ARCHIVE INFORMATION
4th International Materials Education Symposium

Cambridge: Local Information

While you are in Cambridge, why not take the time to explore some of the beauty of this ancient university town? Local websites provide many walks and guided tours, or just head out and start exploring.

Useful links:

• Cambridge University's tourist information page
• Cambridge City Tourist Information
• Cambridge Weather

Please see the Travel and Housing pages for more information on where to stay and how to find the venues.

Some background information on our venues

For directions, please see the Travel and Housing pages.

Murray Edwards College

Murray Edwards College was founded as "New Hall" in 1954 as the "third foundation" for women students at Cambridge University at a time when Cambridge had the lowest proportion of women undergraduates of any university in the UK. Up to that time there were only two colleges that could accept women, Girton and Newnham, both founded in the late nineteenth century. Hughes Hall (although not a college of the University) was also allowed to admit up to 70 women students in all.

The first 16 students admitted to New Hall in 1954 were housed in the College's first, temporary, home in Silver Street where Darwin College now stands. By 1962, thanks to the generosity of members of the Darwin family who gave their family home, the Orchard, the College had its site. The architects, Chamberlin, Powell and Bon had been chosen and funds were being collected. Building began in 1964 and the new college was completed, as far as funding and land would allow, in 1965. It could house up to 300 students and with others living in houses off the site the College total rose to about 215 undergraduates and 25 graduate students at the beginning of 1970.

In 1981 the first President Dame Rosemary Murray retired, after a tenure that included two years (1975-77) as the first woman Vice-Chancellor in either Oxford or Cambridge, and was succeeded by Dr Valerie Pearl. Under Dr Pearl's presidency major building works were undertaken with the help of the Kaetsu Educational Foundation, Tokyo, to complete the original architectural plan of the College and to add 112 student rooms, a lecture hall and conference facilities. In addition living quarters for the Kaetsu Educational and Cultural Centre, an independent body with no association with the University of Cambridge, were built on land leased from the College for 60 years.

In 2008, New Hall announced its renaming as Murray Edwards College, following a generous donation of £30 million from Ros Edwards, a former student, and her family. The College's Governing Body and alumnae then worked together to establish a new formal name for the College.

Magdalene College

The Presenters' Dinner on Wednesday evening will be held in Magdalene College (customarily pronounced 'Maudlyn'). The college is located in the centre of Cambridge, beside the Magdalene bridge on the River Cam. In 1428, King Henry VI approved the establishment of a hostel on the site for Benedictine monks coming from their abbey monasteries in the Fenland to study Canon Law at the University. Today, the College has some 320 undergraduates, nearly 180 graduate students and around 60 Fellows and other teaching officers.

Find out more about the history on the college website »

St. John's College The Symposium Dinner will be held in St. John's College, founded in 1511 at the bequest of the late Lady Margaret Beaufort mother of King Henry VII, who had died in 1509. As one of the oldest and largest colleges in Cambridge, former students include famous business and political leaders, as well as renowned scientists and artists. The Hall, pictured, is a magnificent, 16th century building with a hammerbeam roof and fine old linen-fold panelling. Find out more about the history on the college website »

Cambridge University Engineering Department (CUED)

The department was founded in 1875 by James Stuart, Professor of Mechanism and Applied Mechanics (1875-1890). Today, it is the largest department in the University of Cambridge, representing approximately 10% of the University's activities by the majority of common metrics, and is one of Europe's largest integrated engineering departments.

Those traveling from overseas are reminded that they may need a visa: more advice is available here »