Latest News

Image by Nathan Pitt ©University of Cambridge

Apr 24 2025

On 4 April 2025, Professors Shankar Balasubramanian and David Klenerman hosted the “Frontiers in Biophysics and Chemical Biology” Symposium.

 

STEM Smart outreach event in the department, 2023. Courtesy Nathan Pitt © University of Cambridge

Apr 7 2025

New independent UCAS analysis shows attainment and outcomes for educationally disadvantaged and under-represented students improved after STEM SMART programme – launched following COVID-19 learning disruption.

12 March 2025

May Ching Lai, a final year PhD student at  the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, hailing from Melaka, has been awarded the Bronze medal in the Chemistry category at STEM for BRITAIN 2025. She presented her research at Parliament to a range of politicians...

Erwin Reisner and Nick Thomas-Symonds MP.

Mar 19 2025

Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, the Paymaster General and Minister with responsibility for EU relations, visited Cambridge on Thursday 13 March. 

11 March 2025

Miss May Ching Lai, a final year PhD student at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, hailing from Malaysia, is attending Parliament to present her chemistry research to a...

Defects in a flexible sheet, courtesy Dr Camille Scalliet.

Feb 27 2025

Scientists discover how defects in the surface of two-dimensional sheets alter ripple effects, even freezing the sheet’s motion altogether.

Solar fuel generator courtesy of Virgil Andrei.

Feb 24 2025

Tiny copper ‘nano-flowers’ have been attached to an artificial leaf to produce clean fuels and chemicals that are the backbone of modern energy and manufacturing.

11 February 2025

Congratulations to Chris Pickard whose paper "Letter Feasible Route to High-Temperature Ambient-Pressure Hydride Superconductivity" has been selected as one of the top 2% to be highlighted in Physical Review Letter's "Collection of the Year 2024"

DALAM, the University of the Arctic Thematic Network on the Decolonization of Arctic Library and Archives Metadata focuses on library subject headings and classification systems, archival descriptions, and other metadata that are incorrect, culturally inappropriate, derogatory or otherwise unacceptable within polar libraries and archives. Established in 2023, DALAM is bringing together resources related to the decolonization of metadata, creating spaces for people to come together to discuss these issues and providing education and training on these topics to the library and archival community as well as to the general public. Peter Lund of SPRI and others write about recent work, in a success story "DALAM Network Educates about Decolonization of Metadata".

Gareth Rees, professor of polar geoinformatics at the Scott Polar Research Institute, has been shortlisted for the 2025 medal of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), for his outstanding achievements in educating a generation of researchers, dedication to outreach activities and exploration of different ways to work with the Arctic and its people. IASC Medals are awarded in recognition of exceptional and sustained contributions to the understanding of the Arctic. The winner is expected to be announced at the end of February.

Gareth Rees, professor of polar geoinformatics at the Scott Polar Research Institute, has been shortlisted for the 2025 medal of the International Arctic Science Committee (IASC), for his outstanding achievements in educating a generation of researchers, dedication to outreach activities and exploration of different ways to work with the Arctic and its people. IASC Medals are awarded in recognition of exceptional and sustained contributions to the understanding of the Arctic. The winner is expected to be announced at the end of February.

Rachael Garrett, Moran Professor of Conservation and Development at the Department of Geography has joined the Joint Committee of the UK's Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) as an independent member. This is a public appointment made through an application and competition. JNCC is the only statutory nature advisor to all four countries of the UK. The Joint Committee is a leadership body at the JNCC which includes independent members alongside members from Nature England, NatureScot, and Natural Resources Wales. The Joint Committee and JNCC provide scientific evidence and advice to help decision makers turn science into action for nature to guide the UK on a sustainable path. The JNCC works across land and sea with partners throughout the UK, the UK Overseas Territories, the Crown Dependencies and around the world.

Dr Dino Kadich and Dr Dženeta Karabegović (Paris Lodron University of Salzburg) have published a new article entitled 'Diasporic Littering: Civility, citizenship, and the politics of leaving Bosnia and Herzegovina' in Social & Cultural Geography, which explores how rubbish has become a key site of political contestation in Bosnia and Herzegovina. They show how looking at waste and its disposal through a geopolitical lens can reveal deep tensions as long-term residents struggle to negotiate space with relatively well off diaspora visitors. This exciting research brings innovative theories from urban geography into geopolitical thinking and highlights how ordinary people create political realities.

Run by Dr Liam Saddington with Dr Rachel Thorley (Churchill College) and Dr Amy Munro-Faure (Cambridge Zero) this session is the outcome of a project funded by the Isaac Newton Trust. Aimed at primary school teachers, this session will introduce the Climate Action Toolkit Project—a set of free resources created by researchers and academics from the University of Cambridge designed to empower your pupils to understand and become change-makers in a world impacted by climate change. The toolkit is a cross-disciplinary scheme of work, ideal for running as a topic day or spread out over a longer period. With engaging, research-informed lessons, the materials aim to boost pupils' confidence that they can make a difference while addressing important environmental topics. These are free, flexible resources suitable for Years 5-6. Informed by research, these cross-disciplinary materials are designed to inspire action and reduce environmental anxiety in children.

This RGS session being run by Dr Liam Saddington is based on research on climate justice and young people that he has been doing with local secondary school geography teachers (Mr Gerard Reilly and Mr Miles Huppatz). During this online session, Liam, Gerard and Miles will introduce a scheme of work focusing on climate change, human geography and climate justice designed for Year 9 pupils. These materials have been co-developed between the University of Cambridge and two schools in Peterborough and Stevenage. These materials are designed to introduce students to ideas of climate justice and develop fieldwork skills in an accessible and low-cost way. The scheme of work brings contemporary research and debates in human geography into the classroom. This session will provide an overview of the scheme of work, talk through the fieldwork and discuss opportunities to adapt these materials.

Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenlandic Minister for Statehood and Foreign Affairs, visited the Scott Polar Research Institute on 14 January. The Minister was accompanied by a delegation from the Government of Greenland and a representative from the British Embassy in Copenhagen. The group were welcomed by Professor Richard Powell, Director of SPRI, and colleagues. The delegation enjoyed tours and discussions about ongoing SPRI research, teaching and collections strategies involving Greenland. It was a very successful visit and all agreed that it would lead to future collaborations.

Vivian Motzfeldt, Greenlandic Minister for Statehood and Foreign Affairs, visited the Scott Polar Research Institute on 14 January. The Minister was accompanied by a delegation from the Government of Greenland and a representative from the British Embassy in Copenhagen. The group were welcomed by Professor Richard Powell, Director of SPRI, and colleagues. The delegation enjoyed tours and discussions about ongoing SPRI research, teaching and collections strategies involving Greenland. It was a very successful visit and all agreed that it would lead to future collaborations.

On Thursday, 23 January, at 5:30 PM, the European premiere of Pantanal is screening at a theatre near you – the Babbage Lecture Theatre! This powerful documentary explores the history and challenges of the world's largest tropical wetland. The film stars Department of Geography Master's in Conservation Leadership alumna Luciana Leite - now with the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) - as one of its highlighted environmentalists. The screening, hosted by the MPhil in Conservation Leadership team, will conclude with a discussion, offering attendees a chance to meet Luciana and engage with panelists on environmental issues and the role of communication in combating the climate crisis. Undergraduate members of the department are very welcome to attend. Reserve your free ticket here

It is unusual for academic writing, in and of itself, to fundamentally change policy and practice. However, Bill Adams' highly original and influential writing about conservation has demonstrated how this can be done. Bill retired as the Moran Professor of Conservation and Development at the University of Cambridge in 2022 and this year he stands down as a Senior Editor of Oryx after more than 25 years. Now is a good time to reflect on his extraordinary body of work and, we hope, introduce a new audience to his writing. Read the editorial celebrating the career and contribution of Bill Adams.

Professor Sarah Hall has been appointed as specialist trade policy advisor to the House of Lords' International Agreements Committee. In this role, she will provide expert impartial advice on trade related matters to support the Committee's scrutiny work for the next five years. This builds on a similar role Sarah previously held for the House of Lords European Affairs Committee and reflects her leadership at the intersection between geography and public policy. The Chair of the Committee, Lord Goldsmith KC said "We are delighted to welcome Professor Hall as our trusted source of advice to assist our scrutiny work. She brings a wealth of knowledge in international trade to the Committee, and has previous experience of working with parliamentary select committees." Further details about the appointment and the work of the Committee can be found on its webpages.