Murray Edwards College Cambridge

03/06/2026

Congratulations to alumna, Maggie O'Farrell, on her new book 'Land,' which is officially out NOW!

Land is an epic novel of upheaval and loss beginning in 19th century Ireland, with its roots in Maggie's own family.

Maggie studied English at Murray Edwards (then called New Hall) and continues to inspire our community with her bold and exquisite writing.

Speaking to one of our students, Maggie reflected on her time as an undergraduate:

"It's funny you know, the three years of my undergraduate degree seemed enormous, like a lifetime. But looking back at it now it seems like just a hobby.
I think all those friendships and all the teaching and tutorials and everything are so important, because there's never another time in your life when you are so incredibly porous for friendship and opportunity. You know, it's astonishing and you don't really realize how rare how special that is."

We encourage all our students to take Maggie's inspiring words to heart and seize all the opportunities that University of Cambridge has to offer!

02/06/2026

🥇 Spring Regatta Champions! A huge shoutout to our W1 crew for an outstanding win at the Cambridge 99s Spring Regatta. What a performance! 🚣‍♀️🔥

20/05/2026

Medwards Alumna Dr Laura Hobbs and Bye-fellow Dr Brandon G. Smith, PhD and University of Cambridge researchers led a global call for the recognition of traumatic brain injury at World Health Assembly.
https://www.murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk/college-news/cambridge-researchers-lead-global-call-recognition-traumatic-brain-injury-world-health
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects 69 million people every year and has been invisible in global health policy for far too long. Progress made at the Assembly signalled real change - a landmark moment for this global cause.

Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge

Medwards Alumna Dr Laura Hobbs and Bye-fellow Dr Brandon G. Smith advance landmark policy action

19/05/2026

Congratulations to PhD student, Carrie Anne, whose work has been selected for the British Film Institute’s national archive!

Carrie Anne is a YouTube creator and STEM educator, whose research explores children’s agency and creativity in physical computing. Her video “How to Code Music with Raspberry Pi & Sonic Pi” has been added to the BFI Replay Collection - a project that aims to preserve online moving image works from UK creators.

As a videographer and a doctoral researcher, Carrie Anne is motivated by the same challenge: “how to open up computing to more young people, especially those who rarely see themselves reflected in it.”

We are thrilled to see Carrie Anne’s work, which foregrounds and uplifts young women, honoured in this way and we hope that through the BFI’s networks, her research will continue to inspire to even more future computer scientists!

To read more about the BFI Archive and Carrie Anne’s fascinating research, please click the link in our bio!

18/05/2026

We're thrilled to celebrate Medwards PhD student Carrie Anne Philbin MBE, whose groundbreaking work encouraging girls into computing has been recognised by the British Film Institute National Archive.

Carrie Anne launched Geek Gurl Diaries in 2012 with a simple but powerful mission: to help more young people, especially girls, see themselves in technology. Through creative, accessible tutorials on coding, robotics, electronics and digital making, she inspired a generation of learners to explore computing with confidence and curiosity.

PhD student’s work explores creativity, coding and digital learning

13/05/2026

What is it about studying at the University of Cambridge that so inspires comedians..?

We're not going to comment on that, but we do want to celebrate a fantastic achievement for our alumna, the writer Barunka O'Shaughnessy: a BAFTA for the hit BBC comedy series Amandaland.

The series, a spin-off of the series Motherland, was named best scripted comedy at the BaftaTVAwards 2026, defeating tough competition including How Are You? It's Alan (Partridge).

The award is the second for Barunka (New Hall 1993), who scooped a BAFTA as part of the writing team for Motherland in 2022.

We were delighted to hear more about her career when she joined us as guest speaker at the College’s International Women’s Day celebrations in March this year. She reflected on her creative journey from performing during her time at College to building an impressive career as a writer and creator. The conversation offered fascinating insights into the creative industries, women’s voices in comedy, and the realities of building a career in television writing.

Writer scoops award for BBC hit 'Amandaland'

12/05/2026

On Friday 8 May, Medwards students celebrated their inaugural Colours and Captains Formal Dinner - an event marking the beginning of what promises to become a proud College tradition in true Cambridge style.

The driving force behind the event was Sophie Bhatt, Medwards JCR Sports Officer, who did a phenomenal job organising the dinner. A huge thank you goes to Sophie!

Congratulations go to Aimi Weightman, who was awarded Sports Personality of The Year 2026 for her continued success in cross country.

Embracing Cambridge Tradition

29/04/2026

🤩 Professor Helen Rees recognised in Africa Health 20 👏
https://www.murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk/college-news/professor-helen-rees-recognised-africa-health-20
Professor Helen Rees, one of South Africa’s most well-known women scientists, studied Medical Sciences at Murray Edwards from 1971 and became an Honorary Fellow in 2015. A visionary in vaccines, HIV, and adolescent health, Helen’s work has shaped policy and advanced equity across Africa and beyond. The 20 Leaders Shaping Health Across Africa list recognises African leaders who are shaping the continent’s health agenda in real time through institutional power, scientific leadership, policy reform, emergency response, manufacturing, regulation, financing, and accountability

University of Cambridge

20 Leaders Shaping Health Across Africa

28/04/2026

Many congratulations to our alumna and Fellow Professor Hiranya Peiris on her election to the American Academy of Arts & Sciences

Hiranya is Professor of Astrophysics (1909) at the University of Cambridge - the first woman to hold the prestigious post.

She joins a long line of illustrious members over the Academy’s history, from Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton to Albert Einstein, Charles Darwin, Martin Luther King, Jr and Salman Rushdie. Current British members include Hiranya’s fellow Murray Edwards/New Hall alumna and astrophysicist Dame Jocelyn Bell Burnell, discoverer of pulsars.

The Academy, chartered in 1780, was established to recognise accomplished individuals and engage them in addressing the greatest challenges facing the young American republic. The first members elected include George Washington, who in his first annual message to Congress in 1790 said, 'Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.'

Other new members elected this year - the 205th anniversary of the founding of America - include the actor Jodie Foster, computer scientist Shwetak Patel, neurobiologist Doris Tsau and author Barbara Kingsolver.

Professor Hiranya Peiris honoured by illustrious institution

22/04/2026

To mark Stephen Lawrence Day, Murray Edwards College Cambridge will be hosting a talk by Dr Nadia Habashi, Senior Lecturer in Criminology, Justice and Policing. The event is free and open to all.

This lecture examines the evolving legacy of Stephen Lawrence through a critical analysis of what is described as the ‘Janus-faced state’ a form of governance that simultaneously acknowledges racial injustice whilst retreating from its consequences. Underpinned by archival research from the Macpherson Inquiry into the Death of Stephen Lawrence, alongside contemporary developments in the UK and internationally, the lecture explores how institutional recognition of racism can coexist with the gradual erosion of accountability.

University of Cambridge Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation

Stephen Lawrence Day Lecture