Wolfson College

To mark World Environment Day on 5 June, Wolfson College Research Networks and the Sustainability Network hosted Dr Alan Dangour, the Wellcome Trust's Director for Climate and Health, for the inaugural Sustainability Lecture on the human health impacts of climate change 🌍

In his lecture, 'Saving Lives: The Health Argument for Urgent Climate Action', Dr Dangour presented a powerful case for understanding climate change as an immediate and unfolding public health crisis 📘

Sanya Kapoor, who is studying for her MPhil in Sustainable Development at Wolfson, said: "It was wonderful to hear a talk that put human health at the heart of the climate conversation. Dr Dangour provided a compelling overview of the links between climate change, food systems, and health, while balancing the scale of the challenge with examples of hopeful progress."

Read more about the lecture and watch the recording at the link below 👇
https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/sustainability-lecture-highlights-health-imperative-climate-action

Next up in our Volunteering Spotlight series is Tasha Mapenzi, who is Society Head for Language & Cultural Exchange, Student Representative on the University's Development Committee, and a Welfare Rep alongside her MPhil in Development Studies 📚

Tasha says, "Volunteering is teaching me that leadership isn't about a title, but about enabling others. I've learned that resilience is not just about pushing through your own challenges, but about showing up consistently for others, which in turn has made me more confident in my ability to contribute positively to any team." 💪

Head to the link below to read more about why and how Tasha has chosen to volunteer her time, and her advice for anyone interested in volunteering 👇
https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/wolfson-volunteer-spotlight-tasha-mapenzi

We were delighted to hear that three members of the Wolfson community have been shortlisted in the annual Student Union Cambridge Excellence Awards! 🏆

Huge congratulations to Governing Body Fellow and Tutor Dr Nigel Kettley, Community & Leadership Impact Coordinator Simona Obeng, and Academic Skills Librarian Connor Johnston, who were shortlisted in the 'Lecturer of the Year', 'Student Support by a Member of Non-Academic Staff', and 'Inclusive Practice' categories respectively 🏅

Read more about the awards, and hear from Nigel, Simona, and Connor at the link below 👇
https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/wolfson-members-shortlisted-cambridge-excellence-awards

The fifteenth annual Wolfson Research Event (WRE) took place on 7 – 8 May, bringing together students from across the College to present research spanning a wide range of disciplines 🔬

The WRE is a highlight of the College calendar: an annual interdisciplinary conference that provides Wolfson students with the opportunity to share their work with a broad, non-specialist audience 📈

Among the highlights of this year’s event were Jessica McConnell’s animations illustrating ionic conductivity for a non-specialist audience, Hamideh Farahmandian’s video documenting the creation of a makeshift cinema inside a kiln in Tehran, and Yoann Launay’s use of simple illustrations and imaginative metaphors to explain the origins of the universe 🌌

Click the link below to read more about this year's event 👇

https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/wolfson-research-event-showcases-interdisciplinary-scholarship

Félicitations to Wolfson students Tay Zhe Qian (2025) and Abdul Mateen bin Kamal (2024), alongside Tan Ee Ning Maegan of King’s College, who have won the top prize in the Entente Cordiale Challenge 2026! 👏

The Entente Cordiale Challenge is a prestigious UK-France policy competition focused on global security and international cooperation. Each year, teams of students from leading universities in both countries produce a 5,000-word policy report addressing a major global issue 🌍

The winning team submitted a report titled 'ICSO Out of this World: Solving the Problem of Space Debris', which proposed the creation of a new international body, the International Civil Space Organisation (ICSO), to tackle the growing challenge of space debris, an increasingly urgent yet under-recognised threat to global space security 🌌

We wish the team every success as they prepare to present their work at Buckingham Palace in June!

Read more about the competition at the link below 👇
https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/wolfson-students-win-top-prize-entente-cordiale-challenge

We are thrilled to welcome four new Junior Research Fellows to Wolfson! 👋

The new Fellows were admitted to College earlier this month, in a short ceremony with Wolfson's Praelector, Dave Goode 📜

From L-R, our new Fellows are Dr Joseph Kelly, Dr Kangjie Zheng, Dr Zhen-Qi Liu, and Dr Jake Cornwall-Scoones. Make sure to say hello if you see them around!

Congratulations to all 60 Wolfson students who graduated on Friday! 🕶

Graduands from 20 countries braved the scorching weather, processing to Senate House in the traditional style 🌎

Degrees being conferred included MPhil, MFin, MBA, MSt, and PhD 🎓

To see more of the photos from graduation, click the link below 👇
https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/congratulations-wolfsons-new-graduates-0

Congratulations to Wolfson Fellow, Professor Giles Yeo MBE, who has been elected a Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences! ⚕️

Giles received this incredible honour in recognition of his outstanding contribution to medical science, most notably his research into genetics and the neuroscience of obesity 🔬

“I am deeply honoured to have been elected to the Academy,” says Giles, “which would not have been possible without the support of colleagues and students past and present. There remains much to do to eradicate weight stigma from society, and this recognition provides a welcome boost of motivation!”

In addition to his internationally recognised research, the Academy of Medical Sciences highlighted Giles’ leadership in communicating science to the public. As a broadcaster and author, he has presented science documentaries for the BBC, published two books, is a regular contributor to news outlets, and hosts his own podcast. And his election to the Academy Fellowship is not his first significant achievement: in 2020, Giles was awarded an MBE for services to ‘Research, Communication and Engagement’ in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 🏅

Click the link below to find out more about Giles and his new Fellowship 👇
https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/wolfson-fellow-elected-academy-medical-sciences-fellowship

📷 Scott Chasserot

University of Cambridge
Giles Yeo
Academy of Medical Sciences

PhD student, Tom Williamson, is a familiar face around Wolfson. As the Brian Moore Accompanist Scholar, and the current President of the Wolfson College Music Society, Tom can be found at the piano or organ for most of the Choir’s performances—when he’s not busy working on his studies in Materials Science 🎹

If all that didn’t keep him busy enough, Tom also is an active volunteer, giving his time to different initiatives around the College. 🏡

"On reflection, sharing my non-academic interests with others has shaped my experience at Wolfson and had an impact on me, I think to a greater extent than my academic course. We’re here to learn across all aspects of what we do!"

Click the link below to read more about why and how Tom has chosen to volunteer his time, and his advice for anyone interested in volunteering 👇

https://www.wolfson.cam.ac.uk/news/wolfson-volunteer-spotlight-tom-williamson