Pembroke College Cambridge

Last night’s Jo Cox Memorial Lecture, delivered by Jo’s sister, Kim Leadbeater MP, was memorable, joyful and affecting. It was a great privilege to welcome back Kim and her family and friends, and members of The Jo Cox Foundation to Pembroke to celebrate Jo’s life and enduring legacy.

"Perhaps the greatest tribute we can pay to Jo is not merely to repeat her words, but to live by them. And to show that we truly are more united and have more in common than that which divides us."

Ten years on, Jo's belief that we have more in common that that which divides us remains as urgent as ever.

Yesterday evening Kim Leadbeater MBE gave the Jo Cox Memorial Lecture at Pembroke College Cambridge. As we begin this important fortnight of reflection, connection and action, we are reminded that building a more respectful, less lonely and better connected society is work for each and every one of us.

Sign up to hear more about our work at Jo Cox Foundation this month as we mark Jo's legacy and share the many ways to take part.

www.jocoxfoundation.org/10years

It’s and we want to celebrate everyone who gives their time, insight, and energy to Pembroke; we simply couldn’t do what we do without you! 🤝

As we look ahead to announcing our 2026 Volunteers of the Year, we want to shine a spotlight on last year's three exceptional volunteers:

Tim Passingham makes a remarkable difference to our students and community. From providing invaluable LEAP internships and mentoring students to donating a drum kit for our musicians, Tim’s impact is felt across all areas of College life.

Ian Carry is another outstanding LEAP mentor. He has supported students through thoughtful, tailored one‑to‑one mentoring and helped strengthen the programme through mentor training and safeguarding guidance.

Duncan Rule contributed to a wide array of projects in the Archives, including cataloguing 19th-century admissions correspondence, updating records for four College estates and supporting public displays, special events, and archival research.

Thank you, Tim, Ian and Duncan and our entire volunteer community; we are incredibly grateful for your support.

We can't wait to hear your verdict on the film!

We were delighted that the Mill Lane development won four(!) RIBA East Awards last week:

▪️ 2026 UK RIBA East Award
▪️ 2026 UK RIBA East Building of the Year
▪️ 2026 UK RIBA East Project Architect of the Year: Hannah Constantine
▪️ 2026 UK RIBA East Conservation Award

The jury commended the team for its intelligent, fearless handling of a complex brief, the skill and tenacity of the project architect, and the way that social and environmental values are embedded.

This is very well-deserved recognition for Hannah and the rest of the team at Haworth Tompkins, as well as the many other contractors and individuals whose vision, creativity, ingenuity and professionalism brought such a complex project to fruition. Congratulations to you all!

The Mill Lane development (now known as the Dolby Quarter) will now proceed to judging at RIBA's National Awards, with results announced on 17 July.

Photo: Fred Howarth

Last Friday was a day of celebration as 17 students were awarded their PhD, MPhil, EMBA, and MFin degrees. 🎓🎉

It's always wonderful to watch students celebrate their achievements with their families after so much hard work.

Congratulations to everyone who received their degree, and best wishes for your future endeavours!

Students found relief from both the heat and impending exams at the Master’s stress-busting smoothie session this morning. 🍓🫐

It was a chance for students to chat and chill out in a laid-back environment, berry smoothie in hand.

Naturally, the Master’s dogs Maisie and Maple (not pictured) thought the gathering was for them and delightedly accepted all the affection the students willing lavished on them!

Is it possible to save hedgehogs with the help of satellites and AI? 🛰️🦔

Pembroke Fellow and Professor of Planetary Computing, Anil Madhavapeddy and Academic Associate, Dr Sadiq Jaffer certainly think so.

They have helped develop a powerful new open-source AI tool called TESSERA, which stacks and analyses thousands of detailed satellite images from the EU’s Copernicus satellites to produce highly detailed maps of Earth.

Collaborating with the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, TESSERA has helped identify and map the habitats in which hedgehogs thrive across the UK, such as hedgerows and bramble patches.

The status of hedgehogs in the UK is listed as Vulnerable on the Red List of British mammals. While urban hedgehogs are doing well, their numbers in rural areas are estimated to have fallen by up to 75% since 2000, as their habitats have shrunk and become severely fragmented. This leaves them susceptible to predators and traffic as they move from one suitable piece of land with cover to another.

Anil and Sadiq hope that TESSERA can help guide and support conservationists' efforts to protect hedgehogs and their habitats, as well as those of many other animals worldwide.

Read more about how TESSERA is helping identify hedgehog habitats: https://www.cst.cam.ac.uk/news/tessera-ai-model-helping-protect-hedgehogs-space

Listen to Anil talk about this project on BBC Wales (from 28:00): https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m002wg09

Photo of a Western European Hedgehog by Katerina Vulcova, via Pixabay.

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, and to coincide with 'Wear it Green Day', Thursday 14 May is Pembroke Mental Health Day.

Our Wellbeing and HR teams have organised a series of special events for students, staff and Fellows to take part in:

9.00 am-11.00 am - Green Ribbon Craft in the Old Library. Come along and make a green ribbon for yourself or for a friend. (Old Library)

10.30 am- 11.00 am - Staff Pembrew. A chance for Pembroke staff to have a catch-up over a cuppa.

12.00 pm - 1.00 pm - A special lunchtime edition of the Lovely Choir. No sheet music, no stress, no "I'm not a good singer"... turn up, shout out your requests for popular songs and have fun .(Chapel)

12.30 pm-2.30 pm - Sports on the Lawns Join the University Sports Centre for pop-up sports and croquet. (New Ct, Foundress & Red Buildings Lawns)

1.00 pm-3.00 pm - Exam packs and crafting. Come and collect special exam packs put together by Student Services and participate in mindful crafting. (Beside Library Lawn)

Even if you can't make it to any of these activities, make sure to wear something green, whether it's a piece of clothing or an accessory! There will be prizes for the most fabulous individual and team to 'Wear it Green'!

Should it start raining, then the exam packs and crafting will move into the Old Library, and the sports will be replaced by some fun indoor games.

Come and support Newbroke (Newnham & Pembroke) this Sunday, as they aim to defend their Cuppers crown against St John's/King's.

The final kicks off at 2.00 pm, at the Mumford pitch (Cambridge Rugby Union Football Club, Grange Road, CB3 9BN). Entry is free, and the bar will be open, serving both alcoholic and non-alcoholic refreshments.💙💛