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Corpus Christi College, Michaelmas 2024
Professor Haroon Ahmed PhD ScD FREng
2 March 1936 - 23 October 2024
REMEMBERING PROFESSOR HAROON AHMED
We are deeply saddened to share the news that Professor Haroon Ahmed died peacefully at home with his family on Wednesday, 23 October 2024, aged 88. He was first elected to the Fellowship in 1967 and was Master from 2000 to 2006, following which he took up a Life Fellowship and was elected to an Honorary Fellowship.
Haroon had a distinguished academic career centred on research interests in the physics and technology of nanoscale electronic devices, nanotechnology and electron beam lithography. He published several hundred scientific papers including important papers on single electron devices and their application in future generations of semiconductor chips.
His time as Master was a prosperous and happy one for the College; he oversaw a resurgence in academic standards; the building of the Taylor Library; and, in collaboration with Stanford University, the digitisation of the Parker Library manuscripts for Parker on the Web. He was devoted to the College, and especially to Leckhampton where he was Warden from 1993 to 1999. Professor Ahmed will be greatly missed by all at Corpus.
A full obituary can be found on the Corpus website here.
THE PELICAN
FORTY YEARS ON COMMEMORATIVE EDITION
FORTY YEARS ON COMMEMORATIVE PELICAN
Following an exciting year, packed full of events and activity marking forty years since the first admission of female undergraduates at Corpus, we are delighted to be able to share a one-off commemorative e-edition of The Pelican. This special publication features stories of Corpus women who have helped shape the College since its founding, profiles of our alumnae making a difference around the world, portraits of our female Fellows, and, of course, a roundup of our Forty Years On anniversary weekend in March. Read your digital copy here.
NEWS
THE MASTER DELIVERS THE
PRESTIGIOUS SYME LECTURE
The Master, Professor Christopher Kelly, delivered the prestigious Syme Lecture at Wolfson College, Oxford on Thursday 7 November. A recording of his fascinating talk, entitled Confronting the Past: Christianity and the Classics in Late Antiquity can be viewed here.
NEW CENTRE FOR BRAIN AND
SPINAL RESEARCH
Corpus Fellow Dr Alexis Joannides and Professor Peter Hutchinson, both academic neurosurgeons at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, will be heading up a new brain and spinal injury health technology research centre in Cambridge. Read more
PALAEO-ROBOTS HELP SCIENTISTS UNDERSTAND HOW FISH STARTED TO WALK ON LAND
A team from the Bio-Inspired Robotics Laboratory at the University of Cambridge, led by Fellow of Corpus, Professor Fumiya Iida, are working on a unique project building palaeo-robots in an effort to advance understanding of ancient species. Read more
COOPERATION IN PAEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH
In October, Corpus hosted the UK-Sweden Life Sciences Lecture, with researchers from both countries coming together to discuss research collaboration in paediatric cancer diagnosis and treatment. Read more
WELCOMING SEVEN NEW FELLOWS
This term, seven new Fellows were admitted to the College by the Master, Professor Christopher Kelly. We are delighted to welcome to Corpus:
Dr Claudia Bonfio (Natural Sciences, Biological)
Dr James Clark (History)
Dr Timothy Glover (HSPS)
Dr Chatura Goonesinghe (Natural Sciences, Physical)
Dr Elizabeth Ramsey (German Literature)
Dr Ruth Webster (Natural Sciences, Physical)
Dr Emilia Wilton-Godberfforde (MML)
Read more about our newest Fellows here.
PARKER MANUSCRIPT FEATURES IN SILK ROAD EXHIBITION
A recipe found in a 10th-century manuscript by the Director of the Parker Library, Professor Philippa Hoskin, is currently on display in a new exhibition in the British Museum.
The recipe, which is for incense, is part of the Silk Roads exhibition, which explores the rich cultural significance of the iconic Silk Road trade route. Read more
CORPUSCLE PRESENTED OBE BY PRINCE OF WALES
Dr Sabesan Sithamparanathan (m.2008), entrepreneur and founder of Cambridge company PervasID, has been awarded an OBE for services to innovation technology and the promotion of STEM subjects in education.
Dr Sithamparanathan was presented with his medal by the Prince of Wales on 12 November.
ALUMNA TO DESIGN CHELSEA FLOWER SHOW GARDEN
Award-winning alumna Jo Thompson (m.1990) is set to design a show garden for the world's most celebrated garden show, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. Jo, one of the country's premiere landscape and garden designers, is creating the garden for The Glasshouse charity. Read more
We are thrilled that Jo is also designing the garden at the newly renovated Mogford Lodge.
STUDENT NEWS
ENGLISH STUDENT WINS PLACE ON POPULAR MUSIC SCHEME
English student Alex Bird (m.2022) has secured a place on the Advanced Popular Performance Scheme, which is hosted by the University of Cambridge Centre for Music Performance. Alex, who also performed at the Forty Years On Garden Party back in June, will receive expert coaching and mentoring as part of the highly selective scheme. Read more
CORPUS STUDENTS WIN PHYSICS PRIZES
Two Corpus undergraduates, Terry Lam (m.2023) and Daniil Zhitov (m.2021), were among the winners at the Cavendish Laboratory's annual prizewinners dinner, which took place on 25 October 2024. Congratulations to both Terry and Daniil for being recognised. Read more
IMAGE: Terry Lam (front left) and Daniil Zhitov (front right)
MAY BALL COMMITTEE LOOKING FOR SPONSORS
Corpus is hosting a May Ball in June 2025, and the organising committee are on the look out for companies to sponsor next year's extravaganza. In particular, sponsorship is being sought to help with the provision of bursary tickets for those who may otherwise not be able to afford to attend.
If you are interested, please contact the Development Office on development@corpus.cam.ac.uk
FUNDRAISING UPDATE
THE HAROON AHMED BURSARY
Professor Haroon Ahmed, former Fellow, Warden of Leckhampton, and Master, transformed the lives and Corpus experiences of so many students, and so it is fitting that we are launching a memorial appeal to honour Haroon’s name in perpetuity. Haroon’s commitment to student support and widening participation is to be reflected in the creation of The Haroon Ahmed Memorial Fund from which, in the first instance, The Haroon Ahmed Bursary will be established, an annual award to a promising undergraduate student in a STEM subject. There will be more details to follow soon. You can make a gift now to the Haroon Ahmed Memorial Fund via our website. We welcome you to contact via development@corpus.cam.ac.uk, or on 01223 339718, to discuss the project further.
TELEPHONE CAMPAIGN
Our telephone campaign came to an end in October and our students very much appreciate the 437 meaningful conversations they had with alumni and friends. Thank you to everyone who supported the College, raising over £200,000 for the Alumni Fund, Bridging Programme, Margaret Andrew Bursary, and wellbeing at Corpus.
If you’d like to find out more about the telephone campaign or fundraising projects, please visit our website.
MARGARET ANDREW BURSARY - TARGET MET
We are delighted to announce that Corpus will be able to award the Margaret Andrew Bursary in October 2025, thanks to the generosity of 47 donors, rounded off by a generous intervention by two alumni keen to see the completion of the bursary. It will provide financial support to a female undergraduate student from a disadvantaged or underrepresented background.
THANK YOU FOR COMING
1352 FOUNDATION SOCIETY LUNCH
We were delighted to welcome members of our legacy society, the 1352 Foundation Society, back to Corpus in October for their annual lunch. Attendees enjoyed student recitals in chapel, drinks in the Master's Garden, lunch in Hall and a fascinating 'in conversation' with Life Fellow Professor Alison Smith. You can read more about our 1352 Foundation Society here. View the photos
THE MACCURDY REUNION
At the end of September, over 130 Old Members (matriculation years 1972-77) returned to Corpus for the MacCurdy Reunion Dinner. The occasion began with a visit to the Parker Library, followed by a talk from Honorary Fellow Professor Sir David Omand in the McCrum Lecture Theatre. After a Chronophage Clock tour hosted by Professor Ewan St. John Smith, attendees enjoyed drinks in Old Court and a fabulous five-course dinner in Hall. View the photos
EVENTS
2024
Saturday 23 November, 18.00: Rosalind Ventris (m.2006) Recital at Corpus
Friday 6 December, 19.00: Corpus Association Annual Dinner
Sunday 8 December, 11.00: Friends of Corpus Carol Service (fully booked; waiting list in place)
Monday 9 December, 18.00: Carol Concert at St Mary Abchurch, London
Tuesday 10 December, 18.00: Reception with the Vice-Chancellor in San Francisco
Thursday 12 December, 18.00: Reception with the Vice-Chancellor in New York
Monday 16 December, 17.30: Corpus in Washington DC - Holiday Drinks
2025
Saturday 25 January, 19.00: Old Members' Guest Night
Saturday 8 February, 17.30: The Lewis Society of Medicine Annual Lecture and Dinner
Thursday 13/Friday 14 March: Corpus in Edinburgh (save the dates)
Saturday 15 March: Nicholas Bacon Law Society Annual Dinner (save the date)
Saturday 5 April, from 14.30: Beldam Reunion Dinner (1989-93) (fully booked; waiting list in place)
