Each week, the Murray Edwards MCR committee will share some of the opportunities and events coming up around Cambridge.
Please send your suggestions and announcements to mcr-secretary@murrayedwards.cam.ac.uk
Events- Academic and Professional
Contribute Your Science Story
Story Collider is bringing its science storytelling show back to Cambridge on Thursday 13th June. They’re seeking YOUR true stories about personal experiences with science, to be included in the show. Stories are typically eight to ten minutes long and can be about anything, from how you first fell in love with science to how your work has affected your personal life, to challenges you’ve faced in your work to something else completely different. For examples of great stories, you can hear their podcast here.
If you’re interested and would like more information please contact Fiona Calvert (fc5@sanger.ac.uk).
Alternatively, you can email a short (1-2 paragraphs) summary of your story to stories@storycollider.org including “Cambridge” in the subject line. If they think it might be a good fit for the show, they’ll get in touch.
The Real Gold Standard: Counterfactual Worlds & Policy Symposium
When: Tuesday 14 May, 14:30
Where: Violence Research Centre, Institute of Criminology (Sidgwick Site)
Tickets: here
Staff and students are cordially invited to a symposium on 14 May, an event in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Institute of Criminology. Tea and coffee on arrival at 2.30pm. The event will conclude with a Podium Discussion and Q&A followed by refreshments.
What research evidence do we need to inform policy about what works? Are experiments the ‘Gold Standard’ for establishing causal effects that matter for important policy goals in education, welfare, prevention and policing?
Welcome and Introductions: Prof Loraine Gelsthorpe, Prof Manuel Eisner, Dr Paolo Campana, Institute of Criminology, University of Cambridge, UK. Speakers (in order of appearance): Prof Daniel Nagin, Carnegie Mellon University, USA & Prof Robert Sampson, Harvard University, USA; Prof Lawrence Sherman, University of Cambridge, UK; Prof Anna Vignoles, University of Cambridge, UK; Prof Manuel Eisner, University of Cambridge, UK; Prof Susanne Karstedt, Department of Criminology, Griffith University, Australia.
Please book a free ticket so we can estimate attendance for catering purposes through this page.
Events- Social
Post-Formal Wine & Cheese
When: Tuesday 30 April, 9:00pm
Where: Murray Edwards MCR
Join us for Wine and Cheese in the MCR after this week’s Formal Hall!
Watch “Knock Down the House” Documentary
When: Monday 6 May, 19:30-21:30
Where: Murray Edwards MCR
Come hang with your social secs in the MCR as we watch the new Netflix documentary, Knock Down the House, tracing the historic democratic campaigns of four amazing women (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, and Paula Jean Sweareng) in the 2018 midterm elections in the United States! There will be snacks and maybe/probably tears…
See more info on the Facebook event here.
For more info on the documentary check out this article here.
Intercollegiate BAME Brunch
When: Saturday 4 May, 11:00
Where: Queens’ College
Come and meet other BAME students from various colleges over a casual brunch on Saturday 4th May. Brunch normally ranges from £2 to £4 and there is a wide selection. See more info on the Facebook event here.
Join the Cambridge Graduate (MCR) Cricket League
When: Express interest by Wednesday 1 May, 17:00
The MCR cricket league is friendly, mixed, and aimed at a novice skill level. All games are Twenty20 format and typically played on weekday afternoons throughout May and June. The league is targeted at graduates (in contrast to the JCR cricket cuppers) but mature students and fellows are also welcome. Contact memcrsec@hermes.cam.ac.uk by Wednesday 1 May at 17:00 to be put in touch with the League coordinator.
Careers and Volunteering
Apply to work for the Bell Teacher Campus programme this summer
Bell Educational Services is now recruiting for our Bell Teacher Campus programme this summer. We are looking for a Social Programme Coordinator, a Social Programme Assistant, an Academic Course Assistant and an Accommodation and Welfare Officer.
This is an exciting opportunity to be part of the prestigious Bell Teacher Campus. This summer residential teacher development programme is delivered at Homerton College, part of the University of Cambridge. This innovative programme is now in its eleventh year and attracts international English language teachers from around the world and offers them the opportunity to study a variety of bespoke English teaching methodology courses combined with an engaging social programme.
For more information see the website and select ‘UK – Bell Teacher Campus, Cambridge (4)’ for Location. The deadline for applications is 10th May 2019.
Volunteer Tutors needed for the Oxbridge International Summer School (OISS)
The Oxbridge International Summer School (OISS) is currently looking for volunteer tutors to teach on our summer school programme. You can read the full tutor role description and see the teaching dates for 2019 here. The summer school is an opportunity for you to gain teaching experience with engaged and motivated students from around the world. You’ll teach through a series of tutorials and weekly 1-1s, which all take place in the morning to fit around your other commitments.
For tutoring on a summer school programme this year, you will raise £750 for a charity of your choice (or £500 if you take up accommodation with us at the Lincoln EPA Centre). As well as raising money for a cause close to your heart, you’ll be helping to fund a year long access programme, helping able students access Oxbridge and other top universities. OxFizz (who run the summer school) delivered 1600+ of free support last year, and are looking to extend their programme again in 2019 – you can see more information here.
We are looking for tutors in the following subjects: Coding, Engineering, English, History, Law, Maths, Physics, and Psychology.
If you have any questions, please contact Rachael Griffiths (rachael.griffiths@st-hildas.ox.ac.uk).
Get involved with Cambridge Street Aid
Cambridge Street Aid helps people on the street to turn a corner. We raise a fund and people who are street homeless – or have been in the past – can apply for a grant to pay for something that will help them get off, and stay off, the streets. As well as providing practical help to people on the streets, Street Aid gives those who want to help an alternative to handing money directly to people.
If you donate to Cambridge Street Aid, your donation is combined with hundreds of others to make a meaningful sum that will make a real difference to someone’s life. Every single penny donated goes directly to grants for individuals. You can donate to Street Aid online through our justgiving.com page or at one of our contactless giving points across the city (currently in the Grand Arcade, outside the Cambridge City Council customer service centre at Mandela House, at the Guildhall reception, and in Co-op stores on Mill Road, Chesterton Road and in Burwell).
Since Street Aid launched in November 2016, we have raised over £50,000 and given out over 150 grants to people in Cambridge. We have been overwhelmed with the brilliant response from the people of Cambridge so far, and want to keep this going!
Some of you might also be interested in becoming a Street Aid Champion. Street Aid Champions raise money and awareness for Street Aid, by holding and taking part in events in their workplace, university or local community. Champions receive training and materials from us, as well as out-of-pocket expenses and Time Credits (which can be exchanged for leisure activities) as a reward for the time they give. Attached is the Street Aid Champion role description with more details and you can find out more on our website (towards the bottom of the page). To apply, just fill in the application form attached and email or post it back to me (Jo Davies-Warner, at Josephine.Davies-Warner@cambridge.gov.uk).
I’m also open to talking to any students who might want to get involved through a different kind of work experience – for example, helping me develop a social media presence for Street Aid. Essentially it is just me working on Street Aid 2.5 days a week, so I can use any time/skills people have to offer!
Want to learn Chinese, intern abroad or travel for free this summer?
– Homestay in China for 4-12 weeks
– Free Chinese lessons or internship, cultural activities and trips
– Free flights, luxury homestay accommodation and insurance
– Bonus 2000 RMB for those who can commit to a full 8 weeks in Beijing/ Shanghai/ Hangzhou
– Tutor English and assist with light housework
For more details, reviews, blog posts and to apply, visit www.abridgeeducamp.com/educare! The final application deadline for this summer will be the 10th May to allow sufficient time for preparations and visa applications.
University outreach programme volunteering opportunity
Universify Education seeks enthusiastic students who are passionate about university to act as Volunteer Coaches on our summer residential and 3-day Easter weekend at Oxford University.
We inspire Year 10 students from non-selective state schools to strive for, apply to, and be accepted at highly-selective universities. Our intervention starts earlier than most outreach programmes, giving students the time to develop their goals and achieve the required GCSE grades to make a good application to university. Students attend academic sessions, delivered by academics, and undergraduate volunteers provide student welfare support and ongoing coaching throughout the programme.
Help run our summer programme in Oxford between 10th– 17th August, 17th-24th August, or 24th– 31st August 2019 and receive free meals and accommodation and join our extensive leadership and coaching training programme. Our volunteers play a vital role in leading student groups, providing pastoral care and delivering one-to-one academic coaching. Our team of professional coaches, who specialise in working with excluded pupils, provide all volunteers with training in what makes an effective coach. You will also receive training in mental health first aid and safeguarding. Please visit our website for further details.
Apply by 31st May 2019 at universifyeducation.com/volunteer/ for an opportunity to help young people to achieve their dreams of attending university and to continue breaking down the barriers to higher education.
Study Participants Wanted
Take part in a behavioural psychology study!
- Answer emails. Get paid!
- Sessions begin April 29th-May 3rd
- Sign up here https://cebeg.sona-systems.com/student_new_user.aspx
Paid psychology research opportunity – get a picture of your brain!
The Adaptive Brain Lab is currently recruiting for an MRI and brain stimulation research study that investigates visual learning. This study will be running during April & early May.
This is a two-part study, involving one hour of behavioural testing in our lab on Downing Site, and a two-hour scan with 20 minutes of brain stimulation at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit. The study pays £30 plus an image of your brain to take away with you after the scan.
Main eligibility criteria: 18-30 years old, right-handed, normal vision/vision corrected with contact lenses, no neuropsychiatric conditions or epilepsy.
If you would like to volunteer or get more info about this study, please get in touch at psycabgr@hermes.cam.ac.uk with the email subject “MR_VISLEARN_1819”.
Take part in a study about asexuality
Emily Bailey Page is an MPhil candidate in Gender Studies looking to speak to asexual people about their experiences. Here is what she says about her research:
“Sexual attraction is not the essential building block of human nature as is still often widely assumed. The asexual community itself is diverse, and calls for wider society to radically rethink the concepts and language it has for talking about sexuality and intimacy. In my research, I am interested in talking to self-defined asexual people about their experiences of coming to an asexual identity, and how useful the logic and languages we have for talking about sexuality, in both mainstream society and LGBTQ+ communities, are for asexual people. The aim of the study is contribute to new frameworks for understanding human sexuality that will focus on other things besides the gender(s) one is or is not attracted to. I am interested in finding out more about the perspectives of self-identified asexual people, in respect of the fact that many asexual people and communities are already engaging deeply with these questions.
I am looking to recruit 4 or 5 participants in Cambridge for semi-structured interviews: these will last between 1 and 2 hours, and can be conducted over Skype or in person (further adjustments around times/ locations can, of course, be discussed). Participants must be over 18 but do not necessarily have to be students. You can email me with any questions you may have without having to commit! Emily Bailey Page, eep32@cam.ac.uk ”
Volunteers Needed for Neuroimaging & Computer-Based Studies!
We are currently looking for participants aged 18-34 to take part in our studies on visual perception and learning.
If you would like to take part in either of the studies described below, or you would like more information, please send a new email to Lizzie: abgresearch@psychol.cam.ac.uk. Please use the subject heading listed for each study. All studies take place in our lab in the Craik Marshall Building (Downing Site). You are only eligible to take part in each study once, so if you have already taken part then you are unfortunately not eligible to take part again.
1) SYMB_LEARN: Computer-based task: One ~75 minute session of computer-based tasks (£10). The main task will involve learning about a set of abstract visual symbols.
2) EEG_ENTRAIN: up to 3 sessions of computer-based tasks. Sessions 1 & 3 last for up to 60 minutes. Session 2 would additionally involve a method for recording brain activity called EEG, which is carried out while you are doing a computer based visual learning task. The EEG equipment takes approximately one hour to prepare, so this session would last for ~2.5 hours. You would be compensated with £40 for your time.