鈥檙e trying to create鈥澛Work will soon begin on Cambridge Cancer Research Hospital after it was given the go-ahead this week by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The new hospital, which is a collaboration between the University of Cambridge and Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, will transform how cancer is diagnosed and treated, changing the lives of cancer patients across the UK and鈥read morePhD student awarded 2025 Cavendish Prize for study that 鈥榬ewrites a law of physics鈥
鈥淭he opportunity to engage with brilliant researchers has been pivotal in shaping my scientific outlook and contributions鈥A PhD student from St John鈥檚 has won a 2025 Cavendish Annual Thesis Prize for his achievements in quantum physics that could advance display and solar technology. Pratyush Ghosh is one of three postgraduates at the University of Cambridge鈥檚 Cavendish Laboratory to be presented with the prize, which recognises outstanding achievements in computational, experimental and theoretical physics鈥read morePostgraduate palaeontologist and biophysicist receive awards
Prizes for talented PhD 蘑菇视频下载安卓 from St John鈥檚Two PhD 蘑菇视频下载安卓 at St John鈥檚 have been recognised for their innovative research and communication skills. Princess Aira Buma-at has won a 2024 Palaeontological Association Annual Meeting President鈥檚 Prize, the association鈥檚 highest award given to PhD 蘑菇视频下载安卓 and early-career researchers within a year of achieving their higher degree. Princess, who is a PhD student in鈥read moreFree e-book teaches young people about puberty and reproductive health
鈥淭he aim is to excite, inform and educate others about reproduction, impacts of a changing world and our environment, and latest findings鈥澛A St John鈥檚 academic has launched a free e-book about reproduction and fertility to better educate young people about their body and the impact of lifestyle and the environment on it. Professor鈥疉manda鈥疭ferruzzi-Perri, Professor in Fetal and Placental Physiology and Fellow of St John鈥檚, felt there was a need for information based on the latest scientific evidence after seeing the鈥read moreAlumni recognised in King鈥檚 New Year Honours 2025
BEM for rowing umpire of 45 years鈥 standingSix members of St John鈥檚 including an Olympic rowing umpire, archaeologists specialising in Holocaust and Islamic heritage and other leading educators have been awarded accolades in the King鈥檚 New Year Honours 2025. The honours recognise the achievements and public service of people across the UK. David Biddulph, a retired engineer and international rowing umpire, becomes a Medallist of the鈥read more鈥楤iology of eating behaviour鈥 to be explored at 2025 Linacre Lecture
Leading scientist will present historic medical lecture on causes and complications of obesityThis year鈥檚 historic St John鈥檚 College Linacre Lecture will be presented by Sadaf Farooqi, a Wellcome Principal Research Fellow and Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge. The lecture, titled The biology of eating behaviour, will take place on Tuesday 11 February at 5.30pm in the Main Lecture Theatre of the Old Divinity School. Delivered every year by a鈥read moreIndia mourns former Prime Minister as the 鈥榬emarkable鈥 St John鈥檚 alumnus is laid to rest in state funeral
Manmohan's father said he would be Prime Minister because he 鈥渁lways had his nose in a book鈥Tributes have been paid to Dr Manmohan Singh, the architect of India鈥檚 economic transformation, after he died aged 92 on Thursday 26 December 2024. Singh went from studying under street lamps as a child in India, to coming to Cambridge on a full scholarship, graduating with a First in Economics to leading the world鈥檚 biggest democracy for 10 years. Manmohan Singh was one of 10鈥read moreEngineer, wildlife cameraman, and investigative journalist recognised for their work improving lives
Gates Cambridge Scholars 鈥榤ake the world a better place in ways no one could have predicted鈥The positive impact three Gates Cambridge Scholars from St John鈥檚 have had on the world is being celebrated at a special awards ceremony. Emma Houiellebecq, Alex Vail and Emily Kassie are among eight University of Cambridge postgraduates and alumni to receive Impact Prizes from the Gates Cambridge Trust as it marks 25 years of its international scholarship programme on Friday 10鈥read moreCollege remembers 鈥榠nspiring鈥 former Dean of Chapel and President, after his death aged 87
Tributes paid to The Rev鈥檇 Dr Andrew Macintosh, 鈥榓 remarkable man and priest鈥An internationally-renowned Hebrew and Bible scholar once described as 'the best preacher in England', has died. The Rev鈥檇 Dr Andrew Macintosh, a Life Fellow at St John鈥檚, and former Chaplain, Tutor, Dean of Chapel and President, died on Thursday 5 December 2024. An ordained priest of the Church of England, Dr Macintosh had a long and distinguished academic career. In the 1970s he was鈥read more