Dear Alumna,

It has been an unprecedented Easter term as our students have taken exams or undergone assessments from wherever they are in the world, some in very difficult circumstances. We are so sad that we have not had the usual graduation ceremonies in College this past week. However, all graduates this year will be invited back for in-person celebrations in College and at the Senate House in 2021 when public health guidelines allow. All of us have had to show resilience and fortitude in 2020, but graduating this year is a particular achievement. We look forward to welcoming them into our vibrant alumnae community!

June has also seen exciting events - from one of our first online events - a talk by Sarah Dunant chaired by Principal Alison Rose, to the continued efforts of our community, wherever they may be, to address the most pressing issues of today. The JCR hosted a virtual Pub Quiz in support of Belly Mujinga's memorial fund, and May Week was marked virtually, in the May Week Mega Event in aid of Cambridge-based Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust and the Centre for the Study of Existential Risk, with thanks to very own Emma Thompson and Clare Balding who headlined the proceedings.

This month we are bringing you a very special interview with Newnham's Rosalind Franklin Research Fellow, Gabi Heller, in honour of Rosalind Franklin's birthday on the July 25th, as well as more touching reflections from lockdown by first-year English student, Ella Muir. There is also a thank-you from the editors of the Newnham Anthology, along with the much-anticipated title reveal, and our announcement of a new scholarship fund in memory of a much-loved alumna. A busy month indeed! 

With best wishes, 

The Roll & Development Office

Prof Mary Beard asked "Has the iconic university lecture had its day?" on BBC Radio 4 | The Careers Service launched a new platform for career development - open to recent alumni too | The Raleigh Music Society shared more wonderful Wednesday digital recitals, including Francesca Moore-Bridger's part in a quartet and Carol Ibe's direction of the Cambridge University Gospel Choir, singing 'Now' | Some of the 'Lost Women of Cambridge' featured in a blog post including some of our historical alumnae crossing from 'gown' to 'town' | Alumna Sarah Leiter was interviewed for the WATT network about Paralympic sport, setbacks and becoming a junior doctor. | The work of Prof Sucheta Nadkarni, valued member of Newnham College, will be remembered in a new management research award in her name by the Strategic Management Society. | Newnham's JCR Committee ran a virtual Pub Quiz in support of Belly Mujinga's memorial fund and Black Minds Matter UK | 132 alumnae, staff, senior members and students joined for a virtual talk by Sarah Dunant on the 9th June. | Dr Asiya Islam has won funding through CRASSH to host a conference at Newnham 14-15 May 2021 on the theme of 'care' | New vegetable beds have sprung up in the borders between Clough and Peile | PhD Student Sam Leggett was featured in a blog seeking to inspire girls to pursue STEM subjects | Aluma Elspeth Collard co-wrote a 10 minute musical about the struggles of a stressed-out consumer with a fading phone battery | Recent JRF Úna Monaghan, harpist and sound harpist, performed as part of Piece by Piece presented by the Improvised Music Company and Triskel Arts Centre | Alumna Gavvandra Hodge published her book The Consequences of Love to journalistic acclaim. | Emma Thompson and Clare Balding featured in the May Week Mega Event, in lieu of the usual in person gatherings this year.

Gabi Heller, Newnham's Rosalind Franklin Research Fellow gave an interview in honour of the 100th birthday of Rosalind Franklin, which is on July 25th. She spoke with us about her field of research, her special connection with Rosalind, being a woman in a STEM subject and the pressures placed on scientific research by funding and inequality issues. Click here to read the interview.
 

A 'Thank You’ to Everyone who Contributed to the second Newnham Anthology

Lockdown has produced an enormous number of contributions for the second Newnham Anthology.  It has become a truly collaborative effort involving alumnae, current members, former members, staff and one-time visitors alike.  Thank you for all your help.

We have loved looking through and reading all your pieces and are grateful for the interaction with, and understanding of, the collaborators in the editing process.  The Anthology itself and the College Archives will be all the richer for your help. 

And the winner of the title competition? 

We are delighted to announce that Meg Roberts (a current Newnham graduate student) has been given the prize with:
 

- Gill Sutherland and Kate Williams

Details of how to buy the new Anthology at the special subscription price will be released shortly.

We are delighted to announce the establishment of a new fund in memory of Rehana Tanwir. The Rehana Tanwir fund has been established in perpetuity by Rehana Tanwir's brother, Dr Arif Ajaz (Wolfson, Cambridge, 1968-73)  to support both PhD and Masters students, particularly those from Pakistan. It is a fitting memorial to a talented and much-loved person and will benefit similarly outstanding women in years to come. 

Read more about the scholarship and Rehana Tanwir here.

The Principal and the Fellows of Newnham would like to thank Dr Arif Ajaz and his family for their help and support in setting up this new and important fund.

STUDENT STORIES
Ella Muir, first year English student

A touching story from Ella Muir, first year English student, about life in lockdown in which she takes stock and reflects on what has changed and what has blossomed. 

"One thing I know for sure, though. Being away from Newnham has helped me realise the value and privilege of the friendship and education I found there. I owe a lot of hugs to a lot of people."
 

You can read more of Ella's reflections and thoughts here.

Newnham Associates are a group of 60 alumnae who work together to support the Newnham students and graduates of today as they plan for their careers. We range from our 20s to our 60s and have interesting careers across a wide range of areas, including professional, business, academic, public sector and not-for-profit fields. 

We aim to cover a wide range of both traditional and ‘new’ careers, and to reflect the reality of many women’s work experience: careers that are not straight-line or are shaped by changing priorities, including children, partners, health and so on.  A meaningful career need not be a high-powered career.   We have two formal meetings a year, a winter party and lunch in college - a chance to catch up and meet some wonderful new women.  Most volunteer in at least one of our activities, supporting careers workshops, events to support better access to Newnham from under represented groups or academic subjects, or subject formal halls.  All are contactable via our website (https://www.newnhamassociates.org/) so that students can find someone with relevant experience to connect with. 

Please contact Jen Ablitt (jenablitt@gmail.com) if you would like to know more.

RESEARCH
Fellows, alumnae and current students respond to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fellows, alumnae and current students have been undertaking research into the profound sociological and psychological effects the response to COVID-19 is having on people's lives. 

Dr Helen Brittain (NC 1965) has been involved indirectly as a member and chair of an NHS Research Ethics Committee.

She reports: 'We have been doing many expedited applications so that this important research can start as soon as possible. These have been trials of possible treatments, data base and other measurement applications, the effect on children's well being etc. It usually takes months for such applications to go through all the stages of ethics approval and we have been doing these in a matter of days. The fact that we can get together a quorate committee using Zoom has helped, though that presents its own challenges. 

The Health Research Authority has been very proactive in making this happen. There's more information on its web site. It has been interesting and challenging but also very worthwhile being involved in this way."

Dr Eldrid Herrington (NC 1995) has been serving on the UK's Urgent Public Health Committee. The Urgent Public Health committee approves all national COVID-19 studies for the UK.


Dr Susan Imrie and Dr Sarah Foley have published new research on the impact of lockdown restrictions on people estranged from their families. 

Are you conducting research relating to COVID-19? We always love to feature the work the Newnham community is doing far and wide so do get in touch at roll@newn.cam.ac.uk.

With thanks to Margaret Campbell (NC 1966) for sharing.

If you have a photo of 'The View from my Window', with or without some words, we would love to continue to share where and what situations our alumnae find themselves in. Do email roll@newn.cam.ac.uk.

During this difficult time it is important to stay in touch. If you would like to contact the Roll & Development Office you can always email the Roll & Development Office at roll@newn.cam.ac.uk, and follow us on our Twitter and Instagram pages.

Our Development Director, Sarah Carthew, is always happy to speak to alumnae and can be reached directly by phone at 07464203246.