Corpus E-newsletter - Easter 2025

Corpus Christi College, Easter 2025

It remains relatively quiet in College with exam period upon us, which means we have been able to hear the odd quack from the resident pair of ducks. There's no sign of any ducklings from Mr and Mrs Duck as yet, but we will update everyone when we have further news! For now you can enjoy watching last year's procession to the river here.

This term began with the annual Mere's Commemoration Sermon at St Bene't's Church, given this year by The Revd Professor Andrew Davison, Corpus alumnus and former Fellow and Dean of Chapel.

Photo below: Vice-Chancellor of the University Professor Deborah Prentice, The Revd Professor Andrew Davison and the Deputy Master Professor Chris Howe parade into Old Court after the annual Mere's Commemoration Service.

NEWS FROM THE FELLOWSHIP

THE RT HON THE LORD ETHERTON GBE KC PC (21 JUNE 1951 - 6 MAY 2025)

The College is deeply saddened to report the death of The Rt Hon the Lord Etherton GBE KC PC (m.1969), Corpus alumnus, member of the House of Lords, former Master of the Rolls and Chancellor of the High Court. Terry Etherton had been an Honorary Fellow of the College since 2007. Read more

SAM BEHJATI ELECTED FELLOW OF ACADEMY OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Fellow of Corpus Professor Sam Behjati has been recognised by the Academy of Medical Sciences for his contributions to advancing medical science, groundbreaking research discoveries and translating developments into benefits for patients and the wider public. Read more

PATRICK ZUTSHI HONOURED WITH FESTSCHRIFT

The Parker Library hosted an event to celebrate the publication of a festschrift in honour of Life Fellow Dr Patrick Zutshi (m.1973), a medieval historian, who has been a member of the College for 50 years and was until 2015 Keeper of Manuscripts and University Archives in Cambridge University Library. Read more

BARAK KUSHNER FEATURES IN JAPANESE DOCUMENTARY

Corpus Fellow, historian and author Professor Barak Kushner recently featured in a new documentary on the Japanese channel NHK World in which he explores the history and culture of the hugely popular noodle ramen. Read more and watch the video here.

RORY NAISMITH WINS BOOK PRIZE

Congratulations to Corpus Fellow Professor Rory Naismith on winning the Western Michigan University's Gründler Book Prize for his book Making Money in the Early Middle Ages, which examines the uses and meanings of coined money from the end of the western Roman Empire until the 12th century. Read more

ALUMNI NEWS

CORPUSCLE'S GLAUCOMA CLASSIFICATION TOOL TOUTED FOR NATIONAL ROLLOUT

Congratulations to Dr Arun Thirunavukarasu (m.2017) and his team who have developed an accurate, interpretable, and safe algorithm to automatically categorise severity of disease and eligibility for sight impairment registration. They have made the technology free to access, thus removing any cost barriers. Read more

DISCOVERY: ICEBERGS THE SIZE OF CAMBRIDGE DRIFTED OFF THE BRITISH COAST IN LAST ICE AGE

A new paper from Dr James Kirkham (m.2018) and his team in Nature Communications shows that massive tabular icebergs broke off the UK in the last ice age before the UK’s ice shelves disintegrated from climate warming. Read more

ALUMNA KATIE ALLEN PUBLISHES SECOND NOVEL

Author and former journalist Katie Allen (m.1998) released her second novel Happy is the One this week. This follows the success of her debut novel Everything Happens for a Reason. Katie was previously a journalist for The Guardian and Observer newspapers, covering business news, media and economics.
Read more

CORPUS MEDIC LEADS LARGEST ATRIAL FIBRILLATION SCREENING TRIAL

Jonathan Mant (m.1979), Professor of Primary Care Research at the University of Cambridge, and his team are working with over 89,000 participants in the largest ever randomised clinical trial of screening to detect atrial fibrillation to determine whether systematic screening can reduce the risk of strokes and other serious health conditions. Read more

MEET OUR ALUMNI

DR RAVINDHI MURPHY (m.2002). A Consultant Oncologist and medical adviser at the Cancer Research UK Centre for Drug Development.

Ravindhi's interest in cancer research and oncology began whilst working as a junior doctor at Addenbrooke's Hospital. She went on to hold academic clinical fellowships, sponsored by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) and Cancer Research UK, combining her clinical work with research. Read more

MARK BERLIN (m.1979). A professor of practice, a policy advisor, government legal counsel, and the author of numerous articles and co-publisher of the book Human Rights in Canada.

To say that Mark is an international lawyer in human rights and development barely scratches the surface of a long and varied career across academia, government practice and the non-profit world. Read more

Meet more of our Alumni

NAMING OPPORTUNITY FOR LAST BOAT CLUB ERG

Our rowers have been making excellent use of their much-needed new ergs, purchased with the kind support of College donors. Nine have already been sponsored and named by generous donors, with one naming opportunity remaining.

Sponsorship is available at £1,000. Please contact the Development Office at development@corpus.cam.ac.uk for more information.

DONATE HERE

JOIN US AT THE MAY BUMPS

An exciting year of rowing is set to reach its conclusion on Saturday 21 June with the final day of the May Bumps. All Corpuscles, as well as their family and friends, are invited to bring a picnic down to the river as we watch the final day of racing and cheer on our Corpus crews!

REGISTER HERE

COLLEGE NEWS

NEW ADMISSIONS LEADS GET TO WORK

Earlier this term, our new Admissions Tutor, James Davies-Warner, and Deputy Admissions Tutor, Naomi Walker-Pearl, took up their new roles leading the admissions efforts of the College. They both bring a wealth of experience working in admissions and outreach at Corpus. We wish them every success. Read more

FOUR NEW GATES SCHOLARS IN 25TH ANNIVERSARY YEAR

The Gates Foundation, founded by Bill Gates Senior in 2000, gives postgraduate scholarships to applicants from countries outside the UK in any subject. The criteria for selection includes a commitment to improving the lives of others and showing leadership potential. This year the College is pleased to welcome four new Gates Scholars. Read more about them here

DO YOU HAVE A SPARE ROOM?

Some of our students are seeking accommodation over the summer while they undertake internships in London. Please get in touch if you have a room or accommodation to spare at a 'student-friendly' price.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING

CAMBRIDGE LOCAL ALUMNI GET TOGETHER

It was wonderful to welcome local Corpuscles to College on 30 April for the launch of the new Cambridge Alumni Group, an initiative spearheaded by alumnus Dr Nat Segaren (m.1996).

If you’re an alumnus based in the Cambridge area and you’re interested in getting involved, or being added to the group's mailing list, please contact Nat on corpusalumnicambridge@gmail.com.

OLIVER RACKHAM SOCIETY ANNUAL LECTURE AND DINNER

Many thanks to all those who attended the Oliver Rackham Society Annual Lecture and Dinner on 26 April. This year’s lecture was delivered by food scientist and flavour expert Dr Rachel Edwards-Stuart (m.2000). A former biochemistry undergraduate at Corpus, Rachel has been inspired by a long-term interest in understanding how science can be used to create novel dishes.