Philanthropy Reports

Professor Azim Surani, Emeritus Fellow of King’s and Director of Research at the @gurdoninstitute has been awarded the 2025 Kyoto Prize by the Inamori Foundation for his significant contribution to the scientific betterment of humankind. On being awarded the Kyoto Prize, Professor Surani said: "I am deeply honoured to have been awarded the Kyoto Prize in Basic Sciences for my discovery of genomic imprinting in mammals nearly four decades ago – a discovery that was unexpected, opening up exciting new avenues of research, including epigenetics and human development that we have since pursued. It has been a tremendous privilege to work with many exceptional young scientists in my laboratory, and I am immensely grateful to them for their invaluable contributions." To read more head to the 🔗 in our bio. 📷© Jacqueline Garget, @cambridgeuniversity

Congratulations to the 8 recipients of honorary degrees from @cambridgeuniversity earlier this week 👏 We're especially proud to see Sir Oliver Hart (KC 1969), Nobel Prize-winning economist and King's alumnus, recognised with a Doctorate in Science. Sir Oliver is pictured with King's Provost Gillian Tett after the ceremony on Wednesday. Also recognised for his philanthropic contributions was acclaimed musician and philanthropist Michael Ebenazer Kwadjo Omari Owuo Jr – known professionally as Stormzy. Back in 2018, King’s alumnus Joseph Vambe (KC 2018) was one of the first two Cambridge students to be awarded a Stormzy Scholarship. Joseph, from south London, graduated in 2021 with a 2:1 in Human, Social and Political Sciences (HSPS) and stayed in Cambridge an extra year to study for his Master’s. In May 2022 he was elected as a Labour councillor on Southwark Borough Council, representing the Chaucer ward in which he grew up. He is the youngest councillor on the authority.

If you enjoy live classical music in picturesque settings, the Cambridge String Quartet may have just the thing for you! 🎻🎵 ✨ The quartet, which includes violinists and King's alumni Stephane Crayton (KC 2014, left) and Dr Rachel Stroud (KC 2015, right) are embarking on their latest tour, Fairytale, which sees them performing in some of the most atmospheric chapels in Cambridgeshire. Join them for an evening of magic and wonder featuring music by Stravinsky, Dvořák, Janáček, Schubert, Mendelssohn and Hensel. Tickets are on sale now 👉 external link @cambridge_string_quartet @stephanecrayton @rachelstroudviolinist #CambridgeMusic #StringQuartet #MusicInChapels #ClassicalConcert

Front Court looking a little bit different this morning... 🎠🎪♟️ 📷Thank you to College staff Joe and Catherine for sharing this sneak peek of the @KingsAffair preparations. #KingsAffair #MayWeek #MayBall #JuneEvent

On this day 113 years ago Alan Turing (KC 1931) was born. From the papers he published at Cambridge which are now recognised as the foundation of computer science, through his vital cryptanalysis work at Bletchley Park during the Second World War and cracking the German naval Enigma code, to his exploration of the idea of artificial intelligence, the importance of Turing and his impact on our world are hard to overestimate. As well as a pioneering thinker, brilliant mathematician and cryptographer, Alan Turing was also a gay man who was appallingly treated as a result of his sexuality. In 1954, at the age of 41, Turing took his own life after being prosecuted for homosexual acts, still considered criminal in the UK at the time. Sixty years later, in 2013, he was posthumously pardoned by Queen Elizabeth II. King’s is hugely proud of its association with Alan Turing. In January 2024 a new 3.7 meters tall sculpture by Sir Antony Gormley was installed at the heart of the College, between the Gibbs Building and Webb’s Court. Titled True, for Alan Turing, it was commissioned by King’s as a visible recognition of Turing’s life and achievements.

The King's Campaign has also added to the College’s teaching excellence and boosted its research capacity, with a range of academic posts funded since its start. 📚🥼🔬 Investing in Natural Sciences and Mathematics Fellowships, the Leigh Trapnell Fund – established in 1996 with a donation from the late Leigh Trapnell (KC 1927) and his wife Hazel – continues to help the College attract brilliant young academics so they can be nurtured and establish their career in research and teaching. In the academic year 2023–24, James Dolan (KC 2019) became the Trapnell Fellow and College Teaching Officer in Natural Sciences (Physical). James now supervises first year Physics, is Director of Studies to Part IA Natural Sciences (Physical) students, coordinates admissions for his subject, and is a Tutor as well as Financial Tutor. #KingsCampaign #AlumniSupport #PhilanthropyInAction #ThankYou

Three King’s alumni have been recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours! Dominic Richards (KC 1987) is recognised for his longstanding charitable work and leadership in heritage-led regeneration and sustainable urbanism, Michael Downes (KC 1987) for services to music and education, and Ruth Marshall (KC 1991) for services to evidence-based policy-making and innovation. 💜 Head to 🔗in bio to read more. #KingsAlumni #KingsBirthdayHonours #AlumniRecognition #CambridgeUniversity

Cannons at the ready, it's that time of year again! 💜🚣‍♂️💜 May Bumps kicks off today, with a total of five King's crews (three men's and two women's) competing across the week! Alumni and supporters can follow all the action on the CUCBC (Cambridge University Combined Boat Clubs) website or by listening live on @CamFM972. A reminder of the timings are below👇 M3 - Division 5 - 1.45pm W2 - Division 4 - 2.30pm M2 - Division 4 - 3.15pm W1 - Division 2 - 5.30pm M1 - Division 1 - 7.45pm @kingscollegeboatclub #KCBC #MayBumps #Rowing #CambridgeUniversity

Over half of what has been raised during the King's Campaign has gone directly to supporting students, to help in multiple ways, including bringing world-class scholars to Cambridge – and supporting them once they are here.📚 Georgia Katakou (KC 2021) studied an MPhil in Political Thought and Intellectual History at King’s, supported by a GS Gives studentship with match-funding from the Cambridge Trust. Since then she has gone on to complete further study at the European University Institute in Florence and holds an an offer to further her research in Friendship and Gender in the Greek Left of the 1970s-80s at Princeton University. Speaking in 2022 about the impact of financial support, Georgia said; "I would not be able to continue at a postgraduate level without support from King’s. For families like my own, with caring expenses and anxious about making ends meet, spaces like Cambridge feel completely inaccessible. And for those of us who are not from the UK, securing funding is even more daunting. Being here on a studentship means that this is the first time in my adult life that I don’t have to balance 20 hours of part-time work with a full-time degree, just to pay bills. I feel lucky to be a part of the King’s community and to be on the receiving end of so much warmth, respect, and care.” 💜 #KingsCampaign #AlumniSupport #PhilanthropyInAction #ThankYou

A bird’s eye view of the wonderful wildlife spotted at King’s recently, including cygnet triplets and bee orchids! 🦢🌷🐝 #Wildlife #WildlifeAtKings #CambridgeWildlife

We had lots of fun today at the 2025 Mastercard Foundation Scholars Programme Entrepreneurship Prize Competition, where six shortlisted entrants pitched their brilliant ideas at the King’s E-Lab to a panel of five Judges: Maria-Yassin Jah, Dr Precious Lunga, Uche Ogechukwu, Bhaskar Vira, and yours truly! Thank you Sara Serradas O’Holleran, Tabitha Wanja Mwangi and Sophie Harbour for organising and hosting. At the King’s E-Lab we are proud to partner with the @mastercardfoundation Scholars Programme at @cambridgeuniversity to deliver training to the scholars and create a community of entrepreneurial minds. At the core of our philosophy lies a commitment to #sustainability and# #ethics. We prioritise projects that generate positive social and environmental impact. If you’re interested in these areas or are developing something aligned with our values, we encourage you to get in touch: www.kingselab.org @kings.college | @thekingselab | @cambridgejudge

📢Calling all @kingscollegeboatclub members past and present! A reminder that you are cordially invited to join KCBC for their annual May Bumps celebration and KCBC Mays Dinner on Saturday 21 June. Join us during the day at the KCBC marquee to cheer on the current crews on the last day of the races. This will be followed by the annual Mays Dinner in Hall - an excellent opportunity for alumni to share memories with the current KCBC members and hopefully celebrate a great day's racing. The booking deadline has been extended until tomorrow so act quickly! Head to 👉external link In the meantime we hope you enjoy some images of KCBC crews from times gone by - including some Bumps results from 1869!