The 21 Group contacted the other Chancellorship candidates asking them to respond to Prof Wyn Evans‘ suggestion of the creation of an independent Ombudsman to investigate serious malpractices, bullying or academic misconduct at Cambridge University. The Ombudsman would also be Read more…
The pressure group Alumni For Freedom of Speech (AFFS) circulated a set of questions to the candidates for the Cambridge Chancellorship. Broadly we are supportive of the aims of AFFS. Based on their replies and any other relevant publicly available Read more…
As reported first in the Times Higher Education , a letter is circulating in Cambridge University suggesting that academics use their single transferable vote judiciously to prevent the election of Lord Browne of Madingley as the new Chancellor. There is Read more…
On 30 June 2025, the Times Higher Education published an opinion piece from Professor Wyn Evans entitled “Ending bullying and precarity should be the Cambridge chancellor’s focus“. “In over 800 years, only once has a non-university candidate ever won the Read more…
Scottish politicians brutally exposed what has been happening at Dundee University. You can see the carnage here, as former Vice Chancellor Iain Gillespie appeared before the Select Committee at Holyrood. It’s like watching a tubby, slow-moving sloth trapped in a Read more…
This is a wonderful book from Prof Robert Foley, Emeritus Professor of Human Evolution at the University of Cambridge. The author punctures the managerialism that has overwhelmed UK universities with gentle wit. It’s cut from the same mine as many Read more…
The candidates for the Chancellorship of Cambridge University were sent a series of questions on academic freedom and freedom of speech by Alumni for Freedom of Speech. A summary of some of my answers is below. Are there problems with Read more…
We publish a request sent to fellow candidates on the creation of a University Ombudsman by Prof Wyn Evans. Any responses received before 5th July will be published without emendation. I’m honoured to stand alongside such a distinguished group of Read more…
Cambridge University raised £150 million in 2022-2023 from gifts and donations. Such money must be used to support our core mission of teaching and research, as described in the pledges below. Many parts (~80 %) of the University work well, Read more…
This is a guest post from Dr Chris Smith of the Naked Scientists. Many of us doing scientific research at Cambridge University have appeared on his podcasts and radio shows. Now he needs our help … The first time I Read more…