The John and Mary Ann Cardy Bursaries will provide support for Natural Sciences and Mathematics undergraduate students for three years. Professor Cardy, who is originally from the north of England, came to Downing College to study Maths; “After coming to Downing for my interview, I was awarded a three-year Maths scholarship. I made sure to allow myself time around my studies for other activities including long discussions into the night about philosophy, literature, music and politics – what a Cambridge education is traditionally about.”

After graduation, John went on to complete a PhD in the Department of Applied Maths and Theoretical Physics. John’s career then took him to Oxford and California, where he is now based. He was made an Honorary Fellow of Downing in 2012.

“My career has had its ups and downs, but ultimately success came my way and my work has been honoured by several prestigious awards. The most recent one, the Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics, carries a substantial monetary prize, part of which I am very happy to use in supporting undergraduate bursaries at Downing. Although I came from a modest background, at that time I was fully supported by a grant. Nowadays it is much more difficult for students from lower-income families, even though there is undoubtedly a huge amount of untapped talent out there, and I am happy to support their studies.”

Professor Guy Williams, Downing Senior Tutor said; “We are delighted and grateful that Professor Cardy is using his prize money to support the next generation of students in this way. Not only will the bursaries directly benefit students, but the association with the achievements of one of our illustrious Honorary Fellows will be inspirational too.”