Cambridge Now - Local News, Food, Art and Events for Cambridge, England

Boat Race between Cambridge and Oxford cancelled due to COVID-19

2020-03-17T09:37:00.001+00:00

Coronavirus has shut down The Boat Race that pits the Cambridge University Boat Club against Oxford.

The last time the men's competition didn't happen, it was due to a world war, and the women's race faces its first cancellation since it re-started in 1964.

Concern over the health of the public has never stopped The Boat Race.

All parties involved have begun looking at a way to reschedule the event sometime in June. But it is thought that it may be challenging to find a date suitable to all parties involved.

David Searle, who runs the Boat Race Company, acknowledged that a large crowd would attend whenever The Boat Race happened. However, experts believe it might be difficult to pull off at a later date.

What happens now

Some alternatives considered include utilising a private lake or making the race happen over a shorter distance.

Both Cambridge and Oxford teams have been working hard for months with rigorous training schedules. So the cancellation will be a big blow to these groups.

Three Cambridgeshire coronavirus patients in hospital

2020-03-15T09:07:00.001+00:00

The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in King's Lynn is caring for three patients with coronavirus.

The Cambridgeshire hospital said new precautions are being put in place, and social contacts of the patients are being located and informed.

People who were in close contact with the infected patients will be given instructions on what to do if they are unwell in the 14 days after their contact with the confirmed case.

In doing this, the risk to the general public will be minimised, and the potentially infected person can be treated more quickly.

Visitation in the wards will also be restricted, except in the cases of children's wards, neonates, maternity and end of life visits.

Citizens are being urged to do three things
1) Watch for a new and persistent cough
2) Determine if you have a high fever
3) Do not travel to a pharmacy, GP office or hospital to tell them you have it. You also do not need to contact 111 to inform officials you will be undergoing a self-quarantine.

Unless otherwise informed, the hospital would like all patients who have previously established appointments to make their way to Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

Top 40 food deals for Restaurant Week in Cambridge

2020-03-11T09:50:00.001+00:00

Love Cambridge has been promoting Restaurant Week, and local citizens are already getting very excited about it.

Restaurant Week runs from Monday, 16 March to Friday, 27 March. It shines a bright light on the quality of food in Cambridge and the superior service of local establishments.

The event is being organised by the Cambridge Business Improvement District (BID) which has partnered with Cambridge Edition.

Participating restaurants are hoping that new patrons will discover them, so they are offering some great deals starting at only £5.

1. Riverside Brasserie

Enjoy 2 courses from the Asian inspired menu for £20. Cherry blossom chocolates are included.

2. De Luca Cucina

Offering all pasta and risotto dishes at just £10. T&Cs apply.

3. Amelie Flamkuche

Starter, Authentic FlamKuche & Dessert for £20

4. Parker’s Tavern

£10, £15 and £20 Offers Available

5.Las Iguanas

Choose 2 courses & a drink for just £20.00

6. La Raza

£10 and £20 offers available

7. St John’s Chop House

2 Courses and a soft drink for only £15

8. Tabanco

£10 Lunch - Food and Drink Offer

9. Signorelli’s Deli

£5 food and drink offer for two people

10. Kim’s Bulgogi

Korean BBQ, rice or noodles and 2 sides for £10

11. Steak & Honour

Burger (Classic, Cheese or 'Shroom) and Fries for £10

12. Cafe Abantu

Tea/ coffee + sandwich/salad + cake for £10

13. The Mac Daddy

Any Mac n Cheese for £5

14. The Bull and Bass at Hilton Cambridge

Treat your taste buds with our 3-Course Set Menu packed full of flavour for £20

15. Smokeworks Free School Lane

Food and drink for only £10

16. Chi Restaurants

Big Bowl, Prawn Crackers and a Soft Drink for £10

17. Bill’s Cambridge

Main course and a drink for £15

18. The Tamburlaine Restaurant

2 courses for £20. A new dining experience in the heart of Cambridge CB1 area.

19. Smokeworks Station Road

2 courses for £15 and also includes a drink

20. Jian Bing House 煎饼家

Classic Jian Bing with any fizzy drink £5

21. MillWorks

2 courses for £15

22. BTap Baron

Get a Waffle + Gelato + Topping for £5

23. Agora at The Copper Kettle

£5, £10 and £15 offers

24. Loch Fyne Seafood & Bar

3 course set menu available for £15

25. Bridges Cafe

A main, a hot drink and a cake for £10

26. Cambridge Food Company

A Burger and drink for £5

27. YO!Sushi

£10 and £15 food and drink offer

28. Nanna Mexico

The Big-Ass Burrito for £5

29. NOVI

Buns & Skewers offer £10

30. Cambridge Brew House

3 courses £20

31. Butch Annie’s

£15 Food and Drink Offer

32. Stolen

£10 for starter and a pizza

33. Old Ticket Office

2 course set menu for £15

34. 1815

Come enjoy a coffee/tea and a tray bake slice or scotch egg for £5.00

35. Chill#2

Sandwich/baguette and a filter coffee for £5.00

36. Livingstones Cafe

£5 set menu

37. La Piazza by Signorelli’s

£5, £15 and £20 food and drink deals for 2

38. Fitzbillies

£15 food offers available

39. The Duck Truck

£10 for any main and beer

40. Courtyard Café, Fitzwilliam Museum

Cream tea and filled roll £5 offer

Editor's note: All deals subject to availability and terms could change. Please click here for current details.

Professor Geoffrey Lee Williams remembered

2020-03-10T00:49:00.000+00:00

Professor Geoffrey Lee Williams of Cambridge has passed away at age 89.

Dr Williams was a masterful educator of both undergraduate and graduate students.

He was widely known for his in-depth knowledge and intelligent analysis of international relations, especially issues concerning NATO and the European Union.

Author of 10 books and numerous published articles, Dr. Williams' seminal work is titled "The Permanent Alliance: The European-American Partnership, 1945-1984." Other books include "Denis Healy and the Policies of Power," "Global Defence," and "NATO and the Transatlantic Alliance in the 21st Century."

The professor was born on 29 November 1930, along with twin brother Alan Lee Williams. Dr Williams wrote an acclaimed book about the evacuation of him and his brother during World War II. The book, "A Couple of Duffers Go To War," chronicles their experiences from 1939 to 1945.

Dr Williams supervised graduate students at the University of Cambridge studying for master's degrees and PhDs. He was affiliated with the Centre for International Studies, which is now a part of the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS).

His razor-sharp memory of historical facts and dates, as well as his clarifying insight into current international policy debates, dazzled both faculty and students at the University of Cambridge.

Dr Williams was especially beloved in the United States of America, where several generations of students were influenced by his teaching. He received praise and awards in America, including an honorary doctorate of humane letters from the University of Redlands, California, in 2003.

The professor was director of the Institute of Economic Studies (INSTEP) in Cambridge for 30 years and was a former NATO Defence Fellow.

He was a senior assistant director of the London region at the Confederation of British Industry and previously served as the head of International Relations in the Department of Linguistics and European Studies at the University of Surrey.

The professor was a charming storyteller. He never failed to delight students with detailed stories from the past, and he was also known as a talented after-dinner speaker in Cambridge.

Within the city, the professor was an avid walker who seemed to know shortcuts through every college garden.

Dr Williams adored his family, and he readily admitted on numerous occasions that he "would be lost" without his beloved wife, Janice Williams.

In addition to his wife, the professor is also survived by his son, Jeremy, and step-son, Andrew. His grandchildren include Sofia, Alexander and Josef.

Dr Williams passed away on 18 February 2020 after a battle with cancer.

His life will be celebrated on Wednesday, 18 March 2020, at 12:30 pm at St. Andrew's Church of Chesterton — click here for more infomation. Instead of flowers, the family said that donations may be made to support future INSTEP students by clicking here.

Professor Geoffrey Lee Williams will be dearly missed by the Cambridge community and his friends and students on both sides of the Atlantic.

Editor's note: This article was written by BJ Jones, a friend and former student of Prof. Williams. He can be reached at jared[@]cantab.net

U16 boys of Cambridge City Hockey Club advance to nationals after big wins in regional playoffs

2020-03-09T19:36:00.003+00:00

The U16 boys of the Cambridge City Hockey Club made a clean sweep in the regional playoffs over the weekend.

This means the boys will be going to the National Finals. It was a result that was celebrated around the city on Sunday.

The U16 boys beat the Oxford Hawks 5-0. The score as 0-0 against Bromely and Beckenham and 3-1 versus Guildford.

The Cambridge City Hockey Club has also announced that they are looking for volunteers for 2020-2021.

According to club officials, volunteering is the backbone that holds the club together.

A club secretary, social secretary, newsletter assistance, and sponsorship partners are being sought.

New economic numbers: Cambridge is continuing to outpace the UK economy

2020-03-09T19:14:00.000+00:00

Experts say economic growth in Cambridge has beaten the national average for the past five years.

Whilst national economic growth is has been 1.7% per annum, the number for Cambridge has been 2.2% per annum.

Experts attribute the higher growth to the skilled labour market in Cambridgeshire and the educational opportunities in the region.

The growth in Cambridge has been happening for the last 20 years, and the city's output forecast is believed to be at 24% during the period of the next 10 years.

Of course, these numbers make Cambridge a reliable choice for investors wishing to start a new business or expand an existing one.

In 2019, 690,000 square feet of lab and office space was contracted, including 79,000 square feet for market leader Apple.

Two year contract for Mark Bonner as caretaker coach for Cambridge United

2020-03-09T18:55:00.004+00:00

Mark Bonner will lead Cambridge United through the 2021-2022 season after the club's chairman said the coach received a unanimous vote of confidence.

Chairman Shaun Grady said Coach Bonner is in lockstep concerning the development of the football club.

Bonner had been Cambridge United's interim coach. He is a former professional footballer himself after having played for Blackpool and Cardiff City as a midfielder.

He was born in Ormskirk in Lancashire and attended Bishop Rawstorne Church of England Academy in Croston as a teenager.

The owner of Cambridge United, Paul Barry, is also pleased with Bonner's new contract as the owner says he believes the coach has "galvanized" the squad.

Barry said Bonner has stepped up in a way that made people take notice and feel pride in the club.

The process of recruitment took six weeks, but in the end, the club decided to stay with Mark Bonner for the next two years.

Student at Oxford tests positive for Coronavirus

2020-03-09T16:58:00.002+00:00

A student at Oxford University has tested positive for the Coronavirus.

Public Health England (PHE) announced the news, and it has been reported that the individual in question decided to self-quarantine.

It is unknown which college the student attends or if the person is male or female.

Thankfully, the person did not attend any functions or lectures in Oxford after becoming ill.

Nevertheless, people in close contact with the student have been advised to take precautions.

Oxford University has indicated that it is taking the Coronavirus seriously as is Cambridge University.

Law student shares end of term rigours on International Women's Day

2020-03-09T06:02:00.001+00:00

It takes a lot of 5 am days and many sleepless nights as the end of term approaches, and one law student has decided to show the world what it's like.

Elena Handtrack has created a set of videos to show her life at Cambridge, and her YouTube channel has become quite popular with more than 25,000 subscribers.

Sunday was International Women's Day, and Handtrack managed to inspire many women with her busy end of term schedule.

Handtrack's openness on her blog has also helped increase its popularity.

She shares intimate issues about her life, health and studies in a way that engages the audience — as if she is talking to her best friend.

So after just a few hours, her video about the end of term had almost 10,000 pageviews.

Check out Elena Handtrack's complete Cambridge Vlog by clicking here.

Hammersmith Bridge will be closed for Boat Race fans

2020-03-09T05:25:00.003+00:00

Hammersmith Bridge is a favourite place for Cambridge spectators of the Boat Race to view the action, but it will be closed for this year's race.

The bridge is set for approximately £120 million in repairs, and the Hammersmith Bridge has been closed to vehicles since last April. However, it has remained available for cyclists and pedestrians.

However, Hammersmith Bridge will be closed between midnight and 5 pm on the day of the race: 29 March.

Nevertheless, there is a fierce battle expected this year between Oxford and Cambridge.

Fans wanted the bridge to remain open, but police requested that it be closed for safety reasons.

Cambridge City Airport to open for Newmarket horse racing and Duxford Air Festival

2020-03-09T05:14:00.001+00:00

Fans of Newmarket horse racing and the Duxford Air Festival will be able to utilise Cambridge City Airport.

These extended opening days will be good news for fans of the events which bring in thousands to Cambridgeshire each year.

The new dates will include the first Classics of the racing season, including the 2000 Guineas and the 1000 Guineas which will be held on Saturday (2 May) and Sunday (3 May).

The Cambridge City Airport will also be open for the Moët & Chandon July Festival which will be held between 9 July and 11 July.

Of course, the airport will also be open for the famed Duxford Air Festival on 23 May and 24 May. Also, it will be open on 9 May.

Airport officials say the iconic nature of the events caused the leadership to make changes since the eyes of the world are on Cambridge during these periods, according to Kevin Craske, director of the airport.

Some of the most important horses in the world will also be coming through Cambridge City Airport, and Craske is hopeful that the airport's top-level service and care will allow the horses to achieve great results.

According to Craske, existing customers are excited about the extended days, but the airport also hopes to attract new visitors as well.

The Cambridge City Airport will be used by private aircraft (executive) which are both chartered and privately owned. It will also be open for equine cargo on the dates mentioned above.

If demand is expected, additional dates could open as well.

Cambridge Science Festival begins today

2020-03-09T04:52:00.003+00:00

It will be an exciting time to be in Cambridge as Week 1 of the Cambridge Science Festival begins today.

Drink spiking, hallucinations, growing food underground, self-healing concrete, organ preservation, and nanotechnology, these are just a few of the many topics covered during Week 1 of the festival.

The Festival runs until 22 March with a packed programme of events and cutting-edge thinkers tackling many of the critical issues we are faced with in a rapidly changing world. Most events are free.

Vision is the theme of this year's Festival and events cover everything from new technology, the environment and food production to advances in healthcare, with new research offering a lookahead to the future.

Top picks for the first week include:
Tuesday:

Drink spiking myths, truths, and advances in forensic science (10 March). Reports of drink spiking have risen by over 100% during the past three years alone. Despite this, there is still some misunderstanding of the situations that drink spiking may occur, the effects of the drugs involved, and importantly, how a delay in the reporting of an incident may lead to problems with confirming incidents with forensic techniques. Dr Lata Gautam and Christopher Davies, ARU, address these issues, discuss current and recent research advances, and reveal the future of forensic detection techniques of such drugs. They also look at findings from an online survey conducted in the UK.
Now you see me: understanding how flowers manipulate pollinators (10 March). How do some flowering plants produce the striking pigmentation patterns and amazing microscopic features that are key to attracting pollinators? Dr Edwige Moyroud, Sainsbury Laboratory, explores the function and evolution of floral patterning and looks at what plant scientists are doing to try to solve this enigma.
From policing to fashion: how the use of artificial intelligence is shaping our work (10 March). Artificial intelligence has created a lot of buzz about the future of work. Alentina Vardanyan, Judge Business School, and Lauren Waardenburg, KIN Center for Digital Innovation, Amsterdam, discuss the social and psychological implications of AI, from reshaping the fashion design process to predictive policing.

Wednesday:

Flower power: making crops better at being pollinated (11 March). By 2050, the global population is estimated to hit 10 billion, and we are going to need to feed them all. Around a third of our food depends on pollinating insects, but they are in decline. Hamish Symington explores how food relies on insects, and how research at the Department of Plant Sciences, University of Cambridge aims to make flowers more efficient at being pollinated.
Illusions and hallucinations: our tenuous grip on reality (11 March). Professor Paul Fletcher, Department of Psychiatry, discusses how we construct our picture of reality using a mix of sensory data and stored knowledge. Usually this works, but it does not take much for the system to become perturbed and for us to create a reality that other people do not share.
Beyond 2020: what next for global biodiversity? (11 March). Leading conservationists from the University of Cambridge Conservation Research Institute and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative reflect on the achievements following the 2011 Aichi Biodiversity Targets as they reach the end of their implementation period in 2020.

Thursday:

Smoke in the lungs of the Earth (12 March). ‘Mega-fires’ raged across Brazilian Amazonia and Indonesia’s peat swamp forests in 2019. Dr Rachel Carmenta, Department of Geography, discusses the extent of the fires, distinguishes between types of fire, assesses the causes, impacts and considers the measures needed to mitigate future events.
Growing underground (12 March). Dr Ruchi Choudhary, Department of Engineering, presents fascinating data from the world’s first underground farm in London and highlights the challenges and opportunities of growing food in abandoned city spaces. The Growing underground talk is set to be repeated on 14th March.
The Moon: A history for the future (12 March) Oliver Morton, science writer and The Economist’s briefings editor, explores the history and future of humankind's relationship with the Moon.
The horrible history (and the bright future) of organ preservation (12 March). Professor Mike Nicholson, Dr Sarah Hosgood and Mr Paul Gibbs from the NIHR Blood and Transplant Research Unit (BTRU) in Organ Donation and Transplantation present a whistle-stop tour of the history of organ preservation. They start way back in the 1800s, with some of the earliest attempts to preserve organs, and journey to today to explain some of the latest research on organ perfusion technologies. This research is crucial as we try and close the gap between the number of people waiting for a transplant and the number of organs available.
Every drop counts: blood donors of the future (12 March) Professor Emanuele Di Angelantonio and Dr Lois Kim from the Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, and Nick Gleadall, from the Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge talk about recruiting blood donors, identifying blood types and understanding the effects of frequent donation.

Friday:

Genetics research in autism: ethical perspectives (13 March). The Spectrum 10K study will collect DNA and life history information from 10,000 autistic people in the UK to identify genetic and environmental factors that contribute to the varied outcomes they have, with a view to ultimately improving wellbeing. Professor Simon Baron-Cohen and Dr Varun Warrier from the Autism Research Centre in Cambridge, a parent of an autistic child and an autistic person discuss the ethical issues, fears and opportunities surrounding such research.

Saturday is the busiest day of the week, with events taking place right across the city centre. Top picks include:

Mobile teaching kitchens: a community-led food revolution in India (14 March). India faces many challenges in improving food security. Obvious issues like drought are intertwined with a complex socio-economic landscape. Community-led education is one way to overcome these challenges. The TIGR2ESS Mobile Teaching Kitchen is offering tastings of one possible vision of India’s food future.
Licence to heal: the world of self-healing concrete (14 March). Are smart materials science or science fiction? Dr Regeane Bagonyi, Dr Chrysoula Litina and Dr Livia Ribeiro de Souza from the Resilient Materials 4 Life Research Team introduce you to the world of intelligent construction materials and how they can shape the future of infrastructure.
Physics of emergence in biological sciences and technology (14 March). A vertical pencil is unstable, it will fall over in a random direction. Dr Alexandre Kabla, Department of Engineering, shows how controlling mechanical instabilities such as these offers new ways to design innovative materials and simpler manufacturing processes.
The healing power of crystals (14 March). How do we use X-rays to see protein molecules and what can they tell us about disease? Dr Stephen Graham, Department of Pathology explains.
Concrete riddles (14 March). What can be wet but carry water, is never the same, and has something in common with the electric light bulb? Professor Janet Lees, Department of Engineering, discusses these and other riddles about concrete, the most widely used human-made material in the world.
Size really does matter (14 March). Nanotechnology is a buzz word many of us have heard but are uncertain what it really means. Dr Colm Durkan, Department of Engineering, dispels the myths about this branch of science and technology that has already touched many aspects of our lives – from cheaper and faster medical diagnostic tools to helping create new medicines and electronic devices. He explores the science and history of nanotechnology, examples of how it is used, the cutting-edge research being carried out and why, and the potential risks.

Dr Lucinda Spokes, Head of Public Engagement at the University of Cambridge said: “We are living in an interesting and often challenging time, faced with many critical, global issues. Science can present a way of dealing with these issues. For that reason, at the Cambridge Science Festival we are keen to engage and talk to as many members of the public as possible. We hope our visitors leave feeling inspired and armed with more knowledge about the scientific research taking place in Cambridge and beyond after attending one or more of the huge array of events covering every field of science.”

View the full programme and book tickets here.

Keep up to date with the Festival on social media via Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Join the conversation using the #CamSciFest hashtag.

This year’s Festival sponsors and partners are Cambridge University Press, AstraZeneca, Illumina, TTP Group, Anglia Ruskin University, Cambridge Epigenetix, Cambridge Science Centre, Cambridge Junction, IET, Hills Road 6th Form College, British Science Week, Cambridge University Health Partners, Cambridge Academy for Science and Technology, and Walters Kundert Charitable Trust. Media Partners: BBC Radio Cambridgeshire and Cambridge Independent.

Azuri Technologies of Cambridge named one of Financial Times' fastest growing European companies

2020-03-09T02:30:00.003+00:00

A leader in off-the-grid, pay-as-you-go solar solutions for residences in Africa has been named as the 370th fastest growing company in all of Europe by the Financial Times in their annual FT1000 list.

Azuri Technologies, which is headquartered in Cambridge, has had massive growth between 2015 and 2018, which is what fueled the high ranking on the FT list.

The company has achieved revenue growth of 460% during the four years, and this is the second time Azuri has been listed on the FT1000 list.

Some experts say the key to Azuri's growth is its affordable solutions for places in sub-Saharan Africa that are off the grid.

In fact, there are approximately 600 million people in the region who lack full access to modern devices that require reliable sources of energy.

CEO Simon Bransfield-Garth said his company is moving from "strength to strength."

He added that the Azuri is "delighted" about the recognition of their hard work and expansion across sub-Saharan Africa.

"The FT1000 results show that innovative technology solutions can thrive while also making a difference to the lives of millions," Bransfield-Garth said.

The firm began operating in sub-Saharan Africa in 2012. In that time, the company has sold over 200,000 systems.

Besides solar, the firm also supplies smart televisions that are energy efficient. They also offer radios that are rechargeable along with satellite programming and internet access.

Besides the headquarters in Cambridge, the company has five other offices: Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.

Recognition is nothing new for Azuri has it has also been ranked as #42 fastest growing British tech firm in the Fast Track 100 list of 2019. It was published by the Sunday Times.

Philippe Fauchet named new advisor for Cambridge-based SciBite

2020-03-08T22:29:00.004+00:00

SciBite, the Cambridge-based semantic software company, has announced Philippe Fauchet, OBE, as the newest member of its advisory board.

The board was initially formed in April 2019 with Diane Harbison and Alexander Karle as members.

President Rob Greenwood gave a warm welcome to Fauchet and lauded his extensive experience of corporate governance within the pharmaceutical space.

Fauchet has a 35-year track record in the industry, and he spent 20 years in Japan. For most of that time, he was the top manager of Sanofi-Aventis and later at GlaxoSmithKline.

Since that time, he has worked as a consultant to companies in Japan.

Fauchet also has experience in venture capital as a partner, and he sits on the board of directors of several start-ups in Japanese biotech.

"SciBite has organically built a market-leading position in text analytics and clean data intelligence, it's an exciting time for the company as they near reaching the stage where they can see a case for raising investment," Philippe Fauchet said.

The experienced leader said he looks forward to bringing his knowledge to SciBite, which is based in Cambridge but has offices in Japan and the United States.

10 movies NOT to watch if you are worried about Coronavirus

2020-03-08T07:25:00.000+00:00

Concerns about the Coronavirus are definitely real in Cambridge as citizens come into close proximity with each other on narrow sidewalks, at crowded events and on public transportation.

There were even calls to halt the Cambridge Half Marathon for today out of an abundance of caution, but the marathon will go on.

So if you are already nervous about the Coronavirus, Roi Berger has compiled a list of 10 movies that you should NOT see.

Cambridge computer scientist has worked with NASA and UN while finding time to play tennis with royalty

2020-03-08T07:16:00.001+00:00

No one can say that Krittika D'Silva is an under-achiever.

The PhD candidate in computer science from Jesus College has managed to make every second count while in Cambridge.

D'Silva's research involves artificial intelligence by using algorithms machine learning along with network metrics to model urban cities of the world.

In fact, she said that one of her projects tried to determine whether a business would survive or fail based on network and transport metrics.

NASA

Space medicine was D'Silva's focus while working at NASA's Frontier Development Lab. D'Silva said that longer missions lead to extended exposure to microgravity and radiation, which creates several physiological changes.

Nevertheless, D'Silva said scientists are only just beginning to understand the ramifications of the changes. That's why she believes using wearable devices and artificial intelligence is necessary to monitor the health of astronauts.

She says astronaut health issues in space should be discussed more because it will have a significant impact on future missions to both the moon and Mars.

UN

D'Silva has also found time to work with the UN's Pulse Lab, which is an innovation laboratory whose goal is to improve policy by harnessing data science insights.

She said she participated in the creation of a system of modelling Vanuatu's internal migration to assist in the future allocation of natural resources.

She said her time with Global Pulse was instructive because it allowed her to see the value of putting research insights into practice.

D'Silva said she also learned about public policy and discovered that she found this type of work both impactful and intellectually stimulating.

Cambridge

At Cambridge, D'Silva says her time is mostly spent coding and poring over research papers from West Cambridge's Department of Computer Science and Technology.

She said Cambridge University is a "fantastic place" to do her research for the PhD degree.

According to D'Silva, world-class professors and peers elevate her work. Also, she is thankful for travel funding to attend conferences worldwide which have led to international collaborations.

Because of her work at the university, D'Silva was invited to New Delhi, India to present a workshop involving machine learning potential for the public sector.

D'Silva said it was exciting to meet people from a different academic background and collaborate on research.

A day off

A PhD researcher often needs a day off, and they don't get better than the one afforded to Krittika D'Silva.

She was offered the chance to travel to a private estate in Kent and play a doubles match of tennis opposite HRH Prince Edward, who is a graduate of Jesus College.

D'Silva reports that she did not win the match, but she says it will not be forgotten.

Women at Cambridge

D'Silva encourages women to work in science-related fields. To do that, she suggests finding a mentor to help guide them along the way.

She says that she has had several mentors who have helped her with career opportunities that would have never been available to her.

In fact, she says she cannot put a price on her mentors.

Photo of Krittika D'Silva courtesy of the University of Cambridge.

The marathon will go on: Cambridge Half-Marathon set for Sunday

2020-03-07T07:49:00.000+00:00

A Cambridge Univesity lecturer called for the Cambridge Half-Marathon to be cancelled out of fears for the Coronavirus.

But organizers say the marathon will go on as planned.

Thousands of runners will be taking to the streets of Cambridge with a brand new route.

Besides the runners, thousands of well-wishers and marathon watchers will be lining the route cheering on the runners.

Runners who finish the race will be greeted with beer courtesy of Erdinger Alkoholfrei, which bills itself as "the refreshing isotonic recovery drink."

The Half-Marathon's sponsor, Saucony, is sponsoring free phots for the event, and runners can capture the memory of the event for posterity.

The event will be live-streamed on the Cambridge Half-Marathon Facebook page.