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There has recently been a great deal of controversy surrounding judgments of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to the attempted deportation to Jordan of radical cleric Abu Qatada, and the decision to oblige the UK to give convicted prisoners the right to vote. In the first video in the series, Professor David Feldman discusses the judgements of the European Court, and the

In Ilott v The Blue Cross [2017] UKSC 17 the Supreme Court considered the competing claims of the animal charities included in a woman's will and her estranged adult daughter, who was excluded from the will but living in necessitous circumstances. In this video, Brian Sloan considers the outcome of the case, which raised fundamental principles of succession law, and its broader implications.

It’s a kid’s dream to discover the world, to unravel its mysteries, to understand its secrets laws. The good news is that we humans are inherently equipped with the tools and mechanisms to do so; Mathematics. This film is a collaboration between researcher Sara Merino Aceituno and filmmaker Sameer Patel. Sara Merino Aceituno is a PhD research student in Mathematical Physics, University of

“I’m registered to vote... It’s the first time I can voice my opinion!” Cambridge students tell us if they’re registered yet, why where they vote matters and how they feel about voting for the first time. Cambridge students: remember to register to vote in the General Election on 4 July. You can register at home and at your term-time address, but you must only vote in one place on the

On the 15 November the UK Supreme Court decided that the United Kingdom's policy of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda was unlawful. In this short video Dr Kirsty Hughes explains the Court's reasoning, and considers the Government's response and possible next steps. Kirsty Hughes is an Associate Professor specialising in Human Rights Law. She is joint General Editor of the European Human Rights Law

Professor Sir Colin Humphreys and his team in the University of Cambridge’s Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy have developed a way of growing a remarkable man-made material – gallium nitride (GaN) – which is being used by British manufacturer Plessey Semiconductors to make light-emitting diodes for home lighting. LED bulbs have much longer working lives than any other forms of

On the 23rd November the UK Supreme court decided that the Scottish Parliament did not have the power to enact legislation to hold a second independence referendum in Scotland. In this short video Professor Alison Young explains the backdrop to the case, sets out how the Supreme court decided the case, and explores possible future paths to Scottish independence. Alison Young is the Sir David

“The Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic vote is so crucial during these elections on many issues.” With election day in the UK fast approaching, Lord Simon Woolley reflects on the importance of the Black and Minoritised Ethnic vote and the opportunity that voters have to continue the conversations on racial equality. ️ What is at stake for the UK General Election? In this new video series,

Dr Paul Coxon is a postdoctoral research associate in the Materials Chemistry Group, in the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy. His research looks to improve the efficiency of solar cell devices using new, nanoporous silicon surfaces such as 'black silicon'; one of the blackest materials on earth. Over the past 10 years, Dr Coxon has endeavored to engage with audiences often

The successful appeal in R v Jogee and Ruddock v The Queen before the a combined Supreme Court and Privy Council raises important issues in the criminal law of complicity (sometimes unhelpfully labelled 'joint enterprise'). In this video Dr Matthew Dyson, who advised the appellant's counsel in the case considers the law of complicity, what the case changed, and its implications. Dr Matthew Dyson

Decisions of the European Court of Human Rights holding that the UK's blanket ban on voting by convicted prisoners violates Article 3 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights have caused controversy in the UK. Professor David Feldman discusses the judgements of the European Court, and considers the principles behind allowing prisoners to vote. Professor Feldman is Rouse Ball

The idea that characteristics could be passed from one generation to another was crucial to Charles Darwin’s theory of how new forms of life develop. In the 1950s the structure of DNA, the compound that encodes genetic information, was finally deciphered by Francis Crick, James Watson, Rosalind Franklin and Maurice Wilkins, all of whom were working in or trained in Cambridge. Cambridge

In January 2018 it was reported that the Parole Board had approved the release of John Worboys, the so-called ‘Black Cab Rapist’. Worboys had been incarcerated since his conviction for a number of sexual offences in March 2009, and it was believed that he was responsible for many attacks over which he was not charged. The announcement of the decision caused much public unrest, and led to

"How are we going to make sure that the next government, whoever wins the election, is ready to safeguard democracy in the face of Gen AI?" As we continue to witness the explosive growth of Generative AI, Professor Gina Neff suggests three simple steps the next government should adopt to protect democracy. ️ What is at stake for the UK General Election? In this new video series, students and

On Thursday 17th March leading UK ferry operator P&O Ferries sacked 800 British crew across its entire fleet and stopped all sailings. The move sparked fury amongst employees and unions, and consternation in parliament. Many asked was the move - and the proposal to use cheap agency staff instead - legal, and also was it a result of Brexit? In this video, Professor Catherine Barnard considers the

Lord Simon Woolley explains how a mobilised Black and Minoritised Ethnic vote can be an election game changer. ️ What is at stake for the UK General Election? In this new video series, students and academics from the University of Cambridge share their insights on some of the biggest themes facing our country at this crucial moment, from AI to racial inequity, levelling up to misinformation,

'How can the government stem the tide of migrant workers coming to the UK?'. This question has been asked with increasing vigour by those who perceive immigration as a threat rather than a benefit to the UK economy. In this video, Catherine Barnard considers whether it is possible to restrict free movement of workers under EU law, both as it now stands and going forward. Professor Barnard is

The case of Vinter v UK was recently decided by the European Court of Human Rights, and has raised a good deal of controversy regarding the right of the United Kingdom to sentence a prisoner to a life sentence (the Whole Life Tariff) without the chance of review. Mrs Nicola Padfield discusses the judgement of the European Court, and the corresponding reaction from members of the UK Government and

In this last episode of the series, we’ll be exploring how stories work for and against climate change. Subscribe to the podcast here: mind-over-chatter.captivate.fm/listen We cover a lot of ground: from hippos and polar bears to how many times ‘sex’ and ‘tea’ were mentioned on TV between 2017 and 2018… so what’s all of this got to do with sustainability and climate change? Join us

Millions around the world this year are reflecting on the lives that were changed irrevocably, and those that were lost in the centenary year marking the end of the First World War. Some 65 million soldiers were mobilised across Europe during the First World War. Among them was Trinity College, Cambridge, student David Louis Clemetson. Cambridge alumna Sarah Lusack tells the story of Clemetson,