Topic description and stories

Stories from the people that make Cambridge University unique.

The graduate student rewriting Deaf histories and disability histories

05 January 2024

When Kirstie Stage was diagnosed with hearing loss, she realised that the experiences of Deaf and disabled people were missing from the history books. Kirstie is determined to bring these narratives to the fore.

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The trans scientist keen to promote Cambridge’s inclusive ethos

01 Feb 2018

Rachael Padman was awarded last year’s Gay Times honour for excellence in science. To mark LGBT+ History Month, she looks back at some landmarks in...

The librarian sharing the stories of our medieval past

25 Jan 2018

Alexander Devine is captivated by all things medieval. He’s a librarian at the Parker Library, a stunning collection of early manuscripts at Corpus...

The marine biologist who found a new life on dry land

18 Jan 2018

Diana Thomas-McEwen believes in learning by doing. She trained as a marine biologist but always thought she might have been an engineer. After six...


The man who “never really had a career plan” — and is off to Australia to become a vice-chancellor

11 Jan 2018

Duncan Maskell thrives under pressure. His dual talents for science and organisation led to his appointment as head of Cambridge’s planning and...

The choral scholar with a passion for opera — and a secret love of ABBA

21 Dec 2017

On Christmas Eve, the gothic splendour of King’s College Chapel will swell with the sound of one of the world’s most famous choirs. Among the all-...

The student volunteers who help to make hot meals at Jimmy’s Cambridge

14 Dec 2017

Cat Somerville and Niamh Buckingham, third-year students, share a determination to make a difference to the community around them. They volunteer...


The Nigerian archaeologist investigating ancient farming in West Africa

07 Dec 2017

For Emuobosa Akpo Orijemie, a degree in botany led to a PhD looking at the crops cultivated by early communities. As a Newton International Fellow at...

The anthropologist exploring ethical questions about humans and horses

30 Nov 2017

It started as a childhood obsession. The more Rosie Jones McVey learnt more about horses, the more fascinated she became in different training...

The man who helps to get those tricky visa applications right first time

23 Nov 2017

After studying history at university, Graeme Ross worked as an asylum seeker caseworker. Today he leads Cambridge’s Immigration and Compliance Team...


The nutritionist investigating the effect of HIV treatments on mothers and babies

16 Nov 2017

When Florence Nabwire didn’t get funding for medical school, she decided to train as a nutritionist. She went on to set up a pioneering food...

The man (with the hat) studying risk-taking and our changing use of money

09 Nov 2017

Raghu Rau's career has taken him from India to France and then from the USA to Cambridge. He’s fascinated by the ways in which financial markets...

The disability adviser supporting students to reach their potential

02 Nov 2017

Rachel Demery knows what it’s like to face the extra challenges of living and working with a disability. She’s one of seven advisors working for the...

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