Murray Edwards College Cambridge

Murray Edwards College is honoured to be hosting the Afghan Refugee Women’s cricket team during its historic England tour later this month.

The players, who are exiled from their home country thanks to its ban on women's sport, will take on the Cambridge University women’s team on Saturday 27 June 2026 at Fenner’s, the famed home of Cambridge cricket.

They will also play a second T20 match against the UK Armed Forces Women’s team. Both matches are open to the public, with no charge.

During their three-day stopover in the Cambridge, the women and their support staff will all stay in the College, where they will also enjoy a celebratory dinner after their fixtures.

Dr Rachel Polonsky, Acting President of Murray Edwards, said: 'The College is honoured to be hosting the Afghan Refugee Women’s cricket team during the players’ stay in Cambridge.

'As one of the two colleges for women at the University of Cambridge and indeed in the UK as a whole, we are proud to support women's free participation in sport at all levels, worldwide. We look forward not only to an exciting day of cricket but a wonderful opportunity for both the Cambridge students and Afghan players to meet and forge new bonds.'

The tour is being supported by Sir Laurie Bristow, President of and the UK’s last ambassador to Afghanistan during the fall of the city in August 2021 and the subsequent evacuation. Sir Laurie said: 'The matches are a celebration of women's sport and a recognition of the resilience and achievements of the Afghan women cricketers, as well as providing an opportunity to welcome families, sports fans, university members and the local community to support the teams.'

For more information about this amazing team, and the upcoming fixtures, please click here:
https://tinyurl.com/37y9nrey

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!

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

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

Cambridge researchers lead global call for recognition of traumatic brain injury at World Health Assembly Medwards Alumna Dr Laura Hobbs and Bye-fellow Dr Brandon G. Smith advance landmark policy action

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!

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.

Carrie Anne Philbin’s work recognised by British Film Institute (BFI) National Archive PhD student’s work explores creativity, coding and digital learning

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.

BAFTA win for alumna Barunka O’Shaughnessy Writer scoops award for BBC hit 'Amandaland'

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.

Colours and Captains Dinner 2026 Embracing Cambridge Tradition

🤩 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

Professor Helen Rees recognised in Africa Health 20 20 Leaders Shaping Health Across Africa